New-York tribune., 1910-12-25
CONTROLLER STANDS FIRM.
Saws He Will Never Consent to
Interborough Plan.
CITY WILL HAVE THE MONEY
Mr.. Prendergast Figures That
$16O,000,000 Will Be Avail
able for Subways.

Controller Prsndergast said yesterday
that he would never consent to give the
mterbcreugh Rapid Transit Company what
they ask in the way Of third tracking ana
extending their elevated lines until some
definite conclusion is reached on the sui
way problem. Borough President McAhehs
and President Mitchell, of the Board or
Aldermen, take much the same view
President shonts, of the Interhorough, de-
ciares that their offer fer new subways Is
entirely conditional on the grant by the
city of the privileges they ask IN connect
ton with their elevated lines.
There is every prospect. therefore OF
deadlock In the Board Of Estimate over
the Interborough subway proposition, which
can be broken only by the bringing for
ward of the triborcugh proposition to place
alongside that of the Interberough. This
can be done by the Public Service Com
mission awarding contracts for the con-
struction of the sections of the triboroush,
for which. It now has bids before it There
are those who believe that the commission
will do this soon after the first Of the year.
In a statement issued yesterday Con-
troller Prendergast figured how the city
should have about s15n.ono 900 within the
next five years for the construction Of new
subwass This would be more than
enough to construct the entire triborough
route, the outside cost Of which IS esti-
mated at $4,000 900. The Controller said:
There is now available the sum OF s4s.-
1925 1a, representing the exemption Of self
sustaining rapid transit bonds through the
action OF the APPELLATE Division last June,
and the sum of ST., 3,ooo,o 900 pledged by tha
Board of Estimate for no other purposes
than those of subway construction. This
makes total Of SIS 6sss.se5 IS. To this might
Just as~well be added now the sum OF ap-
proximately Sc. 3.5nao0o Of additional self-sus-
tanning rapid transit bonds, the applica-
ton for the exemption of which Is now be-
fore the Appellate Division. It may be as
surrled that this application will be granted,
thus making total Of SCI, o,sss,s2a ls ayaila-
BILE at the present time.
President Purdy of the Board of Taxes
and Assessments has reported to the Board
Of Estimate that there will be an addition
TO the borrowing capacity OF the city dur
ing the next five years, through enhanced
assessments upon real estate. amounting
to s172,on0,ooo Assuming that si2,o0o00 of
this amount were applied annually to sub
way construction. it would Increase the
amount available for this purpose during
the five years to $4,000, ,oGo or g. total of
s12O.3s SIS 10. This would leave, therefore.
for other purposes during the next FIVE
years sl1a.0o0.0oe. or an average of So. 4N,-
600 per anuIa."
To this sl2o sss. .325 the Controller adds $780,
ooA,ooo of the more than seO.o00,0oo that Will
be released from the debt limit by the eX-
cluson of self-sustaining dock bonds. The
Corporation Counsel has decided that such
borrowing capacity may be used for sub
way purposes under the law, and tbs Con-
tro!ler believes that not more than half OF
the SEQ 600 900 is necessary for new docks
in view of the urgent necessity for more
transit facilities.
The Citizens Union also. took g. decided
stand yesterday against tho Interhorough
plan. 4 communication was Sent to the
Public Service Commission, which stated
that the crganizst!on was opposed pr!-
marily to any modification Of the provision
permitting the city after ten years to turn
over the lease fer the operation Of the ex-
tensions to another company. This CON-
raunicatien in part follows:
s'Our first point is against any Ineaitea-
ton of the provision by which. after ten
wears, the oity would be permitted to turn
over the lease for the operation Of tbs ex-
tensions TO another company on payment
of the required amount directly by the new
lessee to the Intsrborough Rapid Transi.
Company. It was stated by your counsel
a. the hearing that q modification Of this
provision was sought by the company. We
recently fled with the commission and with
the Board of Estimate and Arportterr1ent
a memorandum in favor Of including SUCH
a provision III any contract for tho opera
ton of subway extensions
The letter goes on TO say that il the city
has any dealings whatever with the COM
pany regarding rapid transit extensions the
proposed agreement under which the eE-
tensions will revert TO the city at the end
Of fcrty-nine years should be applied to the
elevated extensions as we'll as TO others. 1t
further states that the public was led to