New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-05
THE SOLE QUESTION.

Mr. McAdoo's speech at the City Club
disposed completely of one of the 'accel-
Grated" objections to the triborough sub
WAY plans. II had been said that the
large prism of the proposed tube was
wasteful-so extraYagant, in fact, as TO
make it incapable of operation on pay
ing basis. Now Mr.. McAdoo, practical
subway operator. who before he offered
TO bid studied the triborough plans from
every point Of view in order to deter
mine whether the system as proposed
would be profitable. gives. it as his de-
liberate opinion that the large bore OF
the new subway Will be an advantage.
His own company regretted that 1t had
not made its Hudson tunnels larger Ac-
oording TO his computations, the line as
planned could be dug for sum not
more than S or 10 per cent greater than
q subway of the size of the present one
would cost. and the economy of the
larger subway, the saving in the cost OF
maintenance and labor. would he great
Through the use OF larger cars, on the
basis of one million passengers day, the
economy of the bigger subway would
amount, according to his careful compu-
tations, to 81, 100000 q year
The argument that the triborough had
been planned on too large a scale was
advanced chiefly in the hope of causing
DELAY. the expectation being that If the
CITY was determined to build a competl-
tive line it might hesitate at the vast eX-
! ID 70 q
the plans and build a line requiring less
excavation. Such a change might have
DELAYED the triborough for year. But,
like all the objections to the system, It
has fallen TO the ground. Not only is
there no danger that the city will not be
able to find an operator for the tribor-
oylch. but q desirable operator stands
ready to agree TO operate it as soon as 1t
can he built In answer TO the objection
that it would never pay we have the de-
liberate opinion of 4 practical subway
onerator that it would be profitable al
most from the outset.
What is the use. then, of going over al
these things anew? What is TO he
gained hv going down on ones knees
and studying maps? The triborough
route has been planned and laid out, and
in the opinion of n practical railway
man It has been well planned and laid
ont. 1t has such merits that private
capital is eager To risk SJ0,0O0,OOO on
its oneration, with certain notifications
to bring it into relations with an already
existing system. 1t cannot be laid out
anew or planned anew without long de-
Law. We may take it as it is. as 4 uSeful
and practical line, whether Mr.. McAdoo s
offer be entirely acceptable or not. 1t Is
satisfactory TO the public, for it is over
whelmingly demanded 10y public opinion.
And it is satisfactory TO private capital.
which is eager 10 put 100000 into its
equipment.
The sole question from now on IS
whether the city wants competition or a
continuation of the present monopoly
The city will have the money either 10
huild the triborough system or TO con-
struct additions TO the present INTERIOR
ough subway. Is il going to spend its
money to perpetuate the monopoly
which has steadfaStly refused TO extend
lis lines on terms which the public could
accent? Or is it going to establish com
netition and trust TO competition 10
stimulate regard for the public Interests
on the part of subway operators: 1t
has seen the benefits of competition
strikingly illustrated in the last few
weeks. Doesn't If want TO enjoy them
permanently: