New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-13
B. r. Us Position Outlined.

Colonel Williams issued a formal state
mcnt Yesterday outlining the Brooklyn
Eapd Transit's position. He said in part;
Before the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company filed it's subway proposal II ON
phasized informally TO the city's officials
and the members OF the Public Service
Commission. with whom the plan was gone
over, that the proposition was not to he
regarded as furnishing n club TO assist the
city in It's negotiations with the INTERIOR
ough company.
We insisted that the proposal should he
treated on its merits as a plan primarily
for solving Brookiyns transportation needs,
mat IT was not presented in antagoniSm 10
tile lhterborough company nor with any de-
sire to Compel with that company for
Manhattan business. but solely with the
view OF giving Brooklyn. Queens and Rich
mond people through transportation from
centres Of Manhattan.
1t may be true. although We cannot be
lieve 1t. that the Interbcrough company
Will attach as q condition Of acceptance Of
the citys demands the exclusion of Broad
way, Manhattan. as Il distributing line for
BrOOklyn's. Queens and Richmonds pas
sengcrs. and. of course. il such a stipula
ton should he made. no city officer could
for q moment directly or indirectly acCede
TO IL. But in order that the city's interests
might not be teopardized by such STU
alton. the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany has assured the joint committee. in
response to their inquiry. that it would in
such an event include in It's proposal Of
March the entire triborough route for
which bids were recently received. subject
to such Slight notifications as may he nee
essary to nit the route to our general plan
and with such changes in specifications as
Ould reduce the cost without diminishing
the efficiency of operation. That assurance
was given some weeks ago. and still stands.
1t seems that soon after the original
proposition Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company had been received by the Public
Service Commission President Shonts Of
the Interborough al one OF the transit con-
fercnces remarked that he considered il
settled that the Brooklyn Rapid Transi,
should not be allowed to come into Man
haitian.
When this remark was reported to Prosi-
dent Williams Of the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company he said that while his
company had no disposition to enter the
Manhattan field as a direct competitor Of
the PETERBOROUGH. he believed that it should
have the privilege Of distributing it's pa
! irons Of Brooklyn. Queens and Richmond
to various central points on Manhattan ISL
and. II was for that reason solely that they
had asked FOR the line up Broadway as far
as seth street. and from that point across
the greensboro Bridge This point of view
seemed fair enough TO the Public Service
Commission
President Shonis Of the marlborough.
however. is said TO have intInated plainly
that If the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany were To get any such privileges i'm
Manhattan the PETERBOROUGH would not care
10 consider further the extension Of rapid
transit lines. Then II was that President
Williams was asked If his company would
consider taking M the triborouGh PROPOSE
tion I'm Manhattan in addition To it's origi-
nal plan, in case the Interborouph should
withdraw from the game. He replied that
he would.
1t is said that President Williams offered
to build six or eight tracks up Broadway.
four to branch off into the Lexington ave-
nue. system at Aston Place and two or four
Ia continue up Broadway to 59th street.
An indication OF the attitude Of Borough
President Miller OF The Bronx toward the
subway situation may be gathered from
the following extract from letter written
by him 10 the Independence League or
ganization Of the 32d Assembly District, No
1852 Third avenue on March 81:
The PETERBOROUGH. with it's system of
universal transfers. its established mower
houses and its known ability To conduct
rapid transit railroads. is in position TO
other COMPANY"
President Miller has declared right along
however, that he would not he willing to
accept the Interborough proposition with
out essential modifca lions.