New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-17
MaItbie and Mitchell Submit
Scheme Showing How a
Five-Cent Fare System
Can Be Built.
COST S149,OOO,OOO MORE
Would Use S100,000,000 Of
Available Credit and Issue
5 Per Cent Bonds To
Be Sold at Public
Subscription.

In line with their unalterable oppo-
stion 10 the proposed dual transit sys
TEN and with their advocacy of a single
system 10 be built entirely by city
money. President Mitchell. of the Board
Of Aldermen, and Commissioner Malt
bic. Of the Public Service Commission,
Yesterday sent Ia Chairman Mccall
their ideas as 10 how the city could
build such a single system.
They argue that if the companies
should not agree TO the radical modi-
ncation of the proposed contracts IA
vored by them the city could go it
alone on the entire plan in spite Of
statements by Borough President Nc
Aneny that many Of the proposed lines
would have 10 be cut out.
According TO their figures the city
would need only S149.OOO.00O more TO
construct the entire subway which
might be taken entirely out of the
present borrowing capacity of the city,
or $10O.0OOO00 might be taken out of
this margin and the additional 500
100000 might be obtained from = per
cent rapid transit certificates. or, il
is suggested, q constitutional amend
ment might be passed eXempting all
rapid transit bonds from the debt linn
IT, as water bonds are now exempted
Alternative to Dual Plan.
With their plan President Mitchell
and Commissioner Maltbie sent the
following letter:
AS YOU know. we have always be-
lieved that an Independent city built
system of subways is preferable 10
any arrangement with existing COM
panies for construction in partnership
Feeling that YOU would like to know
the alternative Ia the dual plan.
which We have To suggest in case the
Interborough Company and the Brook
Iyn Rapid Transit Company declined
TO accede 10 revision of the proposed
contracts IN manner To fully protect
The city. and believing that an appre-
cation Of the fact that the city has al
its command resources that put il in
"a position of independence Will
strengthen your hands IN dealing with
the question which is now before YOU,
we transmit herewith n statement OF
the alternative which we have TO sug-
gest in The form Of a map and a brief
outline descriptive Of an independent.
city-built system and the method o.
financing
These are the propositions suggested
IN the plan;
FiYst-That the contracts with the In
terborough and the Brooklyn Rapic Tran
sit companies be revised IN SUCH manner
~ 20 cut therefrOm the prodiga gifts 70
private corporations and 10 insert there
IN adequate provision for municipal con-
trol and municipal recapture, and that
the contracts as thus revised be offered
10 the companies for acceptance OF re-
lection within two weeks from the time
Of submission.
Second-ln the event Of the refusal Of
The companies TO accept Such contracts
we propose the following plan, which We
have considered and Stll consider prefer
able 10 the dual system
% Construction by the city OF an indie
pendent. city owned. universal hVe-cent
fare rapid transit system. reaching into
every borough OF the City of New York
IS shown by the accompanying map.
(2) Construction by the companies OF
those lines that can be operated only IN
connection with their existing systems
80 The third tracking and extension of
the Manhattan Bronx elevated lines, in
Guiding Joint use of lines on Jerome ave-
nue.. White Plains Road and in Queens
90 The third tracking and reconstruc-
tion of the Brooklyn elevated lines. in
Guiding 'crosstOWn subway. extensions
TO Jamaica. Lutheran Cemetery and into
Manhattan via the Williamsburg. Man
haitian and Brooklyn bridges with opera
ton through the loop lines in Manhattan
and Brighton Beach connection via Flat
bush avenue