Rapid Transit Board to pass upon this question at the time reported in favor of its construction. By an order entered by the court on March 12, 1907, the report of the commissioners of the Appellate Division approving this route was confirmed. The requisite approval of this route by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment was obtained on January 25. Provision was made that the city contract only for the construction of this system of subways, so as to insure absolute control of it by the city, and that the portions of this route, extending through Centre and Delancey streets connecting the Manhattan terminals of the Williamsburg and Brooklyn bridges, be a four-track subway, to be contracted for separately in sections and be built with all possible speed, and that when completed it should not be restricted in its operation to any one company or system, but to allow any transportation line to make use of it under proper terms of compensation.

In the event of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company becoming a successful bidder for the operation of this portion of subway loop when completed, the question of cars in use by that company was considered by the Board, and it was decided that that company's rolling stock met the necessary requirements, or that at least any cars to be operated in the portion of this route connecting the Manhattan terminals of the Williamsburg and Brooklyn bridges should be as good as the most modern type used by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company on its elevated railway tracks.

SECTION 9-0-2, CENTRE STREET, FROM PEARL TO CANAL STREETS. According to law a public hearing was called for February 28 to pass upon the form of a contract for that portion of this subway loop between Pearl street and Canal street, officially designated as Section 9-0-2, Brooklyn Loop Lines, including a spur running through Canal street to connect with the proposed Manhattan Bridge, this section being considered the most difficult to construct on account of the character of the soil along the route. A hearing on the form of contract was duly held on February 28, and there being no opposition to it, the contract was adopted by the Rapid Transit Board on that date. The approval of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment was accordingly requested and obtained on March 8, 1907; and the Corporation Counsel on March 11 approved the contract as to form. All legal measures therefore having been effected, bids for construction were duly advertised to be received at the office of the Board on April 11, and at noon on that date two bids were tendered, as follows:

The bid of the Degnon Contracting Company being the lower, the contract for this section was awarded to that company, having been accepted by the Board on April 18, and being consented to by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, was duly executed on April 27.

To provide for necessary means for construction at the public expense, as provided by the contract, the Rapid Transit Board made formal request upon the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to authorize the issue of corporate stock of the city of New York to the amount of $3,035,000, the sum bid for this section of railway, including pipe galleries, and the Comptroller of the city of New York was duly directed by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to issue this amount of corporate stock, the same to bear interest at a rate not to exceed 4 per centum per annum.

Work was commenced between Baxter and Mulberry streets on this contract on May 27, 1907, the time limit for beginning and completing the work, as provided by the contract, to be within twenty-one months from the date of delivery of the contract, the contract being duly delivered to the contractor on the 9th of May.

SECTION 9-0-3, CENTRE STREET, FROM CANAL TO BROOME STREETS.

For the section of Brooklyn Loop Lines designated as 9-0-3, in Centre street, between Canal and Broome streets, a hearing on the form of contract was set for April 11, 1907, at 3 P. M., and held on that date, and the contract duly adopted by the Rapid Transit Board. The following day, April 12, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment approved this contract, and the Corporation Counsel's approval as to form was obtained on April 20. Proposals for bids were then duly advertised to be opened on Tuesday, May 14, when the following bids were received:

The lowest bid, that of the Cranford Company, was accepted, after due consideration, by the Rapid Transit Board on May 23, and the contract executed on May 27.

The necessary issue of corporate stock of the city of New York to provide construction at public expense was duly authorized, amounting to $2,210,000, at interest not to exceed 4 per centum per annum, this amount covering the estimated expense of executing this contract, including the cost of pipe galleries. The contract was delivered to the Cranford Company on June 7, 1907, from which date the time of beginning and finishing the work under

the contract runs, the stated time for its completion being twenty months from the date of delivery of contract. Up to the end of June, 1907, ground had not yet been broken to commence work, but operations will be begun before long.

SECTION 9-0-1-, PEARL STREET TO PARK ROW; SECTION 9-0-4, CENTRE STREET TO THE BOWERY; SECTION 9-0-5, DELANCEY STREET, BETWEEN THE BOWERY AND NORFOLK STREET.

A public hearing on the forms of contract for Sections 9-0-1 and 9-0-5 of the Brooklyn Loop Lines, the former extending from Pearl street to Park Row, and the latter section covering that portion in Delancey street between the Bowery and Norfolk street, was called for May 9 and held on that date, and the contracts for these two sections adopted by the Board. For Section 9-0-4, covering that portion in the new extension of Delancey street, between Centre street and the Bowery, a hearing on the form of contract was called for May 16 and duly held, and the contract adopted by the Board for this section.

On May 10 the Board of Estimate and Apportionment approved the contracts for Sections 9-0-1 and 9-0-5 as above described, and these contracts were approved as to form on May 15 by the Corporation Counsel. The contract for Section 9-0-4 was approved on May 17 by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, and approved as to form by the Corporation Counsel on May 20.

The necessary preliminaries incidental to the letting of contracts for these three sections having thus been completed, it was decided to advertise for bids simultaneously for all three sections, the bids to be opened on June 13. Bids were duly presented and opened on that date, when thirteen in all were received, as follows: