The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-08


NEw Yoax ONNTBusEs- or
CoNvEYANcEs IN THE CrrY.-Twenty years ago
there was but one line Of stages in this city
from the Bowling Green to Blocker street yon
might ride up for shilling, in an old-fashioned
concern drawn by TOUR horses. The business
was an experiment at first, but proved success
full. Outsiders began to look about for an inn
provement-the city extended-the routes must
be larger Some enterprising New Jerseyte
gave us the comfortable two horse stages that
now are seen by hundreds on all the streets and
avenues. 1t was soon found that the business
would pay at six cents for each passenger; and
sundry enterprising stage proprietors have
amassed sufficient number of sixpences to be
reckoned among the millionaires, occupy Fifth
avenue palaces, and do all other acts and things
pertaining to the aristocrat Of wealth, who Ia
held here 70 be of much more account than the
aristOcrat Of birth.
Fifteen years the stage proprietors reigned
supreme New York was divided into two
classes-the people who rode in stages and the
drivers thereof. No government could be mora
despotic. But the hand of Improvement was
again visible. For some years passengers have
been conveyed in the Harlem cars from the
Aston House to Twenty-seventh street. Many
people found this much more agreeabls than
stage riding; and soon we find railways in the
sHirst, Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth and Eighth
avenues, carrying every day thousands Of pa
sengers, at the reduced rate of five cents. tn
Harlem road fare was lately reduced to the
same price. The Sixth Avenue Railroad, whici
cost about two hundred thousand dollars, will
pay for itself long before 1t can be worn out.
Its receipts have sometimes reached twen-
ty-eight thousand dollars per month.
The other lines are comparatively prosperous.
Who suffers? More people ride than ever be-
fore, no doubt; but many of the stage lines
have experienced an awkward diminutioa in
their receipts. How to oppose the railway ma
MIA? That was question to which there could
be but one answer: The fares must be reduced.
The movement has already commenced One
line Of stages, which runs through the Bowery,
disguised with the dry business Of picking a
few stragglers who could not get in the cars,
came out boldly, few days since, and reduced
its fare to three cents Since that time, these
stages have been literally crammed with people
outside, inside-on the top, and every
else where there was chance to hang on,
even by the teeth The legitimate number
twelve-has been entirely ignored, and the
people sit on each others laps, and sometimes
(for all that we know to the contrary,) stand
upon each others heads, like the Bedouin Arabs
Another line, through the First avenue, will
reduce its fare, on and after Monday next, to
three cents We opine that the movement will
be universal one, and that even the Broad
way stages will be glad to get as many three
cent pieces as they have passengers. Then we
shall have the cars running at the same price,
which will be great blessing to poor people
editors particularly.
Foreigners and strangers are surprised at the
chespnese Of city travel in New York. Rail-
way men calculate that they must receive two
cents per mile; but one may be carried all over
this island for one cent per mile. And it seems
to be a lucrative business, Notwithstanding the
low fares. Let us have the three cent scale at
once