The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-10


Some years ago-we don't care to say how
mspy-it WAS popular fallacy that public
conveyances were intended for the public be-
nett and convenience. Such might have been
the impression Of the Common Council when
it granted extraordinary privileges to the
owners of city railways But the managers
of some Of these concerns never believed in
any such absurd idea. They do business up
on the theory that the public simply repre-.
sents large number of half dimes--thst
these half dimes are to be extracted from this
public with the smallest possible expense to
the company, and that this public is to be
bumbugged, abused, delayed, snubbed and
insulted as much as possible while the pro-
cess of extortion ia going on. This is parti-
cularly the case with the Harlem, Third ave-
nue. and Second avenue railway companies.
The Harlem Company, under its present
management, is q public nuisance. On the
fifth of January last this city was visited with
severe snow storm. For day or two the
streets were almost impossible. That was the
time when the cars were most needed, and
that was the time when they were not to be
had. The company provided no means OF
conveyance for its passengers below Twenty
seventh street; and even at this time their
road is not entirely open. The time tables for
the departure Of trains above Twenty-seyenta
street cannet be relied upon. Trains are start
ed from all sorts of places, according to the
caprice of officials. Fourth avenue and the
Bowery are filed up with heavy train and
ho rxn6 in 10
cars like mackerel in barrel. They ride half
block, when they are unceremoniously un-
packed without apparent cause, and jammed
into another car, which crawls up town at
the rate of mile an hour. Not less than
week elapsed after the storm before any
part Of the road was opened; and now
the passengers are hustled about in the
most outrageous manner. AS there are not
half enough city cars running, both city and
rural passengers are delayed. People get into
the cars with most incredulous and despair
ing appearance. They may hope to be carried
forward, but they hardly expect anything OF
the kind. 1t would seem that the officers Of
the road instruct their drivers aud Orakemen
to throw as many obstacles as possible in the
way Of the passengers.
On the Third avenue things are not much
better. The road was not opened until about
ten days after the storm, and the number Of
cars was Immediately reduced one.half The
ostensible reason for this was that extra horse
power was required; but the superior wisdom
Of the move will at once be apparent to the
dullest comprehension. According to the die
tates Of common sense, the number Of passen-
gers being doubled by the bad weather, the
number of cars should have been proportional
bly, increased; but the managers Of this road
have given common sense the cut direct long
ago. After short time the number of horses
was reduced; but we do not think that any
more cars were put on. Those that are now
rupniDg are crowded almost to suffocation.
The horses are worked nearly to death, and it
is painful to see them struggle up the steep
grade at Chatham square, tugging heavy
car loaded with four or five tons Of human
freight. One will be put to more annoyance
and inconvenience in riding from the City
Hall to Twentieth street, than in going from
New York to Albany. The stages having been
driven off from the Third avenue, the public is
entirely at the mercy Of the railway company.
To quote Scripture" The tender mercies of
and quarter Of time to 60 from the City Hall
to Vauxhall Garden-a distance OF mile and
quarter.
Perhaps the most alarming instance Of ac-
tivity was displayed by the superintendent of
the Second avenue railway. 1t was not until
twenty days after the storm that the road was
open to Peck slip, and then it was only done
by spontaneous movement on the part of the
conductors These sensible men, disguised
with the inanity of their principals, joined to-
gether and worked during the whole of one
night in clearing the track. The people of
Harlem have been annoyed and Inconvenience
in every possible way by the managers of the
Second avenue road.
The Sixth and Eighth avenue roads arr
much better managed. The officers Of the rail
ways on the east side might take valuable
lesson from the superintendent of the above
named roads. But example, complaint and
supplication are alike thrown away upon the
managers of the Harlem, Second and Third
avenue railways. We can only hope for
partial remedy in legislation. The Importance
Of the matter may be understood by all, when
it is known that two-thirds Of the business men
in New York live above Houston street, aud
depend almost entirely upon these cars as
means Of transit. 1t was for this reason, and
with the belief that they would be great pub
lie conyeniences, that they were chartered
with exclusive and very valuable privileges.
They were given.the right Of way-the middle
of the everything must turn out for
them-the common law, that the highway is the
property of every citizen, was overridden by
special ordinance in their behalf-every ia
cility was granted to them, and their only ex.
pense was that of laying down their tracks.
&C lo..