New-York tribune., 1868-04-07
An UNDERGROUND R1ILW1Y

We have no wish to decide between the rival
plans for an underground railway from the
lower to the upper end OF Manhattan Island,
but road of some kind we insist that the
people must have. 70 us, personally, 1t Is all
one whichever system be adopted We have
expressed our willingness TO accept the Arcade
road because il seemed TO fulfill the great pur-
pose of giving busy men quick convey
anee from their workshops and offices to their
homes, and because the project seemed suf-
cently matured to DO put Immediately into
operation; but we have no further interest
in it than all other citizens have, and we
are equally ready 10 favor any other
plan that offered q reasonable prospect
of success, OF to support every underground
measure now in Albany that has honest
backing. The necessity for ampler means OF
travel and transportation than the present
avenues afford is no longer q matter OF dispute,
Nobody doubts that all cOnveyances we have
vet tried are too slow, and that even Al they
were fast enough the longitudinal streets do
not afford the space needed to run them. We
have entirely OutHown the old arrangement
of the city. Avenues which were capacious
enough for population of 100000 will not
answer, now that the number of our inhabitants
has been tripled. The journey from the City Hall
TO Union-s square gets longer and longer every
year. A ride which occupied twenty minutes a
few years ago now cannot be taken in less
than thirty, and next year will require forty.
The increasing difficulties of travel crowd the
population TO painful degree i'll the lower
parts of the city, and raise rents If it were
possible to travel from the City Hall to Ford
ham as rapidly as from FOrdham to White
Plains, the upper part of Manhattan Island,
and the lower towns of Westchester County,
would soon he thickly covered with dwelling
houses and the pressure below Central Park
would be relieved. But while we have no bet
ter means of locomotion than those we are
now obliged to depend upon, wOrkingmcn can
not live at distance Of five or six miles from
their places of business, or enjoy home in
the healthy air Of the suburbs, without loss
of money, time, and even health, which they
can i'll afford.
There is no question either as to the pract-
cability of an underground railway with cars
driven at high speed, nor is there any diff
Guilty in raising the money to build one. The
people almost unanimously demand it. The
principal Objectors so far appear to be Mr.. A.
II. Stewart and Mr. James Gordon Bennett.
These gentlemen own great deal of valuable
property, but they do not own the whole city,
and have no business to stand in the way OF
the interests Of the great majority of the cit-
zens, and especially of the thousands OF poor
mon who should have some means to 20 to the
country. If everybody were as wealthy as Mr.
Stewart everybody might ride in carriages.
The people demand O quick, safe, convenient,
well-managed road. Such a railway, we repeat,
must be built, and if the present Legislature
adjourn without giving us one the people will
hold them guilty of sacrificing public interests to
selfish private opportunities. We care not
which road We have, but we must have some
| road