New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-09
GETTING OFT OF TOWN.

The article which we published yesterday on
our suburban railroads shows the working OF
an influence which is destined if there be not
n speedy reform, to transfer to New-Jersey
great part of the wealth of New-York. 1t is
no longer matter of dispute that New-Iork
City has not dwellings enough for the accom-
mediation of its inhabitants; that rents are
already higher than people in moderate cir
cumstances can afford to pay; and that there
is 10 remedy but an extensive removal to the
rural districts. There are certain classes VINO
are obliged by the nature of their occupations
to live in or near the heart of the city; but
this Spring we believe that hundreds who have
hitherto thought they could not live In the
country will make up their minds that they
must. Where are they to got
We had hoped that the underground railroad
would have been far enough advanced by this
time to point out solution of the problem
but that project seems to be indefinitely post
poned, and meanwhile the perplexity is press
ing The New-Jersey towns offer obvious adj
vantages but they have also obvious obJec-
tons. A great many people have strong
dislike to crossing ferries; great many prefer
to have their homes in the same State with
which their business interests are connected.
Nature has given us in Westchester County an
unbOunded profusiOn of beautiful cottage and
villa sites, where every variety of charming
scenery is spread out close to our doors, and
nothing is required but reasonably good
railroad arrangements to make the whole
southern part of the county one OF the
most delightful suburban homes in the
of
County, however, are the Hudson River,
Harlem, and New-IIaven Railroad Companies
The enormous rates of communication on these
roads practically drive away thousands OF per-
sons-nOt only the lower classes by any means,
but we'll o-dO business men who are no more
ready to submit to extortion than their poorer
neighbors. Compare for instance the following
rates of Communication on different roads between
New York and stations about ten miles distant:
Rhs Railroad Iong ,aDS R.iro'd'.''.
Morn. and Es..I R.iroad 7O Hudson River RArOsd.. lc2
The dearest of these roads are the most dis
agreeable. The Hudson River road is hard to
reach, and runs for a long distance through an
atmosphere of STENCIL beside being, by the
necessity of its location, noisy and dirty beyond
most other roads. The Long Island road has
long been paragon Of discomfort. The Harlem
is in some respects the worst of the three, for
it does large business and there is no reason
why it should not afford its passengers
the very best accommodations. Its cars are
dirty, and at night are often totally dark. Most
of those used on way-trains are built on the
plan of city horse cars and in the evening, going
out of town, are crowded almost as badly as
the street cars. There is n great want OF late
evening trains and the rate of speed moreover
is too low. Unless a reform can be effected on
these roads, commuters will inevitably be driven
over into New-Jersey. Westchester County is
ripe now for very rapid development. Great
improvements in and around its south
ern villages have been mapped out; new
avenues are building through all its most yalu-
able portions; and landowners are getting
ready to receive the great flow of population
which must soon be driven out of the city.
But il Westminster County is to receive this
flow, the railroad companies must hold out
better inducements. Their interest in doing so
is direct and obvious.a Cheap fares and good
accommodations would double their receipts in
a very short time, without n corresponding in
crease in their running expenses IL they do
not soon begin a reform, new roads will be
built, and all the power of those great corpo-
rations will be unequal to the preservation OF
their monopoly