New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-08
OUR RAILROADS.

TEN OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES hAIL9'
MORE TRAINS, AND BETTER CARS DEM l.S.oI.a
-TABIFs GIVING STATIONS, DlsIANCEo,
PROM NEW -YoRK-NUMBER OF PASSENGER
rRItNs PER pAY-ALs0 YEARLY RATES Of
CouMuTATION ON THE VARIOUS ROADS FOR
A GIVEN NUMBER OF MILES COMPARED.
While the subject of building new Railroads is be-
fore the people it would be well to take some steps
toward looking after those already built. Thousands
have gone into the country hoping to escape the ex-
pense and discomfort of city residence, but aiter
few years experience they have returned not because
they did not like pure air and cheap living puT DC
cause they found it almost impossible to reach their
nIaces of business except at infrequent periods and
at unwarrantable expense. Many OF our railoau
comnanes iustly congratulate themselves on the au
ontaoes and cheap rates of travelling they offer 10
the public Others hatter themselves that they are
benefactors and little suspect that they are dong
nothing toward promoting tho prosperity OF the
country through which their roads rum Perhaps no
CITY in tho world is surrounded by more varied or
beautiful scenery or by land containing the element
of greater fertility than NewYork. Westchester
County is panorama of beauty. Nowhere can an
other Hudson River be found with its miles OF cfs
and valleys. Where is there city OF million IN
habitants that can show such villa sites are found
on our bay Long Island only waits for the coming
railroads to make it populous and wealthy. What
and cheap means of getting in and out of the city.
scAs was intended, and as one naturally would ex-
poet those railroads on which the Communication is
cheapest are doing the most business in fact their
business is constantly increasing, for the low rates
are great nducement for people to go out on their
lines to buy lots and build. So long as men work
and expend their energies in earning money 1t will
be in vain to expect that they will not choose that
whichls cheapest providing good as that which
is dear. In England there has been the same expe-
rence but snca the cheap rates have been longer IN
operation there the results apparent and It
is general settlement that since the low fares have
been the rule the receipts of theroads have
from 200 to 500 per cent while the running expenses
are scarcely doubled. In some cases where it was
desired to increase business and IN particular to es
tabsh new villages, the extraordinary offer was
made to carry free in and out of London each Tor
a period Of two years, those who would buhd
houses ia these proposed villages. In connection
with our roads wrong exists regarding commuta-
ton tickets which should be remedied For instance
ticket is given for a certain period, and whether
man rides or not he pays. Some roads issue say 10
small tickets which are good only within the three
months and yet the universal experience is that
when the time expires more or less tickets remain
which the conductors will not receive AS general
thing no man rides so much as bis ticket gives him
right TO ride while there is class of business men,
such rs leading members of firm, who do not really
ride more than half of the time. The railroad cor
porations think so much is gained, and they can
safely calculate on an average per cent OF vacant
seats for the reasons named but the truth is they do
not understand that any man, and rich man In par
ticular, likes to get the worth of his money, and
these general facts being known they really con-
tribute to an adverse decision both in buying season
tickets and in the purchase of property, which Will
a. of lafa
good way to sell tickets, which will be perfectly
Just both 70 the company and to the commuters
is that praetieed by some of the Pennsylvania roads
that is to sell milage tickets in which the con-
dueer punches out the number of miles of each trip
and when there are more vacancies the ticket is
run out, and not before. ..
There is another practice of Railroads. that is, of
not receiving tickets except on the day they are
bought. which is as absurd it would be for the
Government 10 make the Greenbacks it issues good
only for q certain period No man will buy Rail
road ticket unless he intends to use it, any more than
,S,ill give money for nothing if, however, an I'M
forseen event should prevent his making the in
tended Journey the ticket should be available as
his money.
There are some roads running TO places of consider
able importance the passenger traffic of which is fair
and in consideration of the wealth of the inhabit
ants it is not likely 10 be less The roads are run
ming reasonably heavy tIalns put INC Iabes arc Sh
and the cars are shabby Success has thrown
Ietbargy around the corporations They are doing
well enough, and they have idea of doing better
by reducing Communication, and as a consequence
being Obliged TO run more trains. A good remedy
for this would be for the Legislature to grant
charters for short lines and for the City to conri-
butte to make an entrance into the city easy and I'M
less these roads come to realizing sense of the dis
gust with which the public looks on their want of
action, they will suddenly find themselves con-
fronted with competing lines Indeed competing
lines are demanded by the increasing population, and
they must be bult; but the time of competition will
be fastened by the lack of enterprise in the exist
ing roads. 1t is true that railroads have rights;
and they have also enemies who viii not hesitate TO
injure their property and there are passengers and
not a few, who think it is fine thing II by any de-
vice they eau avoid paying their fare. These as
well as disorderly persons need looking after and
the law should aid and punish. that the roads may
not be embarrassed. for they have trouble enough
at the best But. on the other hand, the general
public is willing 10 deal fairly and it dsikes to pay
for that which it does not receive. 1t is perfectly
safe to aim at what is just and the companies ought
TO learn that IL they seek by cheap rates and by good
accommodations to attract travel the public will
.spond.
The following table shows the Communication rates
between each station and New-York for one year.
The distances nearly equal it is possible to
give them.