New-York tribune., 1869-03-16
RENTS IND RAILROADS.

We are assured that as q general thing there
will be no great rise in rents this Spring.
Landlords have apparently reached the limit
of cxactiOn, and will do well if they maintain
the high rates paid during the last year. Yet
n great many dweling-houses are to let, and
tenants are looking anxously about for new
Guarters. The fact is, rents are now far be-
yond the ability of persons of moderate means
70 pay Clerks, professional men, all who live
upon fixed incomes and wbO, rather than sac
rfce social position, have cut off one comfort
after another, and gone poorly clad and hun
cry in order to pay the rent of "gcnteeP
house such as they have been used
to live in, now find that the effort
is too severe; they must get cheaper houses
Where are they to look9 There are no cheap
houses in New York city. The price now paid
for floor in n tenement of the better class
would have been thought extravagant few
years ago for whole house. People have been
moving further and further mp town year after
year, until they have got so far away from
their business that the time spent in travelling
becomes an insupportable tax.
Our Northern suburbs would offer charming
homes for thousands of the dispOssesscd citi-
zcns if it were not for the single difficulty of
inadequate transportation. Nestchester County
abounds in picturesque scenery, in fertile gar
den lands, and in excellent building sites.
IL il not too far from the business quarters of
the city, if the railroad facilities were only
what they easily might be. Great improve
ments have been made in all ts Southern ami
South Eastern towns within one or two years,
and greater still will soon be effected. The
Improvement Of Hell Gate will transfer large
portion OF our shipping to the banks OF the
Harlem River, and Westchestcr viii then be-
come an integral part of the city proper. But
the movement of population in this direction
has been checked for years past 10y the rail
road companies. There is no great city in the
world which has such wretcled means
Of communication with it's best suburbs
as New-York The roads are slow, and dear,
and ill-managed. Travelling by them is
shocking discomfort. Dirt, darkness, over
crowding, inconycnient hours, oxorbitant fares
these are the obstacles which the Harlem and
Hudson River Railroad Companies throw IN
the way of people who would like Co travel
by their lines. We despair OF reiosm uhtll
new roads are built to compete wish these
powerful corporations There is room Tor
Others, and we are convinced that company
which should bnild n good steam-rail-
road through the county, running between
tho. Harlem Road and the Sound, or be-
tween the Harlem and the Hudson River
with fast trains at frequent intervals, comfort
able cars, room enough for all the passengers
to sit down, and reasonable charges, would
soon create an enormous passenger trathc.
Unless something Of this sort be done, many
thousands of New-Yorkers viii inevitably bo
driven into New-Jersey. There, at any rate,
travel is cheaper and trainS are more frcQuent
than they are here, and ehcapness ana con
venience of access arc considerations with the
busy and haEd pressed man of business to
which all others must give way.