The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-01
CHEAP TRANSIT.
Railroad Bates Reduced to Simple Half Dime
The Capitalists Capitulate Gracefully and
Grumble Gingerly

IL has been OFTEN remarked of late by those con-
nected with the city railways that the only
the prices OF which have not been minated by the
war are Croton water and railway transit. Never
theless, soon after the commencement OF the late
rebellion there an act passed by Congress,
winch has been for years forgotten, and which i'm
posed q tax upon the street railway companies for
their passenger trafic. This tax small, and has
now ceased to be levied by limitation. The follow
ing facts win enable all to understand the position
or affairs as they are today
The General Railroad law OF April 2, $780, is that
under which several OF the leading companies We're
organized, though all organized not entitled
to the same privileges. The so-called restrictive
law OF 1860 controls the largest number Of CON-
panies and by 1t fares limited 1--WE cents for
any length or transportation within the city limits
save in the case or the Third Avenue Company,
which has the right TO demand six cents to Harlem.
The Fourth Avenue Company, organized In 1892, and
which, with William H. Vanderbilt for president, Is
under the control OF the New YORK and Harlem
Railroad, has right by the terms OF its charter 10
demand any rate OF fare not exceeding three cents
per mile. The tax imposed by Congress one
eighth OF cent each passenger, and the rail-
ways had the privilege OF adding this additional sum
the that time legal fare They were obliged to
sell packages of tickets at this rate bur not to make
change for a single fare and received six cents
seven cents to aariem. This law expiring, as above
stated, by limitation October to-day, the fare
again becomes, under the terms OF their charter
from the STATE, hve cents.
MEETING or THE PRESIDENTS.
ON "Wednesday, the 2lst instant meeting OF the
presidents OF the various companies was held TO
take into consideration the approaching black Sat
urday. Al that time the following statistics were
brought lorward:-The number or passengers car.
past was lis, 2ss, sas: the amount Of fares
paid, exclusive Of the Fourth Avenue road,
ce.pts eftaiied By placing the fare =, Ave cents
wo1ld have been sl,9S7,26 81. Three companies
would have made money az i've cents. seven COM
panies would have lost money al five cents ana two
companies actually LOST money az SIX cents curing
ne past year. the difference In receipts made by
avenue road alone amounts 10 S2s,Sl6 %
A HERALD reporter visited the onices Of the
various companies yesterday, snd gained the follow.
Ing additional items OF information AT the once Of
the
AVENUE c RAILWAY,
he met Nh. Cogan, the secretary, who ssid:-"we |
have mace no arrangements 10 reduce fares. Our
charter allows to charge six cents bur II other
companies reduce the fare we shall, presume, DO
the same AL companies organized under the pro-
have right 10 charge three cents per mile Our
company was organized amer the passage OF the act
of 1850 / think that seven cents would be a Just
sidering me present price OF feed for horses,
were able 10 purchase horses at an average OF
ninety dollars each; now the prices are from slo5
10 $3.50. or an average OF over $40 EACH
DRY DOCK, EAST BROADWAY AND BATTERY RAIL
ROAD.
This company run the avenue B, the avenue D,
The Grand street cross town. ana Cortlandt street
tcross town. hnes The fare on these lines incorpo
rated in lse2 was originally limited to rve cents
and VIII be reduced 10 that sum to-day.
SIXTH AND SEVENTH AVENUE RAILROADS.
Both reduce the fare to-day. Mr.. McCabe the |
secretary OF the Seventh Avenue Company, stated |
The receipts or the road as 10000 per annum. II
oneslxtn were deducted nom the receipts there
would not be sut1clent left pay for running the
road They Will however, carry the people at nye |
cents. II would be useless TO contest the law
which is plainly against them. We're they in
every passenger charged six cents might
them, and supposing IL cost ten dollars
each TO answer the summons, aside from LAWYERS
fees, the sum would In a short time amount TO much
more than the extra receipts from the additional
cent charged.
EIGHTH AND NINTH AVENUE RAILROADS.
Mr. George Law, President OF the above roads, has
caused notice TO be posted at the receivers coun-
ter, stating that In pursuance OF the
law conductors viii demand but I'VE cents fare
lines stated that they could not be run at the re.
duced rate but that Intention had been expressed
by the president or directors 10 contest the law.
BLEECkRR STREET RAILROAD.
Mr. Couoyer, president Of the Blocker street
road, was at the meeting OF the presidents Of the
various roads, He believed the general feeling to
be that any collision with the public should be
avoided. II the State allowed them but five
cents for carriage, and as statistics their books
showed 1t cost them i've and half cents to per-
form the service, the people would be just enough
pass such laws az would entitle them to the addl-
tiOnal cent. They must hope for this at any rate,
and the employees OF the Blocker street road had
been especially Instructed to treat all passengers
frauded because the passenger offered them but q
simple half dime