New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-28
THE QUICK-TRANSIT PROBLEM.

| INDICTMENT AGAINST THE ELEVATED RAILWAY.
The following Indictment has been found
by the Grand Jury Of the Court OF Oyer and Termner
| against the West Side Patent Elevated Railroad in
Greenwichst. and Ninthave.:
G and Comfy Of Ns y@r TAe Jurors E OF the y,
sent That the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway
the " chsOer 4g ~ the sws OF Of the
State Of NewYork the LIST day OF October In the year
tween that day the day OF the taking OF this inqu
stoD, at the City and County aforesaid with force and
ar oaSe G and in he & Of
to wit ahd upon the public sidewalks in certain pub
and which then and there and constantly
used by an aggregate number OF the OF the Guy
and there unawfully, wilfuy, dangerously, and mali
ciOusy maintained the said structures OF iron posts and
iron and wooden rails for the pretended purposes Of
roaroad for the pretended transit over said posts and
men, women and children passengers and that they
the said the West Side and Yonkers Patent Railway
Company then ana there unHwiny wl anti a anG
still maintains the said structures in form ana man
streets aforesaid we're and are obstrcted and rendered
announcement i'm public use and thereby the free passage
Ghs PSd streets @peGed and the public highway
thereby bockaded and the personal safety and securyo
ing driven said streets both beside them and under
said structures OF railway then and there greyousy
And that they said the West Side and Yonker5 Patent
Railway Company then and there unlawf9y, willfuly
dangerously aud maciousy permitted and suffered and
still do unlawfuy, wully, dangerously, and malicious
y permit and suffer the said structure so by them
highways aforesaid in unsafe condition. aud one pre-
judicial to the lives comfort limbs ana personal ecur
Of the large and aggregate numbers OF the inhabitants
who continually and lawfully pass and repass the said
situated and erected aforesaid, well prejudcia
and hazardous by OF its imperfect structure to the
by means of said structure, al of which premises
and by the said the West Side and YOnkers Patent
Railway Company then and there and now done and per
mitted to the great damage and annoyance and
nuisance in life and limb and comfort and Of
the aggregate citizens OF the City OF NewIOrk residing
driving, going returning, passing, repassng and labor
ing in through and along the Aforesaid public streets
avenues and highways, to the EVIL example OF an others
in like offending and against the OF tie people
OF the State of New-lo and their dignity.
5. IL. GARyIN, District-Att0rney.
II is understood that the Company, notice Of
this indictment is served upon them, will make defense
upon the ground that the road is pursuing its legitimate
business under legitimate charter
CITY STEAM RAILROAD PROPOSED.
| To the Edit0r OF The Tribune.
| SIR: At the meeting of the West Side
Association last Thursday evening it proposed that
built by the city in the interest Of the city,
and a city work. This proposition was submitted to
the meeting in welconsdered address and resolutions
by y l.. Church, who put the measure sharply upon the
ground OF public necessity, and supported it by an
appeal TO the arguments which had justified the
construction Government works Of the Croton Aque
duct and the Erie Canal city steam railroad he con-
tended a work Of equal Importance and necessity
the welfare OF this great city The experience OF the
past 10 years had shown that this great work. vitality
necessary was, if left to continue it had been
the football OF private companies to be kicked about
their mutual ealouses and private interests required
could be constructed because the necessary
teal legislation could be attained and that it
moreover against the interest OF the people OF this city,
that this work should be done by any private company
even if the necessary legislation could be secured. In
private hands would be merely speculati0nas pub
lie work. 1t would be for the people sDenet He instanced
the gas monopoes as eontrased with the Croton water
therefore commended that the opening OF new avenue
from the Battery TO the Harlem River, 10 be devoted
cusyey TO railway traffic, and adapted to the city wants
in the present and for all future time was the appropr
money and the means to build the road and at
the right OF way. II this policy adopted the
be almost accomplished fact Nor would such a work,
he contended, done by the city, add dollar to the bur
den Of tax payers "a many might think but on the
trary would not only pay its cost, but add largely
to the revenue Of the city
Others showing that the city had increased pOpua-
ton since 1920 at the average rate OF % per cent every
ton which should have settled here being no longer
able, with the means Of transit afforded, to live further
the sandinto NewJersey and the surrounding country
causing these to grow with pnexamped rapidly while
STILL the increase for the last ten years having been but
l per cent instead Of % per cent for each re years
in the same ratio during the previous fifty years
population should in 1870 have been 1884 instead of
for want OF transit facilities, 4O7 1872 inhabitants and,
Stunning that these would pay much tax per head as
those who here the loss is for this year alone
@ 80 much 10 show the necessity or the OF rapid
transit. Mr. Church next proceeded TO show that the
increased value which would at be given 10 real
estate in two wards alone-tbe Twelfth and Twenty
ond-by the construction Of such road by the city a
thOrtes would not merely the entirenterest the
bonds issued 10 build IT, but would pay very large
plus beside Thus he assumed that the construction OF
such road which would bring these wards 10 within Is
minutes Of wast. and the City Hall practically
than Fourteenthst. now ISL would at least double the
value OF all the real estate in those wards. The total
taxes this levied upon real estate In these two
wards are 81 1862 II the value doubled, then the
taxes would be doubled Also and we should have in
crease OF s229562 The interest on $0O000 ESTIMATED
cost OF rairOad at cent is 100000. Hence this
Increase would pay the entire interest, and leave
plus Of 81 095.3G2 All this without yet taking any
count OF fares, increased values in other wards the
general prosperity which such new advantages would
give TO every branch OF business, all which will put the
question, as one OF economy merely, beyond doubt
Mr.. Church was warmly sustained by Gen. Mansfield
Davis, who offered similar resolutions In simpler FORM
rs an amendment, which was accepted ly Mr. Church
The resolutions were received with evident favor by
large majority or those present, AMI would have been
adopted apparently by reclamation haf vote on them
been then taken; but Col Vandenburg OF the Central
Underground came forward opposing any resolutions
which contained request 10 the Legislature TO empower
the city authorities TO build railroad for rapid transit
through the city, and history OF his trials during
nve years In Albany TO get charter for his Under
certainly build such railroad II permitted and that the
city authorities would If authorized. Mr. Smith OF
the Arcade Railroad supported him in the same views,
substituting only his Arcade for the Underground 10
was largely in favor OF city road. All the resolutions
were finally referred TO the Executive Committee, with
Instructions 10 report at the next meeting. q. A.
Aen-lork, Dec ~ 1870
NAVAL NOTES