The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-19

Tho New Modes Of Rapid Transit.
The acceptance Of the viaduct plan by the
Legislature, as the proper method Of rapid
transit for New York city, has put ell the other
experimental companies on their mettle.
There is In consequence spirited competitive
exhibition Of rapid transit qualities going on
among the many new devices which inventive
genius has gotten up. The underground mon
were reported tunneHing about Madison ave-
nue. some time ago with desperate energy tho
pneumatic people keep up prominent show
Of what they have done, although they do not
seem inclined to do anything more except coin
quarters for admittanoe to the curiosity; the
square-shaped and awkward cabs are contiuu-
ously dragging themselves about the public
thoroughfares at dlscouragingly slow pace,
looking for social parties Of four to hire them
while that much-derlded one-legged railway
on Greenwich street. having Invested itself Of
stationary engines, revolving belta and run
ming gear and boldly adopted dummy engines,
sends its trains Of oars cavogting and careering
through aerial space from Dey street to Thir-
tieth et the rate Of ten trips day, and IN the
space Of fifteen minutes each, Ground for the
viaduct route has hardly been broken Yet, and
unless 1t Is hurried up some Of these new
methods may take such hold upon public
favor that when It is finished the people will
no longer need it.
The mistakes in the cab system We have al
ready shown. The cabs are built for too many
passengers, they charge too much, and they are
patrons most satisfaction. II four persons, all
scquaintances, want to 60 from one point to
another together, the cab may be just the We
hiole for them; but even then the objections
intervene that tho four are likely to be
crowded il they are Of average size, the load
Is heavier than tho horse ought to draw,
and the drivers are predisposed to drive
very slowly at best. The cabs ought to be
built for two passengers inside, with room for
third next the driver If necessary, and an
open front view for passengers. They should
have stout, fast horses, and should 60 from
point to point at full trot. When these con-
ditions are filled, and tho charges are lowered,
and cabs are thickly scattered all over the city,
probably they may be considered public con-
venience.
The Greenwich street railway appears so far
to be tho most prominent success in the line Of
rapid transit. 1t has persevered steadily
against evil report and the opposition of rival
companies ever since its inception, and it has
now line over which Its cars actually make
the rapid transit up and down town about
which the people have been dreaming, as a
thing of fairyland, ever since our streets be-
came crowded. or course the Greenwich
street route has It's drawbacks. It
is q frail-looking structure, being one-legged,
as we say, and tho community generally dis
trusts its ability to carry heavy loads with secu-
rlty But it was severely tested on two
occasions fresh in the memories of tho
citizens, and 1t only broke down at one
point, where there was sharp curve. That
point has been rendered stronger than ever,
and it Is confidently stated by the directors
that tho road is now fully equal to all emer-
gencies throughout its whole length. Another
drawback Is that it has only one track, but
another is soon to be built, and the train
makes the trip so rapidly that even with one
track vast deal of time Is saved compared
with the time of the surface routes. Then the
dummy engine is apt to scare horses on tho
streets below, though city horses, according
to the directors, get used to 1t very readily.
All these drawbacks, however, may be reme-
died In time, and even then the one-legged
railway viii prove an immense public con-
venience.
The energy which these rival corporations
exhibit Is timely hint to the Vaduct men.
They must hurry up. 1t is race now for the
patronage Of the people, and first come will
| be first served.