The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-11-19


York-shaIl We Have Rapid Transit
Through the Citys
There are but very few Of the citizens OF
New York who thoroughly comprehend the
great future that is in store for the metropo-
lis of the United States Our people gener-
ally are so busily engaged in the affairs Of the
present moment and 80 accustomed to con-
centrate their whole attention on the enter
prises and speculations Of to-day, that they do
not allow themselves time to look into the
distance and reflect upon the wonderful
growth and development that assuredly await
this city. Yet it is only necessary to recall to
mind the progress that has been made In
the last twenty years to appreciate
what the next quarter Of CEN
fury must bring forth. Hitherto the
increase of the city has been comparatively
slow, for the reason that all those great i'm
provements that SO materially aid the growth
of metropolis have been wanting. Our
means of transit have been insufficient; our
miles of docks have been neglected; our
streets have been contracted and badly kept,
and we have had to struggle against all those
hardships and inconvenience common to any
young and rapidly growing city, but which are
aggravated in the case of New York from the
peculiar shape of the island. We are only
just beginning to shake of our lethargy and
to understand what posterity requires
of us. Our railroad connection with
the Pacific makes us the centre and
connecting link of the world in commerce
and news. We now find the removal of the
distractions atEHell Gate necessity, in order
not only that we may shorten the distance
between New York and Europe, but that we
may open up to the commerce of the world
the magnificent dockage on our East side.
With the swelling of our population comes the
absolute need of rapid transit through the
island and suburbs, and we discover that we
can no longer delay the construction of some
sort of railway on which steam may
be used. In fact, the people have
awakened from their Rip Van Wrinkle
sleep, and are resolved to catch up
with the rest of the world, and not
to suffer New York to remain any longer
behind London, Paris and other great cities in
the improvements that modern ingenuity has
invented for the advantage of large communi-
ties. To be sure, few stupid people con-
tinue to cry out against expenditure and tax
alton, and are anxious to adhere to that short
sighted policy which, in striving to save
cent loses hundreds of dollars but the cti-
zens generally are alive to the wisdom and
advantage of liberal development of our
magnificent resources, and are willing to pay
freely for improvements that must contribute
hundred-fold to their own enjoyment and
profit. They do not object to be taxed when
their money is honestly expended in the interest
of the city. They do object to being robbed,
and their recent uprising at the polls is a proof
of their determination to put stop to official
peculation. They are ready at any moment
to give just as emphatic verdict in favor of
broad, liberal policy of internal improve
ment, by which New York may be more
speedily made what she is assuredly destined
eventually to become-the greatest CONNER
cial metropolis Of the world.
There is no public enterprise in which the
bulk of the people have SO deep an interest as
in that which contemplates railway from
end to end of the island, with cars propelled
by steam. This is their great need. At
present our laboring classes and all persons
of moderate means who are compelled to earn
their bread by Their work are driven to the
necessity of either living in close, unhealthy
oIo ~
poorest kind Of dwellings, or of add
ing to their daily toll the wearying
task of travelling two or three hours
in horse car. Their comfort, their health
and their morals would be advantaged if they
could get beyond the reach Of the impurities
of crowded city, and secure clean, wholesome
and respectable homes. Steam communication
would bring Harlem and Kingsbridge closer
to the City Hall than Thirtieth street is to-day.
The immense extent of territory that would be
opened up to the middle and poorer classes
for dwellings would cheaper rents and
families would secure better accommodations
at lower prices than they are paying to-day.
1t would be impossible to enumerate within
the space of newspaper article the benefits
that would be conferred upon the people at
large, and the increase that would take place
in the value of property all over the upper
part of the island, by the construction of such
railroad along the east and west
sides of the city. The act that
was. passed by the last State Leglsla-
ture to incorporate the New York Railroad
Company contemplates this desirable improve
ment, and there is no good reason why the
work should not be at once commenced. The
recent municipal troubles pushed the enter
prise aside for the moment, and the presence
of some of the public officers who were impli-
Gated in the city frauds on the Board Of
Direction seemed to cast discredit upon the
whole concern. But the charter is good one,
coraft,lIy ordad aficianf for tho ar.