The New York herald., 1872-02-20
RAPID TRANSIT In NEW YORK-A LETTER
FROM JOHN FOLEY.

25e BROADWAY, NEW YORK, Feb. IL, 1871.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
SIR-I read with much interest your exec lien
as Chairman OF the Citizens Reform Association
and the Committee OF Ninety please permit me %
say that there Is no clashlng OF views in the COM
mlttee whatever. True, at our last meeting one or
two new members, just admitted, and who attended
only meeting undertook to disorganlze and pro-
mote some scheme or patent OF their own. With this
article on rapid transit in Mondays HERALD, bus
exception our committee have been and are per-
unit in support Of the bill just introduced In the
Legislature and proposed by the Committee Of
Ninety. Our association have for years
aided nearly all projects TO solve this
great work. We have sent committees 70
Albany and publicly endorsed the Beach and other
plans Till we are tired, for all OF them nave failed
for want OF funds or other causes. 1t Is enough
for the people that SO far, have no relief after
waiting several years for the many spectators to
provide rapid transit. Our association ls at lass
forced to drop all plans, patents and speculators
and demand from our Legislature that the people OF
this city be allowed to settle the question Tor them-
selves. After long experience OF the members OF
this organization. who have given more attention
to this important subject than any set OF men In our
city, convinced tnat IL Is Tor the best inter-
ests or our people that the whole question shouio
be referred to commission oil good, responAoe
TnIs being ihe greatest want and the most I'M
portant work before our people, and the 6lll hkey
iuli and see II q Job can oe found ~ II. II any
fault, we desire TO know 1t at once. Tne ComMAs-
VIM. A. Booth, Jonathan Sturges, John T. DAY.
Myer Stern Peter Gisey. BenJ f. Beekman, X W.
II the city builds the road the fare will only bs
enough to pay expenses. ii built by corporation
how pilt the people must pay Tor it; yet the great
loss OF time in morse cars and the immense loss OF
s want IN pa o a ni sna
would more than pay the whole cost OF construction
IN twelve months. II tins commission is created, is
Ofice to F0rty-second street in ten minutes, and
that too, within eighteen months from date. Trains
Will be prOv1ued to accommodate the working peo-
pie morning and evening" fare not TO exceed three
cents; the ave or six Thousand poor nen recently
discharged can be employed with advantage within
sixty days. No g0od objection can be advanced
against TINS Board OF Railway Commissioners that
against the Dock, Park ana other Commissions, BE-
cause rapid transit is more needed than either
w Or esn "a aG IN and
perity than any work contemplated for years.
tis dlsgraceul ior any civilized people 70 sunms
tised by the owners OF the City morse cars nangn,9
passengers by straps, while riding several imaGs ME-,
at speed OF tour miies an h0ur: our1y
we have suriered long enougn-tne remedy Is with
the people-and now Is the time lor tne pfSss 20
In session. Inc specuators VINO nave 20 long de-
ceved must be forced aside Dy v zig a s
smrey n1 nrov,aes Tor the immediate construction or
the road After most tnor0ugn anu CaIeiM . c0n-
sideration of the whole diiculty our committee are
fully convinced tnat the passage Oh tnis act via
result for the best interest OF our peGpie anu CITY:
In nreparin0 the 0 to present TO the Legislature 1t
was necessary to name some persons as Commits.
siOners. 1t Is expected that tne Legislature VIII
CHANGE the names Oh some OF the Com mlssiOners,
none of wnOm are anxious 10 serve, and all are only
0esIrous TO have the ocst men appointed. Inc ad-
vantares OF this bill are, as the committee deem,
tnat tine road will be bullt Immediately by private
Capital II it can be obtained, and II not then by the
u,e of the credit the city Tor the benefit and to
be owned by the ctty. JOuN FOLEY
President OF the Citizens' Reform Association.