New-York tribune., 1873-02-28
THE CTTYS HARDEST PROBLEM.

A COMPARISON OF THE SCHEMES OF RAPID
TRANsIT-THE BEACH UNDERGROUND ELL
AND BETTER ROUTE FOR THE GILBERT
RAILWAY FAVORED BY THE WEST SIDE AsSO-
CATION.
The West Side Association have issued what
it calls Summary of the Rapid Transit Question" In
which the various schemes that have been discussed for
10 years past reviewed, and the conclusions are
reached that capital should have chance and that the
Beach Underground bill should be passed, and the Gil
bert.Elevated Railway be given good route The main
propositions and conclusions OF the Association will be
found below:
F,rst. Captal IA the first condition Money must he
sources ordinary railroad enterprises or from the
city The movement TO have the road built as
public work proceeds on the idea that private capital
fails or refuses to touch IT,
Second: Private capital viii Insist on free route and
free PLAN that is the route and plan must be deter
mined from the point Of view OF the who propose TO
put their money In 1t. and not by other contradictory
Third The route must be one which road can be
built route where the travel Hos, so that 1t Will pay
and the plan, underground or elevated. must be one
adapted to route, and which be constructed at
low enough To There Is great difersnoe III
this respect between different routes aud plans.
Fourth An existing street must be used, and not a
new street opened There streets enough already.
To make new street through the length OF the lsland
improved and valuable property Will cost so much
that it will not pay. railroad on plan adapted to
does not nure on the contrary 1t w benefit the
street The value OF the street depends on the travel
upon it, TO increase by this travel aud to
concentrate it on a street fixes Its supremacy.
capta to determine whether it win build the road that
is free route and free plan must be offered TO it.
Transit and killed projects authorized by the Legs
aure have been restrictions on the route aud plan by
legislatye amendments restrictions. and mpracticable
proylsons by the opposition OF local property TO
routes themselves good for the people and acceptable
SerenM: There are existing illustrations OF this Tbe
Underground road under broadway the metropolitan
Transit Company, the Gilbert Elevated Road and other
schemes OF rapid transit are here explainedD
Eighth All the different projects for rapid transit are
llk na
should have good ana @ roaIe anu III M mt 10
projects, and it is their only test.
Ninth The idea that the city shall build tho road as
Capital refuses This IS erroneous Private capital has
yet,had free route, nor good route aud free
reasons OF public policy and prevailing against
such undertaking by the city III could only be lust
capital had had opportunity and could not do it.
What the city would gain by building and owning the
could be secured by aid TO private road from the city,
by subscribing Its stock guaranteeing its interest
the fares This would be the true principle OF compen-
sutton the city for what they contribute by the
OF the streets TO the Railroad Company.
Tenth: What We want is not simple line of rapid
transit, but s.stm This can be easily gained By exist
ing charters, with few amendments. II Beach's road
ran underground In Broadway, from the Battery 90
Fifty-nnth.st. dyergns at by Madison;
route II the Gilbert Elevated Road made the circuit OF
the Island from the Battery 10 the Harlem River the
east side by the Tnrdaye., and by good route the
side. and then by branch or parallel border road
touched the second OF
boat landing on the East and North Rivers below Cham
bers-st with lew obvious branches and connections.
then we would have complete and the best system OF
comprehensive rapid transit for the whole Island by
which all points OF approach and departure for travellers
and all residences and business sections would be
sbe each other These the roads and the only
that 1t will now pay " build Capital should have
q chance. ...--
Eleventh: These convictions upon which every
Sn G @ psops w as he% ' anS
act there but little to be done. First let the Beach
Underground bill be passed; second give the Gilbert
Elevated Railroad good route. Keep them free from
all strikers, unjust restrictions and the personal antag
onIsm of individual interest aud local property
them meet the just and fair requirements OF
the who viii put their money IN them and build
them.
T,coifut Then shall have rapid transit, Without
10 the city under heavy debt and taxation with its nat
ural growth wealth, population ana enterprise fed
upon by It's nogaDos s gong lnio remodoss disaster
By rapid lIaIisit Of whIeh " DO