The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-03
Rapid Transit-Why Should the Legis-
lature Hesttatet


conduct their own affairs we should not be
long without rapid transit. But, unfortu-
nately, jobbery interferes to prevent honest
legislation, and the schemes of lobbyists are
considered in preference to the true interests
OF the people. It is because Senators and
Assemblymen believe that there is o mint Of
money in rapid transit In New York, and de-
sire to secure share of the spoils, directly or
indirectly for themselves, that we are to-day
without steam railways through the city. The
question as to the necessity of rapid COM
munication is not an open one. 1t
is settled by the established facts
within the reach of every legislator.
Before the city had stretched out so far from
the business centre our increase in population
was large. Prior to 1850 the average increase
for each five years was at the ratio of twenty
eight per cent. Between 1850 and 1860 the
population increased nearly ffty-eight per
cent, while in the following decade the in
crease was only little over thirteen per cent,
If our former ratio of increase had been kept
up we should to-day have population Of
nearly one million and half, exclusive OF the
newly annexed towns of Westchester county.
On the other hand, the ratio in Brooklyn and
the towns in New Jersey lying within twenty
five miles of New York largely increased be-
tween 1860 and 1870, showing that the bust
ness people of New York were driven out
of the city and compelled to seek homes
across the rivers. This was caused by the
impossibility of getting homes in New York
that could be reached in reasonable time with
out living in crowded tenement houses and
unhealthy localities.
Again, the sanitary statistics show that,
with naturally healthy city, we swell our
bills Of mortality by overcrowding the popu-
lation. The reports of commissions from
time to time appointed to consider the impor-
tant subject of our sanitary condition have
agreed that this is the principal cause of dis
ease and death. Some of the wards of New
York are more densely packed than any por-
tons Of any other city in the world. In some
localities we have population Of two hundred
and forty thousand to the square mile, while
the most densely populated district in London
has but one hundred and seventy-six thousand
to the square mile. These statistics carry
with them the proof that we are de-
moralizing the people and breeding
crime as well as disease through our
neglect of those accommodations which would
scatter our population and enable families to
seek healthful homes at reasonable rents in
the upper part of the city. Hence we say
that the question Of the necessity of rapid
transit is not an open one, and that our legis-
lators can require no argument or investiga-
ton to convince them of the propriety of
passing law to authorize the construction Of
steam railways in New York.
Even the question whether such roads
would at once pay profit to their construct
ors, while one with which the Legislature has
nothing to do, is settled affirmatively by facts
within the reach OF every representative.
The statistics of the city horse car lines prove
that the present travel would give to rapid
transit road two hundred million passen-
gers in the year. At a low rate of
fare this would pay a handsome profit
on the cost of viaduct road and few people
will doubt that the travel would be nearer
four hundred million than half that amount.
Why, then, does the Legislature hesitate to
give the city the necessary authority to build
the road, unless from desire to make prof
liable job out Of some individual scheme for
securing the franchise? The increase of the
city is checked, the value of property is at
standstill, our population is moving steadily
| off into another county or into another State,
| the public health and public morals are suffer
ing, and the people are put to serious annoy
ance, inconvenience and loss for the want of
rapid transit. What but corrupt motives can
induce the Legislature to withhold the boon
from the city? There can surely be no OBJ
lection on principle to the proposition to
give the people of New York the right to
decide this matter for themselves. What we
ask is, that the Legislature shall appoint
or authorize the Governor to appoint, thor
oughly unexceptionable rapid transit commits
sion composed Of citizens in whose integrity,
energy and capacity the whole community
will have confidence, and that to this commits
sion shall be assigned the duty of deciding
upon the plans for rapid transit and of build
ing the road or roads. IF there should be any
doubt as to the desire of the people to do the
work themselves provision might be made for
vote upon the law at the next election This
should certainly satisfy all scruplss Will the
present Legislature give us such law and
close the door Of legislation in the face of all
lobby schemes and fraudulent propositions,
or will it be content to share the bad reputation
that attaches to SO many of its predecessors
| The STORY OF THE RUNNING Down Of the
British ship Ellen Constance by the Spanish
be scarcely credible but for the well known
cruelty and recklessness of the Spaniards. 1t
is difficult to believe that the collision was not
! Intentional esneciallu in view Of the brutal