The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-21
RAPID TRANSIT.
What tho West Side Association Suggest
as q ISOLATION Of the Problem.

as ISOLATION of the Problem.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALp:-
The West Side Association have heretofore con-
tributed IN forming public opinion upon the neces-
sty ana means OF accomplishing rapid transit on
this island. II seems now to be the important
question to concentrate public opinion on prac-
ticable pian Much Is lost by difference OF OPINION
arising from incomplete and partial views; much
will be gained by comprehension OF the neces-
sary conditions of this problem and by uniting In
plan in which these conditions are met. These
conditions are threefOld, viz. -
First-Legislative authority
SecOnd-Fhe plan and route.
Th6U-Ihe capital to construct.
These conditions have been heretofore taken up
in the order In which they are above stated-that
is, the thing has proceeded IN this way:-The Leg
islature has granted charter to projectors, and
has ned the charter with restrictions and EN-.
barraSSInentS. Tnen plan ana route nave been
adopted wnicn have laiied to meet the tests which
engineers have applied, and capitalists have re-
fused to put their money in IT,
These conditions must now be met in reverse
order.
Engineers and contractors of experience, who
have built and who know now to build railroads,
must determine upon plan and route Ill cOnIunc.
ton with men OF Capital aud il must be plan and
route which men with money will approve.
Their approval VIII ne upon these giOunds-that,
considering the route and Its coincidence with the
natural lines OF travel; the plan, whether Gle waited
or underground and the cost OF construction; the
rate OF are, the enterprise will pay for tine invest
ment not seven per cent stmply-ior money here Is
energy and attenfion-but pay seven per ceat on
reasonable amount OF bonds anu TWO three
times that on the capital stock above the bonds.
Then such men, with sUcn plan and route, should
go to the Legislature and get q good charter on
whlcn they can build road They would not even
start on charter filed With clauses fruitful OF iti-
cations. distractions and damages
Ali the charters that have been granted and the
failure Of eacn to accomplish anytning illustrate
tn w 10 "a mi
talist and the engineer or with such a c0mblna-
ton. ii John iay.or Johnston and sydney Dillon
islature give them leave TO do IT, 1t could be done.
There are other men, but l name those VINO are
We'll known as an Illustration.
1here are several other points on which public
opinion ought to be Settled and united and so
push sOlidly iOr the result
FtrSt-1here Should not De q single line, but 8
system OF Roads, concdlng with the lines Oh travel
and connecting with all points OF approach aud
departure and with the city centres.
SecOnd-An elevated road can be built at less
cost tnan an underground. 1t would not pay to
line OF the greatest travel OF the class who would
pay the highest fare-that is on Broadway
Insrd-lhough an elevated road might inJure
any other or secondary avenue. The cOncenLra-
ton and increase OF travel on any secondary ave-
venences or INJURIES and largely increase the value
OF the pr perty. High value on main thrOugnfare
depends on tos concentration of travel through 1t.
There Is no secondary avenue on the island where
the travel and value would not be doubled In ten
years by an elevated road the avenue selected
on each side OF the island Will become the most
valuable.
F0urth-It is not necessary to lay out new
street, or acquire right OF way through private
property, because there are streets enough now ;
enough oil the surface is already given up for
streets. These secondary streets would not be in.
Jured but benefited, and IL would so greatly IN
crease the cost or the road as TO diminish the
profits and deter capital No capitalist VIII
favor so great an outlay Tor land tor new street
rather than take an existing street.
FWh-1he city ought to aid in building 1t by
loaning their money and credit. or by endorsing
the bonds OF private company or ii this IS in.
etlectual, by building 1t as a public work by ill.,
difference during the last ten years. we have lost
half million oil population and $500, COO 900 of tax
able property. The, have been drawn away to the
SUBURBS. Ii we allow the half million OF popuia-
ton and $50O,000,0 900 OF taxable property which
during the next ten years Will gather around tins
metropolis to settle IN New Jersey and on Long
Island. and q i've them from tas island, the city
will be bankrupt This IS the policy OF the Mayor and
the Comptroller: but the evil Is not without
remedy.
StEth-On the line OF any proposed road the narrow
views OF property owners, whether OF Mr.. Stewart
On Broadway, OF the residents on the Second ave-
nue. or the store keepers on the Sixth. must give
Way; they must open their eyes to the real bene-
hts ana be silent in view OF the public good.
limit myself to the statement OF these general
principles, without discussing them. We must
comprehend the principles and the necessary con-
ditlOns OF the problem, and then unite public
opinion In support OF the men who Will undertake
any plan TO accomplish the necessary result. Very
respectfully, WILLIAM II. MARTIN,
President West Side Association.
NEW YORK. Jan. 20. 1874.