New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-06

pIpID TRfASIT


Mr. Eastman OF Poughkeepse, the chairman
of the Assembly Committee on Cities, has
come to the rescue of New York with bill "to
provide rapid transit for passengers. freight,
I" and postal service" We believe it is the
first bill for that purpose which has not been
introduced in the interest either of specua-
tors, blackmailcrs, or the existing horse-rall-
road companies, aud Mr.. Eastman Is entitled
TO our thanks for his unsellish attempt to solve
for orr benefit the problem which has veXed
ia for 80 many years. The most remarkable
characteristic of his scheme is its heroic cons
tempt for NJ, sou, ~ ,...ncuitics lie proposes
TO create a commission of five persons, two to
he appointed by the Governor, one by the
Mayor, and two by The Judges of the Supreme
Court in this district whose duty il shall be
to give us rapid transit as far rs FOrty-second-
at. in one year. and "a far as the Harlem
River in two. They shall choose their own
plans and private capitalists will not furnish
the money, the city shall pay Whatever may be
necessary, no limit being set to the expense.
The Commissioners shall be appointed OH or
before the 18th of June, take Office on the LIST
of July, advertise for plans within ten days
of their appointment open the plans on the
LIST of August make their selection and award
a prize of $4,000 TO the best within the next
fortnight, and then get right to work. They
may determine the route, and use all or any
portion OF any other railroad track now or
hereafter land in the streets and avenues of
tho city. Books shall be open two months for
subscription to the capital stock. AT the end
of that time, if enough has not been taken,
4. I.alI fint with
the Governor, Mayor, Judges of the Supreme
Court of this district, President of the Board
of Aldermen, Commissioner OF Public WORKS
and Controller, and vote OF two-thlrds snail
determine whether the city shall bear part
or the whole of the cost. If the necessary
real estate cannot be acquired by an amlcable
arrangement with the owners, at price not
above its market value, 1t may be
taken at an appraised valuation. The
Commissioners shall then proceed to construct
the road "in such manner as they deem BEST
They are TO audit all their own accounts to
receive $4,000 year each, with additional
conversation to be fixed by themselves for
one of their number, who is to devote his
whole time 10 the work as managing commits
siOner: and TO hold Office for five years
the road, in whole or in part, directors are to
be elected by the stockholders otherwise three
Commissioners are TO be appointed in the
same manner as the first board, and to serve
three years. If it is private road, ten per
cent of the net profits shall be paid into the
city treasury.
OF course there are many strong objections
to this plan Of Mr. Eastman's. The provision
that the road may use any of the existing
tracks is exceedingly unwise. All the rail-
WAYS in the city are needed for the local
traffic, and to put fast trains upon them would
not only interfere with the safety of the
streets but greatly impede travel, TO say moth
ing of the hostility which the bare suggestion
of it arouses against the bill in all railroad
circles. Whatever route we have must be
strictly an addition to the existing routes,
and wholly independent of them all.
The thine fixed for the completion
of the work is too short suppose
the Commissioners decide upon a tunnel
still no penalty is attached to violation Of
this provision, and 1t may be regarded as Il
mere declaration. In case the money Is sub
scrbed by private persons, they VIII have no
control over the expenditure OF it, nor any over
the road until nearly three years after the
date fixed for its completion; and there is no
check upon the possible extravaganza OF the
Commissioners, upon favoritism in letting out
the work, or upon dishonesty IN the accounts.
In case the city is required to undertake the
work. the Controller must issue bonds on the
rcGuisition of the Commissioners " for period
"to be determined 10y the Commissioners
together with the Controller and Mayor" and
he must also tissue revenue bonds in antlcl-
"pation of the revenues to be derived from
taxation for the next year, sufficient to meet
"the demands or expenditures as certified to
"by said Commissioners 1t is not clear what
is meant by this double issue of bonds; but it
would seem as if Mr. Eastman expected the
city to pay for the whole work as 1t went on,
by anticipating the taxes of the next year.
Tho result of the bill would certainly be to
throw the cost of rapid transit road entirely
upon ithe city treasury, and we do not be-
lieve the taxpayers are yet ready for such "a
tremendous addition to their burdens. When
ever they do assume such a work they will
require stronger guarantees than this measure
offers for its faithful performance.
Americans will take a particular interest IN the
nj IL s.H. L.aNa ra