The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-16
RAPID TRANSIT.
HOW and by Whom It Ie Said
To Be Opposed.
TARDY ORGANIZATION.
Another Meeting To Be
Held To-Day.

The subject OF rapid transit is almost completely
at the disposal Of the Legislature. That body can
temporarily prevent the citizens Of New York from
acquiring the means to transport themselves from
place 10 place in the city with rapidly, or II car
put those means Immediately Within their grasp.
whether or not the Legislature Is alive 10 the i'm.
pOrtance to New York OF this matter, TO which its
vote may be decisively opposed for time or i'm
peratively favorable, 1t Is din1cult to discover
here. The sub committee Of the Assembly which
sat this city for two or three hours one day last
month went away to Al any apparently SATISFIED
that rapid transit was a necessity to New York
city. and o thing which ought to be achieved
speedily. Yet, for more than month, nothing
has come forth from that subcommittee; and In
the meantime 1t has been rumored here that 1t Is
TRAIroROUs TO TIE METROPOLIS.
1t has been said to have among its numbers
men VINO, while not openly opposing the accom-
pllshment OF rapid transit, would still, IN tns
interest OF their great individual political patron.
use every stratagem 70 betray the pubic. The
individual patron spoken OF has been named as
Thurlow Weed; and 1t Is said that this eminent
politician has set every machine at his hand
working to defeat rapid transit. Whether this ID
true or Is not there are no means to determine.
Whenever any trouble occurs IN connection with
legislative Affairs some scapegoat Is selected upon
whom to bestow oil the blame Tor the difficulty.
That scapegoat is not necessarily legislator. He
may be lobbyist or he may be some renowned
wirepuller. Mr.. Weed is the scapegoat who IL
now reported to be .'bucking" the rapid transit
train.
There is certainly some evidence In favor OF the
theory that he ts opposing the accomplishment Of
rapid transit; but there is none to show that the
subcommittee of'tne Assembly is Influenced BY
him, unless IL be found IN the Hardness OF that
body to prepare and report Dill. Mr. Weed ia a
stockholder in several OF the city horse car rail-
ways and is a director in one or two OF the com
panies. His principal interest, however, is said
to be in the Third Avenue Railway Company, and
1t IS that corporation which has for years urged
on the opposition to schemes for the speedy trans.
portation OF passengers through the city Its
money has been freely used. and 1t has appealed
successfully to ali the other railroad corporations
for aid In its covert
CAMPAIGNS IN THE LEGISLATURE.
The reports which have become public or the
annual receipts and the expenditures OF the Third
Avenue company do not give evidence OF money
having been spent by it In lighting against rapid
transit; but there 10 In existence at least one re-
port, made secretly to stockholders in the COM
pany, which does tell how much money had thus
been spent.
Yet it matters little who opposes the building Of
rapid transit railways through New York city; 1t
remains a TACT that sucn railways must be built.
Rapid transit Is desired by most OF the people OF
New lOrk, anu OUlv LnOSe PERSONS oppose IL whose
interests 1t would undo Notwithstanding this
fact, no real, energetic attempt has been made so
lar to organize the aspirants Tor 1t. There
has been, indeed, much talk about ~,
aud o number OF subscribers to "De.
ferred Capital Fund" nave met several times
without ever doing ANYTHING of real Importance.
They have talked about organizing the peop.e
into "rapid transit clubs" but they have not
alter almost three montns OF planning. even
formed Il definite organization OF themselves.
They propose now TO complete their own organ.
OF clubs. But 1t Is likely that even II they sue.
coed IN forming few ward ORGANIZATIONS the
latter will not be in working order until after the
Legislature has adjourned, having denuitely dis
posed OF the matter OF rapid transit Tor season at
least. rhe call was issued a. first, IN accordance
with resolution adopted last Monday, Tor the
subscribers to the Deferred Capital Fund" to
meet Yesterday, put the meeting was not held
then. lr Will be held to-day. The reason Tor the
postponement Will be explained IN the iullowing
card from the Chairman oil the previous meet.
iugs:-
The meeting Of the New York Rapid Transit Aesocia.
ton called for Monday next, At two NJ ct the Cham
Der OF Commerce. Is postponed until tuesday March L.
Same hour and place OH account OF meeting OF ha
Chamber OF Commerce to be held Monday at two p. NJ
b. l.. ACKERNANN, Chairman
There will be o meeting OF the members OF the
Municipal Reform Association OF the Seventh AS.
sembly district at No. as Washington square,
South. this evening. Tie subject OF rapid transit
Is to be discussed, and the principal Speakers are
to be William Oland Bourne and stephen Angel
The FORMER gentleman viii speak upon the neces.
silly for having rapid means OF gong rom the
Bowling Green to the Harlem River. and the latter
Trans" General Lloyd Aspinwall will preside at
the IN acting