The New York herald., 1875-07-15
The Rapid Transit Commission ana
Its Labors.

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The gentlemen who have accepted positions
on the Rapid Transit Commission have as
sumed very grave responsibility. They
have taken into their hands tho most impor-
tant interest of the city. Upon the ability and
honesty with which they perform the duty
imposed upon them depends tho success or
failure Of the great public improvement for
which the people have been clamoring for the
past ten years. The necessity for rapid
transit is no longer a debatable question.
Every person comedies that the growth of the
city, the prosperity of its property owners,
the health, comfort and moral advancement
of its population, depend largely upon the
successful solution OF this question OF this
time. While the State Legislature held sole
control of the matter the interests adversely
affected were enabled to defeat all rapid transit
projects or to SO hamper and embarrass them
as to deprive them of the confidence of capi-
talists. Now that the power is in the hands
! of honorable business men, residents of the
city, and possessing the respect and confidence
of the community, we need be under no
further apprehension of favoritism or corrup-
ton. All we have to urge upon the Commits
sioners is that they will lose no time in de-
Gliding the two points upon which we believe
will depend the fate of the project-frst the
selection of the route for the proposed road,
and next, the selection Of the plan upon
which it is to be built As to the route, there
appears to be no doubt that Third avenue,
the Bowery, and 30 to the City Hall or the
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the public and the most tempting induce
ments to capital The location Is central; the
line runs along district built up contnu-
ously to Harlem Bridge; the travel is larger
than over any other avenue. These facts
seem to preclude the idea of any other route
for new through road, especially as the west
side Of the city has the accommodation of the
Greenwich street elevated line.
The plan accepted by the Commission
should commend itself by its simplicity and
evident practicability to the common sense Of
the people and the confidence of capitalists,
and should not be too costly. 1t is essential
that the road shall afford all the accommoda-
ton as to the running of trains now found on
the Third avenue horse car line, and that the
fare shall be so low as to enable the laboring
classes to use it as they now use the horse
cars. A tender to o through railroad, q line
partly for passengers and partly for freight,
or rate Of fare that would exclude the poorer
classes would be only mockery, and would
accomplish none of the good results hoped for
from rapid transit. Hence the Importance of
thorough investigation of all proposed plans
by competent persUus, 50 unat the one decided
upon may not only assure the construc-
ton of the road, but may promise
o rate of fare within the reach of
laboring men, workwomen and others
of limited means. AS the greatest danger Of
an undue attempt TO control the Commission
is to be feared on the question OF the selec-
ton of plan, we have deplored the secret
session policy initiated at Tuesdays meeting.
Projectors are jealous and suspicious, and, of
course, prejudiced in favor of their own plans.
1t is better that all should be allowed to at
tend the regular meetings of the Board, SO
that there may be no ground for the slightest
! insinuation of partiality or jobbery. No per-
son who knows the Commissioners will charge
them with unfairness, but they cannot afford
to be suspected even by strangers. AT the
same time they must necessarily hold consul
tations in private and canine critically, with
the aid of competent engineers, the details of
every plan. This must be work of time,
and the number of projects submitted to them
already proves that their labors will be heavy.
No proposition should be rejected or slighted
until found to be impracticable.
The hints as to 'iron interests are un-
worthy of attention, since everybody believes
that the structure must necessarily be Of iron.
The questions to be decided are as we have
plans have already received the Endorsement
of well known engineers and constructors as
to their practicability. The Gilbert road has
been examined both In England and the
United States, and so far as the plan of con-
struction goes, has been approved The Nor
gan plan, which contemplates a road resting
on arches, forming sort of ribbed tunnel
has passed the test of several prominent eng-
neers. The Williams Il Catherwood plan
known as the cable road, has received the in
dorsement of the two Newtons, General
Mcclellan, General Davies and other en-
gineers. Mr.. Williams, one of the inventors
himself an engineer of high reputation died a
short time ago, but Mr.. Catherwood
the survivor. is an old and expe-
rienced railroad constructor There are
other projects, no doubt, indorsed by com
petent, practical authority, and all should be
considered fairly on their merits. As we have
said, no proposition should be denied fair
examination, for the question of construction
is one of the most important upon which
the Commission will be called to act. clear
field and no favor is all the projectors can ask.
The Commission should assure them this
much by holding open sessions for the re-
| cantion of DIans After that thev con invas