The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-04
The First Solid steps Toward Rapid
Transit.

The excellent selections made by Mayor
WickhAm in filling the Rapid Transit Com
mission give good hope that we are at Last ON
the right road. and that the law Of last
session, after all its Vicissitudes, will be sue
cessfully carried out. The citizens who now
have control of the matter have these positive
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS are not interested in
any particular route or in any particular plaI
of rapid transit; they are indepen-
dent of the influences of any existing
corporations they are capable, practical
business men, and they are in position to
command the confidence of capital We may
therefore, rest satisfied that they will do two.
things essential to the success of the great un-
dertaking for which they are now respon-
sible-frst, select the route that promises the
largest amount OF travel, without regard To
any outside interest, and, next, decide upon
such plan of construction as may be found
to be the most feasible. When these points
are satisfactorily settled there wilt be no diff
fculty in raising the money necessary to build
the road, especially as the business standing
OF the Commissioners will be ill the security
capitalists can require that the plans agreed
upon VIII be faithfully carried out.
In deciding on a route for road the
location of residences in the upper part of the
city will, Of course, be considered. In future
years, when the population OF New York will
number more than London and Paris COM
bined, we shall no doubt have all the rapid
transit we require as London has to-day.
But at the present time in locating q rapid
transit road we must look to the promise Of
immediate profit, or we shall not secure the
capital necessary to construct the work. II is
exceedingly fortunate, therefore, that the
Mayor has selected Commissioners who can
decide calmly and impartially on this vital
point for the interests that for years have
successfully opposed rapid transit in the State
Legislature will spare no exerlons and no
outlay to embarrass and impede it now that
its fate is in our own hands. We already
discover indications OF this hostility ON
the part of existing corporations But the
matter is now fortunately within our own
control We are no longer at the
mercy of the "men in Lincoln green who
act the part of legislative highwaymen every
winter ct the State capital The Legislature
tardily did it's duty by passing an efficient
Rapid Transit law. The Mayor has promptly
done his duty by appointing unexceptonable
Commissioners to carry that law into effect
The Commissioners will do their duty by in
viting the confidence of capital in the pro-
posed investment. We may, therefore, fairly
conclude that we have at last secured foot
hold which insures the eventual accomplish
msnt OF the great improvement SO essential to
the progress and prosperity of the city, the in
terests Of property owners and the comfort.
convenience ard happiness Of the people. 1t
will be dangerous experiment should any
selfish corporations now attempt to overthrow
the good that has been accomplished and to
stand perversely in the way of this great
public work.