The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-14
RaPia Transit An AIbaRy-shan Cor
r0ption Rule the H0urI

achievement of that result we have still never
ceased to regard with anxiety the attitude OF
some Of our legislators. The vote on the
Rapid Transit bill, as We print it this
morning, shows that our impressions were
not without foundation. Unhappily, expert
ence in the past with orr Albany statesmen
conUnces Us that too frequently individual
political and corrupt interests are more pow
erful than those OF the people. When cor
I poration has large amount OF money 20 cx-
pend either for the deieai or the success of
any measure its influence Is apt to be more
potent than the indefinss expression Of the
public Will. Our aim has been to keep the
Legislators under the constant observation Of
the public; 70 pursue these rapid transit dis
cussions from step to step, 50 that they might
always be in the light 10 watch the lobby
step by step moving on in its corrupt, debas-
ing course, and 10 prevent, i in our power,
the success Of any Of those occult schemes by
which too frequently the will Of the people
is surrendered to the cupidity u jobbers AMI
politicians
Although rapid transit Is the express de-
mand Of the people Of New York i i well
known that there are powerful interests II
this city opposed to il il every form We
have, first, the street railway combination. .
rich and grasping monopoly, which can very
readily afford to pay good deal Of money to
remain undisturbed in the possession Of its
franchises. We have always felt that The
building OF steam railway would not mate
rally affect tile interests OF the street rail
ways; that the local traffic would still be
large, and that the Third and Eighth and
Sixth avenue roads, which are now crowded
beyond their honest capacity for doing bust
ness and which at certain periods OF the day
more resemble Western cattle trains than pas
scnger cars Tor the conveyance OF human be-
ings would have u tull and profitable local
business This would b. one great advantage
81 rapid trnnsit the relief which through
steam line would afford But rapid transit
i wanted chiefly for tie beueht 81
people who reside or wish 70 reside "a
Manhattan Island Those who live ia the
Hourishing cities il It's vicinity are already
well enough accommodated with facilities of
travel between their homes and the motrop-
oils People residing At Yonker~, At White
Plains, Al Flushing IN the numerous
smaller towns along tie Hudson, il the
county u Westminster and Long
Island. have easy and quick access 70
the city by the Hudson River Railroad the
Harlem Railroad aud the Long Island r.Il-
roads. Tie difficulty begins when they reach
tie city A citizen Of Yonkers, doing bust
ness in New York, reaches the Grand Central
depot ii less time than il takes to pass from
the depot 10 his downtown store Office.
Rapid transit i needed ior facilitating inter
course between places within the city limits.
or 81 town people need il only within the
city, for outside the city they enjoy il already.
But they are small fraction Of the
vast multitude that moves. morning and
evening. through our long city avenues.
Their inter Il - the question, - far rs they
have any. i 81 precisely the same nature Is
that d the iwellers ~ The island, and con-
siSts in saving u the tune they daily waste
In passing. u.s. or slow means ct conveyance,
from ,n- part 81 tn city u an
other i pd transit j. tJrelore almost
solely a question - Internal convenience
within tie limits - the city. II
W. had rapid transit roads fSc-sixths Of an
Their ar-s would T. collected from people
Who Use u the city \ barge proportion of
til people no I've south u the Central Park
would 70 home every dAy q lunch. moving
tour time, DAY over the steam road instead
u once hay A. they IL nou, over
horse railroad The saving d tim. to
people residing above the Central Park
would n about two hours daily-yaluable t.
business men and needtul % lnborers, who
might ria AZ hour Later each morning and yet
reach then work early A. they ID II pres
snt and would gam to hours Tor rest or rec
rean0u Rapid transit j. needed chiefly Tor
the accom- notation II people who live ia the
cit, and Who would furnish the greater
plrt II the revenue ~ which tie steam
roads would b. rendered profitable. The
way rafic- travel for short distances,
gong is church, making Afternoon calls.
shopping, attending the theatres aud other
necessary journeylngs, which, after Al, take
,tp very iar1e part of the citizens time ia
citv travel. would unayoidably iall upon The
horse railways III London where there j.
perfect Il item 81 rapid transit, tie street oru-
mibuses and cabs which take the place of
our radsAys. derive enormous revenues from
ibis way traffic. Tie existence Of : swift
underground railroad, enabling IT, artisan or
the clerk t. ~ from tic teeTuing roar
II the city to lie fresh fields 81
Norv ood 81 Hampstead III lev minutes, doe.
not essentially interiera With the legitimate
gains II the internal means 81 communication,
aud - Il will bs with New York. II those
% control our streci railways would look a
tlis matter from . common sense point III
yi.w. 4nd accept n inevitable that tae traifc
TITS qan. beyond thor control ami that i =,
tscss..r, = find some new raeons for tie peo-