The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-31
How Shall New Workers Overcome the
Length Of the Island?
VARIOUS PLANS PROPOSED.
Progress Of the New Scheme for Raising a
Fund by Citizens.
vANDERBnT's POSITION.
Statements of Opinion on the Subject by
Business Men,

Business Men,
It 10 certain that the movement to procure
enough money to enable some corporation to be-
gin the construction OF O rapid transit railway
nnds favor among all classes OF business men, 1t
h conceded on all sides 10 be the most sensible
action that has yet been taken to assure the
achievement OF quick travelling through the city,
and men with the most diverse views as to the
other means to accomplish this are pressing
forward to take part in the new movement A
tour through the business portions OF the city yes
terday, during which the writer cOnversed with
large Number OF bankers, brokers, merchants and
professional men, revealed to him many facts in
relation to rapid transit and indicated that as yet
there Is no unity OF great number OF responsible
men in favor Of any SPECIFIC scheme that has so far
been proposed. Every plan, however, finds some
earnest advocate.
THE MARGINAL RAILWAY
and warehouse scheme has at present, as was said
IN yesterdays HERALD; . greater number OF
pleaders In Its favor than any other project; but
there are 80 many obstacles In the way OF its con-
structiOn that some OF the gentlemen most enthu-
sasttc IN Its favor date the period OF its construc
tOn and useful work away into the distant future
Said one OF these gentlemen to the writer yester-
day:-"Wnile l believe that the Marginal Railway
would be great factor in increasing the CONNER
cia prosperity Of New York, and wish that Its
construction could be started Immediately, I am
certain that 1t will remain merely project for
years to come. AS the HERALD said yesterday,
the commercial people OF this city must wait until
the Dock Commissioners, by Flushing the work
which is planned for them, shall give the
opportunity for our great need-that Is, the
speedy transmission Of freight In bulk through she
city-to be overcome. Looking at the matter OF
ov&tA
home speedily after business, and not merely
merchant who wishes to save the cost Of carriage
and Of waste on the docks, see that we must
have rapid trains for passenger tranic alone.
What route such trains should follow OF course
IL Is the province OF professional engineers to
determine. Yet think that their way ought to
he along the backbone OF the city. II an arrange
ment could be made with Commodore Vanderbilt
which would hx the price of a passage from ~
Battery TO Harlem at, say eight cents, l think
that 1t would be the best plan for a quick transit
railway, starting from the former place, to term-
nate vt the depot at Forty second street."
WHAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT A ROAD.
The last remark quoted above conveys the opn-
ION OF many earnest men. 1t seems to be deter.
mined by them that, however useful a railway
might be to our citizens which would take them
rapidly from one end Of the island to the other, 1t
would not pay. II 1t should not acquire a share OF
the patronage OF persons travelling to places dis
tant from the city. "Quick transit" said an intel
Mgent gentleman to the HERALD reporter yester.
day, "does not mean merely speedy transmission
from the lower to The upper end OF this city
Yeu may build railway here that will
satisfy you for while; but. in order
70 support 1t unaided, you VIII soon have
10 impose larger iares than poor men
can pay. Then me greater part OF the patronage
vii foI tha will
bund. The fact is that to support quick transit
railway here, you will have to draw to it the
money expended by outside people in coming
into and in leaving the city. Hence the road
SHOULD NOT TERMINATE IN HARLEM.
The question now arises Is there opportunity
for new railway out OF town. l can't see that
there il such an opportunity; and think that no
one else can see one. 1t seems TO me that Com
modore Vanderbilt understood all these facts
when he procured a charter Tor an underground
railway which he never intended to con-
struct. He stands now in the attitude
Of Q dictator. You must do either Of three
things build trunk railway through the State,
connect your rapid city railway with Commodore
vanderbht's Hudson River and Central ROAD,
at Forty-second street. or build a railway to Har
lem. which Will die under the burden OF debt.
COMMODORE vANDERBILTS POSITION.
The tone OF these remarks agree with that OF
many other statements listened to by the re-
porter. The idea seems to have taken hold OF the
minds OF many people that Commodore Wander
bits policy In reference TO rapid transit" could
not be surpassed in the particular OF shrewdness.
1t is SAID that several weeks ago he bluntly ill.,
formed . committee OF citizens that he
had NO intenti0n OF making that under.
ground railway Tor which he holds
charter. 1t il his argument, and one very
powerful, that he has no need Tor an underground
railroad that his Fourth avenue horse cars convey
passengers, in way very satisfactory to him, to
the Grand Central depot. The Commodore IL
willing, however, ss he has informed committee
OF the North side Association to take part in the
construction Of rapid transit railroad, provided
IT VIII terminate at the Grand Central depot.
THE VARIETY OF PLANS PROPOSED.
The Railroad Committee OF the Society OF civil
Engineers has not yet finished its report and VIII
probably not be able to present that voluminous
document to the society for week or more.
The committees work was to examine
the various schemes that have been pu:
forth. each as the one that would set
tie the question OF quick travelling In the
metropolis, and TO decide as TO their applicability
to the purpose for Which they were designed.
Other bodies are now concerning themselves with
the important subject. one oil the latest to take it
up being the association known as the Com
mercial Conference. This body has appointed 4
committee to consider the matter, which VIII
probably be present at the meeting In the Cham
Der OF Commerce on Monday at noon. 1t was iu-
correctly stated In the HERALD OF yesterday that
this meeting would lie dlstinctively gathering OF
the members OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
The fact Is that the rooms OF that
citation are merely loaned to the gentlemen
who have interested themselves in the PROJECT OF
making speedy travelling here possibility. All
other gentlemen who sympathize with the project
are invited to attend the meeting. at which the
committee TO receive subscriptions to the pro-
posed iund will be welcomed.
Herewith Is presented plan suggested by