The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-07
RAPID TRANSIT.
Joint Meeting Of the Assembly and
Aldermanic Committees.
PLANS AND SUGGESTIONS.
Westchester Moving in the
Matter.
A PRACTICAL ENGINEERS METHOD.

The two committees OF the Assembly and OF the
Board OF Aldermen to which the subject OF rapid
transit has been referred, with instructions to
inquire into all Its phases, were to meet az differ
ent hours yesterday In the Aldermantc Chamber,
In the City Hail. The former committee, which
10 composed OF Messrs. John X. Kennadey OF Kings;
7. y. Campbell, John T. MCGOWAN and +. W. Sew.
ard, Of this city, and Mr. Schieelin, OF Westminster
county. accordingly met at noon; but, upon being
oficially informed that the Aldermanic committee
would hold o session at one O'Clock, 1t adjourned
until that hour, In order that there
might be joint session. At ABOUT quarter past
one O'Clock, the members Of both committees oil i.
being present, the joint session was announced by
Mr.. Seward, Of the Assembly committee, to be
open and ready for the arguments OF citizens to
be heard. The chamber was crowded. Capital
lists, men OF moderate means enthusiastic for
rapid transit, and crack-brained inventors bur-
dened with miniature models or huge parchments.
bearing illustrations OF their plans. were thele in
plenty; and 1t was afterwaro discovered that
there was present at least ono man who sees no
necessity for rapid transit. and thinks . railroad
to accomplish 1t would prove valuable only TO
capitalists and an oppre ssor OF the poor.
The meeting was scarcely called to order. and
Mr.. Seward had barely concluded his request on
the part OF the committees that the speakers
would connne their remarks to the subject OF in
licatin0 what would be the proper legislation to
precede the work Of building rapid transit rail-.
way, when MIR. 8. E. Church jumped up on the
moor ana procured the assent of the committee to
his making speech. He then drew or his coat
and made several other preparations Tor long
address. Mr.. Church certainly has the subject Of
rapid transit at heart. He has spoken upon 1t at
every opportunity during years, and in his
speeches he almost always starts from the one set
Of premises, follows one course Of rea-
Doning and arrives az the same results
favorable to the building OF Q railway
pr system of railways on which trans
Inould run rapidly through the city. Mr.. Church
10 eminenrly statistical, and he has prepared q
series OF tables to prove that 1t Ii lack of rapid
transit that has prevented the population OF this
city from now numbering over two millions OF
souls and which has kept out Of the City Treasury
$780, 0o0, 900 that would have accrued from in
creased opportunities for taxation, &C., II q road
had been Quilt by the city ten years ago and CON-
troiled BY It since. Mr.. Church went on deliver
ing himself Of his well known arguments for rapid
transit for some time, and until Mr.. Thomas c.
Campbell, OF the STATE Legislative Committee,
remarked to him that the des1rabiltty, even the
necessity OF rapid transit. was admitted ON all
Bides and asked him to speak upon the subject Of
necessary legislation.
MR.. CHURCH's BILL.
MI. Church replied that he was about to trench
npon that subject, and imme diately added that no
proposed. as remedy for che losses Of New York,
mat the city should build rapid transit railway
As the law under which the Corporation OF this
city would have power TO undertake such work
must be general. Mr.. Church said he had pre-
pared q bill to be presented to the consideration
Of the Assembly committee whose provisions ap-
piled also to the corporations OF other cities and
towns OF the State. He then read his bill, ex-
planning 1t as he proceeded with the reading. Its
general purport is to confer upon the mayor and
Aldermen OF the cities Of the State power to CON-
Itrucr railroads for speedy travel within the
limits OF such cities, and to issue bonds
construct such railways It limits the
cost OF construction OF each mile Of the rapid
ments Ior one-half the cost Of each road
70 be made upon property benefited BY It.
easements may run as long as the bonds issued,
the interest upon them OF course, being paid reg.
uisrly. the Dlll sets apart the earnings Of each
With interest thereon, and provides that any de-
neiency shall pc made up BY tue collection or as
passengers shall cover the interest or the bonds,
the road increases, the bill provides tnat other
s!nking funds may DO contributed 70 pay other
Mr.. Church urged this bill upon the attention of
declared 8OODtoO
there could soon be Two double.track railways
rom the Battery running on either side OF Central
rark to the Harlem River, and that the costs Of
those roads need not aggregate more than
SENATOR xooRE's PROPORTION
Mr. Boyd followed Mr.. Church upon the noor.
He said That he wished present to the consdera.
lion or the Assembly Committee the bill lately
State Senate. He said that the bill in MS judg.
ment and In that Of several OF the abiesr lawyers
IN accord with S the sprs ea' the ops
Amendmenrs lately adopted. He said that within
transit cam be- aouGe
document was me cover for "a JOB" and
ne declared, IN response 10 the comments OF the
press upon it, that the bill is honest bill and
gives no Advantage s to any man 10 this county:
New York Is not u corporation WITHIN the mean.
Ing Of section Is of article OF the constitution.
fraction OF that section, grant power to our city
authorities 70 build rapid transit railway IN &C
CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTIONS
Mr.. Wheeler h. Pecknam stepped into the
centre OF the Chamber, and said:-"lhe question
70, understand. what legislation Is necessary to
ons or ihe other Of TIC TWO bills presented is the
that the bill framed BY Mr.. Moore is
clearly and definitely unconstitutional. say this
gentleman referred to BY Mr.. Boyd, and Of that
gentleman hiniselfn Mr.. PeckhaIn went on to
ration sucn as Is comprehended by the spirit or
that part OF section Is VI article OF the consttu
tl0n which reads that 1.-THE Legislature snail not
pass private or local bill granting to any corpo.
ration, association or individual tue right to lay
down railroad tracks" lie went on to say that
even II the above OF constitution did not
prohibit the State Legislature from empowering
the city to construct rapid transit railway IL
was question whether or not section IL OF ar.
tice OF the constitution would allow the Legis.
lature TO confer such authority. Mr.. Peckham
said we never hitherto supposed that the building
Of railway IL city purpose any more
tnan the building OF market, or the
provision Of every other thug That would
Increase the comfort OF Citizens He said tnat,
perhaps, 1t Will become necessary for The Leglsla.
ture 10 define exactly what are "county, city,
town and village purposes.n For himself, Mr..
Peckham said, ne Is In Ov0r OF the passage by the
Legislature OF u general law which snail throw
open TO competition the entire neld In which roll.
roads are to be Quilt.
Rapid TRANSIT AND HIGH RENTS.
MI. 3. l.. MacOmber now procured q hearing.
he saiu That II Ior years o necessity Tor rapid
transit raj road had existed, and II, az mad been