, 1875-05-09

| The importance OF these statutes when the Va
! idity Of tllls is in question.
I have eiven you very hasty glance OF r. r.
ee1.o enssSn; d Pa ~ .bstsct aas 6E III Ill., lave
not attempted to demonstrate the simplicity Of
All examination, but quite the contrary. And II
have accomplished any good at all It u IN e1hlb-
iting the difficulties which ambarrass the convey
ANGER. I would laye but little confidence in the
| opinion Of lawyer WHO imagined himself conf
petent to solve readily oil the problems 'thhs
| might arise. NY advice il, DO thorough. 50
slow, aud charge well for -FOUR services.
THE CITY TRANSIT QUESTION:.
WHERE IA THE Remedy?
| 10 he Editor of The Chicago TRIBUNE: =
| CHICAGO, May 6.-The question OF city and
suburban transit is every day rising into greater
| Importance. It il Tins Tint measures Of relief
should be seriously considered. :
Tha horse railways. as at present managed, are
becoming; from necessity, perhaps, an intolora-
| ble nuisance. This opinion ia by no means an
individual one; it is the opinion ct ninety-nlne
citizens in a hundred, while the single exception
is that Of some one connected with OF in the en-
ploy Of tho Companies. The forbeasance Of the
public tnua far has been matter Of wonder: II
ia manifestation Of generosity that the Com
panies certainly have not deserved. 4 limit,
-<>@AA1
Of an Injured public that this remons.rance is
written. trust that it may serve as note Of
wholesome warning. It is geheral te-
mark that ucorporations have no souls"
In this maxim there ia much truth In all public
bodies it is difficult to x personal responsibility.
Their only aim ia ectf-intercst, that OF drawing
the greatest profit At the least cost. This ten
dency to encroachment is sure 10 80 on until it
IL arrested by the reacinn which injustice al
ways produces. 30 long as the public will be- sat
is6ed to be herded like cattle. so long will there
be scarcity Of cars and 50 long will they be as
unclesnly is they are. Why should seats be fur
| nished. If passengers are content to stand Is it
not clearly waste of capital As it is now SO
will it always be, unless tins outrageous selfish
| ness is rebuked. Is it ought to Be, ~ powerful
and United public sentiment. There is no excuse
whatever Of the prevailing system, OF getting
| much and giving little. These Companies have
| been treated with astonishing hberality, to say
| the 1east. Whv was the Wabash avenue
charter granted on SUCH cray terms Those only
who are in the secret can give an answer, and it
| ia not likely that they will do 10.
To the profits Of monopoly thcre is, always 3
limit a reaction is then certain to set in. and
IN adequate remedy devised The oniv radical
Eurs fdr monopo1y is competlslon. Com Petition
str.ogled Us it has been bv the Common Council
Of this city. Competition wonld soon bring
about very different order Of things. Instead
of being jsntned like animals into filthy cara,
every one would have scat, and the cars would
be orderly and clean. Thus much would be as-
su1ed. Ladies and children would ride
in comfort and security instead OF being
crowded and insulted as is now tho rule.
" done away with, and no miserly plea OF
*sioss " would be accepted from corporations that
| ire making SO per cent profit By swind1ing the
community. Evory man who rides in horse
car is entitled to seat, and, it this is not fur
uished, he should not be compelled to pay. Let
this be the law, and there will be cars enough
| and seats enough, otherwise, cars W1l be scarce
! and seats will be at i premium, until the day
| OF iudgment.h This is 4 matter that ehould be
regulated by law, in the absence of competition
| The urebent rexation should ba stopped in soma
| efficient manner. Public opinion s now our
| only reliance. '
| There ia no other city uhere such gross I'M
| position would be tolerated. The proTerbial
tested in the seVeIest manneT. It is time for q
change It is tino, that thess corporations
should be taught that, the public have rights
| which mhst be respected.
ply BY holding the Companies strictly to the l6t-
| ter aud the spirit OF their charters, and by the
enactment Of such snlutary laws IN will secure q
reasonable degree Of regard to the convenience
and comfort OF the public. On the South sldo
tue City Railway Company have been granted ,.
fol l. limited period an absolute monopoly, which,
ii justice to tho people. should never have been
permitted. r.
The demand for better means Of transit to the
suburbs and within tho city limits is becoming
| every day more imperative. The horse-car
t system, however much improved, will never fully
| supply ths public necessity. Tho main trunk
railroads will only furnish accommodation to
thbsa dwelling along their lines. The tens Of
| thousands Who live in The suburbs demand some
| other mora eifectua1 and rapid mode Of transit
This can readily be afforded by the construction
OF elevated railways radiatiDg from the heart Of
tho city. like the sDokes Of wheel, to different
built with absoluts SECURITY and 1T moderate
eost. That they would pay immensely is beyond
| doubt.
entertain no question. that the construction
| OF single elevated 1.-The to the Suburbs would
successfully solve the transit problem. Other
! lines would immediately follow, and all tho
| Though travel would patrouize thess roads.
| The great economy in time, and the immensely
| greater comfort, would soon be- appreciated by q
long-sunering pnblie. Tho effecr upon suhur-
ban property would be prodigious. There is
| now such d road in operation 10 New York City;
which is rapidly growing into favor. The work
| ings Of it and Its results should be carefully
looked intb. 1 believe they would provo both
through travel, the horse car system would &C.
counodnte the. local traVeamuoh murs' etfcieut:
u than it now does. In fact, it does not accom-
modate any one at present: Instead of nuis-
ance, as it now is it would become convcn-
lence. >. Tile public Complaint Would cease.
no t'une would be injured, wh1la< the
community would BE- largely benefited.
Tbs horse-ca1s now are completely filed with
through passcngeis, who occupy the seats at
starting, and retain them throughout All 9th
era hare to stand breathing . contaminated air,
and inconvencing thosa who arc so fortunate IS
to have se4ta. ..-.-...: :. .~-
Something must bo done, aud that speedily.
Forbearancs can 60 10 farther. Ths necessity Of
the case is mJ apology for intudInE On Your
columns: Some opc must sDeak. and in this in
stance atn conGdcut am but the mouthpiece
press to Five to such utterancs its powerful sup
pbrt. trust it will do 30. L revolution must
| then occur. Tho loss Of time the trial OF tenn
per, and the injury to health, which are affecting
the public under the present ''catte-car sys-
tenn. demand reform, and in some .ahApa relief
| must come. j. EaA1Ls WARnxN.
! - FRAUDULENT SUBDIVISIONS,
In EASY GEE. EE.--,.--~,----
| To The Editor Of 1hz Chicago 1st0ttA<s
/ - y &tAk1 &xA1. ~