The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-22

have carried rapid transit past one obstacle
only to meet another. Tue old enemy is 70
be faced in new field. The horse car COM
Tanies would have defeated the bill in the
Legislature had they been able but the pub
lie sentiment OF the city had been so aroused
on the subject and its pressure brought to
bear with such resolute urgency that the
horse car companies reserved their money
and their strategy for new field Of opera
tons. We may b. sure Of two thiugs-hrst,
that they VIII not be idle in such con-
juncture as now arises; and, second, that
they viii mask and conceal their activity,
artfully attempting to accomplish their pur-
pose by undetected methods They will have
only the five commissioners appointed by the
Mayor to influence instead Of the one hun
dred aud sixty members OF the Legislature,
and as nobody has ever ale cted
to doubt their readiness to spend
money in Albany to protect their
interests it would be absurd to suppose they
have any seruples about spending money
here in New York. They may not make any
direct attempts to bride the commissioners.
II Is to be hoped that Mayor Wickham Will
appoint men Of such incorruptible integrity
and pecuniary independence that nobody will
dare to approach them as needy members Of
the Legislature Of no personal standing are
habitually approached by confidential agents
in the lobby. Instead Of direct, Vulgar
bribery, the horse car companies will subsi-
die engineers, enlist rival real estate owners
in the upper part Of the city who desire to
have the road SO located as to enhance the
value Of their own property and make
sophistical representations to DISTINGUISHED
citizens with view to delude them into Civ
ing advice Of which they do not see the prac-
teal bearing The cunning stratagens Of
these underhand schemers must be frustrated
BY the same means that proved effectual in
defeating them at Albany. They must DO
met 1t every point BY the sleepless vigilance
Of a thoroughly awakened public sentiment.
But to make this method efficient there must
be settled and concentrated public opinion
On the points which viii be most strenuously
| contested.
\ The main battle viii be fought on the Sc
lection Of q route. II, by any arts Of plausible
sophistry, the commissioners can be induced
to place a rapid transit road where the pros
pect OF dividends would repel capitalists the
horse car companies could afford to pay mill
ion dollars for such a decision. A rapid
transit road cannot be built without capital,
and capital Will be embarked in such an
enterprise only when its owners feel assured
OF fair profits on tie investment. 1t is the
duty Of the commissioners when they shall
have been appointed to select the route which
viii bring Tho greatest amount Of business. II
they fail in this vital point we shall still be
as TAI from rapid transit as We we're before the
Hustled BIZ was passed The paramount diff
Guilty to be encountered is the difficulty Of
promptly raising the money. II an unproft-
able route IS chosen no money will be sub
scribcd; ii the best route is chosen the stock
Of tie road viii be all taken within ninety
days. Tie plan Of construction must Of
course, be economical, as well as the route
wisely chosen; but the great, the vital thing
is the proper determination Of the route.
Fortunately this is point on which the
community is as competent to judge as any
i've experts. As to which Of many methods
Of construction ought to be adopted tho COM
munity at large may be very poor judges; but
on tie question Of the route they are capable
Of forming sound opinion, and they must
unite in demanding that the road be built
where it is most certain to pay dividends and
tempt capital Ultimately We snail have secured
rapid transit roads trayersing the whole length
Of Inc island, but at present We must concen-
trato efforts and make sure Of one. When
i - g. e.
good dividends, tie tiInidlty and hesitation Of
capitalists vii have been overcome, and as
many additional roads will be built as the
public convenience may require. But unless
the first rapid transit road should prove q
success capitalists Will not ba persuaded y
undertake another The whole future Of
rapid transit i stakel upon the judicious
selection II route ~ Mayor Wickham's COM
miss.oners; and this most important part Of
their task is the least difficult
Ii the first place the commissioners should
/ consider the entire west side Of the city as
ont Of their purview. Certain it is that not
\ dollar Of capital will be subscribed FOR a new
Il quick transit road on that side until after the
Il Greenwich street and Ninth avenue Elevated
Y Railway shalt have become profitable. This
road has direct authority from the Legisla-
ture, quite independent Of any action BY
Mayor Wickhams commissioners, to extend
their track and to connect it with the Grand
\ Central depot. Until this experiment has
made further progress and proved its success
\ by fair dividends on the investment il is idle
to talk Of new rapid transit road on the
vest side Of the city. Broadway and Fifth
avenue are expressly excluded by statute.
Sixth avenue is excluded by the in
terrupaon Of tho route Of Fifty-ninth
street, and Fourth avenue (Which
would be better than nothing) is an
I ,vdesira hie eelection for many vei0htv