The New York herald., 1875-01-30
Appointment Of a Committee by the
6oard Of Aldermen.
Offers Of Subscription by Capital.
lists to the Stock.
THE STATE SENATE BILL
City Commissioners to Own and
Operate the Road.

lermlned 10 pave the way toward the desidera,um
known as rapid transit. There was much talk
In the of1ces OF the Messrs. Drake, at No. 66
Broadway but that committee was not appointed
which Is intended To receive the money
the pavement OF the path which Mr..
J. NJ. Drake has opened to the enterprise
OF private capitalists. Mr.. Drake had
been advised, and had determined to appoint the
committee himself, selecting Its members from
among the most responsible and best known OF
the gentlemen who have informed him Of their
practical sympathy with his pr ject. But, upon
again considering the matter, ne decided that 1t
would not look well Ior him to assume such a
responsibility; that it would be better for ,he
committee to be appointed by meeting
OF ell the capitalists who have interested
themselves In the new idea, which Is. In short,
that sufficient sum oil money should be guaran-
tced to build a railway according TO any system
that may be approved attcrward. IL is the wish
OF Mr.. Drake, and Of every gentleman associated
with Tim, that the plans which he devised, and
they approve and support, shall not assume
the likeness OF 'Job;' and they In
tend that their proceedings shall prove
that 1t Is not one The 1rst act In the proof then,
Is Mr.. Drake's declinatlon to appoint the commit
tee to receive subscriptions. That body will
probably be designated on Monday afternoon at
special meeting OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
The fact that this eminent body is ABOUT to push
on the new scheme Is a guarantee that 1t will
speedily reach Its elimination. Aud the mark OF
It's approval Will declare the project to be Tor the
Almost every scheme looking toward rapid
transit has hitherto been snapped up IS soon as
formed ana been pressed for time by pennlless
ana 'striklng" poilticlans, or professional rail-
road devIsers; The object OF THESE men, II need
the city, not to st,ne that cry OF distress which
uptown people have been utLering Tor Years. 1t
pockets. When sucn men got no d OF projects ior
rapid transit they well knew how 10 present them
to-, to the LEGISLATURE so that tncr bills wouid'pass
Bills presented and urged by reputable business
men, however. have almost invariably been
crushed In the Legislature. Evidences OF these
iacts are lound in the results OF the legislative
session OF last year. Then bill, presented
by professional potlcans and speclousy recitIne
such designs for the rapid movement OF freight, as
wen AS OF passengers through tho city as had
been commended by merchants, was passed by
S DSs M9%Ses giving Vastly yaua6e to
was OF no avail, though 1t was known that the bill
was me result OF a plan to oppose their honest
mailed py the fraudulent corporal ton. The repre-
sentations OF the merchants 10 Governor
unornclpled pollticlans, and their bill
was vetoed. The same Legislature that passed
pressed the Eastman projecr, wnicn was su ported
IN an amended lOrm, known as the White amend.
ment BY business men OF this city. That amend.
Ment was passed oy the Assembly aud then sent
TO the Scna,e, where 1t was referred 70 the Com.
mittee on Cities It never was reported by tnat
chairman. ana the EXECUTIVE Committee Of the
Chc5p Transportation Assoctatlon saws slgnin-
cantly in its report that 'lnnuences" have ALWAYS
opposed the Efforts In Albany o. the Railway COm-
mittee OF that association.
THE ROUTE FOR RAPID TRANSIT.
There Is upon this subject almost as much OFF,
ference Of opinion as there is IN regard TO the
method by which rapid travelling 10 ana DOM
OF this article to discuss the matter; but only to
indicate what are accepted by many me ercnants as
sides OF the three rivers. Itl proper to saw how
ever. that the business men who commend this
route lcok more TO the rapid movement Ol lreignt
aud It's cheap transit from warehouse 10 car and U,ce
Ue7sd, than Co providing means speedy travelling
for passengers. The idea OF these merchants,
then, Is simply to avail themselves OF the extreme
width OF the riverside streets, from the houses
on one side to the new buKhead line on the other,
for the purpose OF building an elevated railway.
stories OF which the freight cars could be run.
Tne accomplishment OF this plan seems to de-
pend greatly upon The action Of the Dock
Commissioners. II these officials VIII now
begin the work OF 1lling in tho space between the
1871. IL Is possible that some respons bic men,
urged on by the Cheap ranspor:ation Society,
Will speedily set about starting the freight rail-
road sna warehouses;. There are several legal OBJ
staces to be overcome before this scneme can be
begun, in addition TO those when at present
stand In the way of every new railway. The
freight railway would he OF little use without the
line OF warehouses along the river and under the
law which declares that every street shall be
opened to the river these cannot be Duit. II the
freight line Is put into WORKING condition the
merchants say that it would be easy Co construct
additional tracks for passenger trainc, ana
tnat then the Belt Railway would meet all
the needs OF our city, as the system OF crosstown
railroads. which Is being perfected. would readily
carry passengers from the riverside stations TO
their homes.
The American Society OF Civil Engineers has for
several months been considering the numerous
plans that have been offered to effect RAPID transit.
1t mas referred all these schemes to special CON-
miltce, which Is expected TO report to the society
on Wednesday night.
APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE By THE BOARD
OF ALDERMEN
In accordance with the suggestion Of the Mayor
In his message OF Thursday relative to rapid tran
sit the President OF the Board Of Aldermen yes.
terday appointed o special committee OF nve
to investigate the subject thoroughly by hearing
all the parties more particularly Interested, ana
thereupOn to report at an early day sucn meas
ures as are ascertained to be most feasible and
hest adapted TO the necessary condition OF such a
work. The following IS the committee:-Aldcr-
man II. ID. Purr0y, Chairman: Aldermen Cole
Shandley, Billings and Rowland.