The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-07

The demand for rapid transit has taken such
shape in New York that no party can
willingly deny it. 1t is not only question of
accommodation, but of existence. 1t is not
wish to have this scheme or another, nor is 1t
in the interest of any railroad combination, but
loud expression on the part of the people
that, unless the inhabitants of this island
are permitted the facilities of capitals
like London and Paris, the city will
recede from its metropolitan prominence.
The story of this last ten years is story of
decadence arising only from our lack of
rapid transit New York is so formed by
nature that without rapid transit it cannot
grow beyond certain point In other cities,
where there is central heart of life and
business and general growth in all direc-
tons, the want of swift communication is
not felt In New York all growth must go in
one direction. Consequently, as the city ex-
tends, the distance between available homes
and business sites grows larger and larger,
and the result must necessarily be, unless we
overcome this obstacle, that New York, in
stead of being the metropolis, must become
o suburb.
It would be well in passing general
measure of rapid transit at this time to can
eel the various railway charters that have
heretofore been granted, and the provisions
Of which have not been fulfilled The only
charter protesting to give rapid transit which
has been at all observed is that of the
Elevated Railway. The men who obtained
this charter did so in good faith. They have
built us road running from the Battery to
Thirty-fourth street, and about to 60 as far as
Central Park, which has proved to be fully
satisfactory to the citizens on the west
side. The managers are extending the ia
ciities of this road, and We shall very soon
have an increased number of trains
There has been no charter, with
the exception Of this, of any value
to the city. The truth is that most of these
charters were granted in the interest of the
Street Railway Ring. The men who obtained
them had no intention of building steam
railway, and they merely obtained the con-
cession to prevent others from attempting to
do so. Now, why should not the Legislature
show its appreciation Of these gentlemen by
Withdrawing the other charters? Of what
value, for instance, is the charter for the I'M
derground railway down Fourth avenue,
about which SO much was written some time
since? Fourth avenue is natural line for
steam communication. The city has paid
half Of the expense Of the Fourth avenue
improvement running from Forty-second
street to the Harlem River, extending over
large part Of the island This could be
made available for rapid transit Now, il this
Fourth avenue charter could be carried into
effect and we could have either on elevated
or an underground railway from Forty-second
street TO the City Hall, the work would be
done. IF Mr. Vanderbilt were to build an
elevated line along Forty-fourth or Forty-ifth
street. 50 as to connect with the present Ele-
waited road, il would give rapid transit at
once. This, OF course, Is not all that we ex-
pect, but il is something We have always
found in the development Of great meas
ure Of public interest ike rapid transit that
the way to achieve it is 10 begin at the begin
ning-to DO something. Here we have steam
from the Battery to Thirty-fourlh street and
from Forty-sccond street 70 the Harlem River.
Is il not possible for rs TO run steam from
Thirty-fourth street and Ninth avenue to
Forty-ffth street and Fourth avenue2
We dwell upon this practical point in rapid
transit il order 70 show our people how
simple, after all, the whole thing is II is
not mighty undertaking, like the building
Of pyramid, but simple, plain engineer
ing work. There is scarcely State in the
Union tina. VIII not show some bit Of engi-
neering more intricate, more expensive and
moro uncertain as means Of revenue than
our proposed rapid transit 1t We build an
underground railway that is only q question
of time and money. II we build an elevated
railway it Is question Ct less time and less
money. Tie people want il. It's value to
tie property Ia the upper part Of the island
and e property IN the lower part Of tho
island also would be immense. II would
open 70 tho laboring classes sll that
beautiful country lying between the
Palisades and LONG Island Sound and
enable our capitalists 20 cover these
valleys and plains with thousands OF houses
for tie poor like those which are tue adnira-
ton and glory Of Philadelphia. This, to Us, is
one n the highest considerations in demand
ing rapid transit. 50 long as We fail to give
to our workingmen opportunities for comfort
able living and for the education Of their
children, So long viii skilled labor be driven
from New York and the establishment OF any
permanent system Of manufacture become
impossible. The artisan who sees that in
I Philadelphia OF Boston be can have his own
- .cNoofr ord fvaeN a. and rolatf,xt.. N
4 the comforts Of the most perfect home, for
Il less money than be viii pay in New York to
\ I've il . noisy, grovelling tenement house, viii
naturally 90 70 Philadelphia and Boston; 50
that really the absence Of rapid transit is, SO
Y far a. manufactures are concerned, tax upon
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