The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-07
The Rapid Transit ROUTES.

The Rapid Transit Commissioners have
completed the first and most important part
of their task in such manner as will COM
mand the appreciation of their fellow citl-
zens. They have indeed marked out the
course of four contemplated roads, two on
the west side and two on the east side of the
city, although one new road on the east side
and the extension of that already in opera
ton on the west side are all that will exist,
except on paper, within the next ten years.
The Board of Aldermen have given their
consent to all these routes, so that there is
no insurmountable obstacle TO the building
of any of them in which capitalists may be
willing to embark their money. The Green
witch street railway will be extended, and we
shall have a road running through the Bow
cry and Third avenue to the Harlem River
and thence through the densely populated
region to Kingsbridge. Public interest
will be concentrated on the last named route,
and the main battle for rapid transit is yet
to be fought in securing that line. A rich
and remorseless corporation will oppose the
public interest at every step, and
there is a call for resolute unanimity and the
whole force of public opinion to foil the OPP
position. The people must rise up in their
might and vindicate their right to use the
streets of the city for their convenience. If
the Third Avenue Horse Car Company had not
q selfish interest there can be no doubt that
O rapid transit road would be built on that
route. But do they own the Third avenue?
w IN ba m
and arrogant attempt to prevent public
street from being used for the public con-
venience must be resisted and crushed, and
for our part we refuse to daily with the other
projected routes when it is so evident that
nothing but the obstructive selfshness of
soulless corporation blocks the construction
of rapid transit road on the one line where
the certainty of success would promptly at
tract capital, and the amount of business
would be consistent with low rates of fare.
The strenuous opposition and insolent
threats of the Third Avenue Company prove
that road on that route would be profitable
and be speedily built. 1t is because they know
that the capital would be forthcoming that
they are so enraged. If they had no fears
They see, what everybody Sees that rapid
transit road on the Third avenue would be
a magnificent success. 1t is for this reason
alone that they fight it. On any other
route the business would be less, and to
maintain the road the fares would have to
be proportionately high. 1t is not merely
rapid transit that the city wants, but cheap
h
must be within the means of the laboring
classes, and we hope the whole press of the
city will contend for their rights.
The Third Avenue Company threatens to
buy up enough property to prevent the con-
send of the requisite one-half of the owners.
This is vain threat because it is entirely
beyond the means of the company. They
are more likely to bride owners along the
route to withhold their consent It is quite
possible they may succeed in this, but we
forewarn them that they will waste their
money. If the owners of half the property
do not consent the General Term of the Su-
preme Court will appoint commissioners
whom the law authorizes to decide whether
the proposed road is public necessity, and
if they decide in the affirmative the refusal of
property owners goes for nothing. Good
care will be taken, the Third Avenue Com
pany may be assured, that the bribery of
owners or attempts to bride judges and COM
missioners will be ferreted out and exposed.
That game will not work. Instead of impair
ing the value of property on Third ave-
nue. the rapid transit road would increase it.
Trade is best in the streets which are most
travelled, and rents are in proportion to
trade. The value of stores on Third avenue
would increase every year after the building
of the road. The people will not listen with
patience to talk about any other route until
after the completion of rapid transit road
on Third avenue.
CeVU