The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-05

Points OF New Departure.
In considering what is best for the greatness
Of New York it is unwise to darken the dis
cussion by considering romantic schemes or
impossible projects for 'fhe advancement OF
the city," History and common sense show
that in the achievement OF all great objects
the simplest plan is the best When Napoleon
wished to defeat his enemy his way was to
mass his own troops on one point, outnumber
the enemy on certain part of his line and
destroy him. His genius was simple and di-
rect and decisive If we permit ourselves to
be carried away by the discussion of elaborate
schemes for the improvement of New York,
calculation of the untold millions necessary
to accomplish 1t, We shall do nothing. We
achieve great results by doing them and not
by talk In this work Of improvement the
simplest why is the easiest
We should have rapid transit and at once.
We have 1t already from Forty-second street
TO the Harlem River. and from the Battery to
Thirty-fourth street. Why not connect these
two linesl The Elevated Railway along Green
wich street Is . serviceable road and daily
grows in popularity. Commodore Vanderbilts
lines from Forty-second street are among tho
best in the world Why not then, have rapid
transit by extending the Elevated Railroad to
Forty-fourth street, down Forty-fourth street
20 the Harlem depot and there connect? This,
of course, would only be beginning, but it
would be something. We would then have
continuous steam communication from the
Battery TO the upper end of the island; and,
40 far as tho avenues are concerned, they
could be spanned by light. graceful bridges,
which might be more Of an ornament than
designation
The next point is the repaving.of the streets,
beginning with Fifth avenue. There is no
monument Of Tweed's misrule more conspicu-
Gus and offensive than the avenues as he left
them. There are few, if any, cities SO dis
gracefully paved rs this American metropolis.
What with one experiment after another,
badly conceived and corruptly executed
poultices, plasters, chemical compositions,
preparations Of wood and tar and cobble
stones-our avenues have been experimental
with until they are now ruins
The next point is the connection Of New York
with Long Island and New Jersey by steam.
The terrible winter through which We are
now passing has taught N that SO long as tho
Hudson and East rivers are only to be crossed
by ferryboats there can be no home life for q
resident of New Jersey or Long Island whose
business 10 in New York. No citizen can
feel when he leaves Brooklyn or Jersey
City in the morning that he will re-
turn again in the evening. for our
treacherous climate may block his way
with ice or fog. Now. the greatness of
New York requires that it should extend
not merely to westchester. but over to New
Jersey and Long Island. Therefore, We
should have tunnel between Jersey City and
New York, under the Hudson, enabling oil
the trains that come from the West and South
TO enter directly into our limits Then we
should have the completion of the Brooklyn
bridge, SO that steam trains could run from
the City Hall over to Long Island. We do
no. demand rapid transit for the benefit of
this island alone. but from metropolitan
reasons, believing that New York city is great
enough to extend in all directions; that New
Jersey. Long Island, Staten Island and Vest
chester arc our natural suburbs. and that every
citizen should be able to choose where he may
live and be able to get to his home without
interference or delay.
These are the points Of new departure
which we commend to those who nov control
the destinies of New York-the tunnel, the
bridge and the steam railways II Governor
Tilden and Mayor Wiclham can achieve these
results they will be remembered among tho
greatest benefactors of orr time.