The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-23
RAPID TRANSIT.
PROSPECTIVE FORMATION OF WARD CLUBS FOL
POPULAR DISCUSSION OF THE NEED.

PROSPECTIVE FORMATION OF WARD CLUBS FOB
POPULAR DISCUSSION OF THE NEED.
The entire subject Of rapid transtt-the means
Tor Its accomplishment. :he stlpulations under
which the railway shall be constructed and used
is now entirely within the province OF the Leeis-
lature. still there Ia need for It's discussion to
continue among the people, There are many de-
tails which, II not properly understood by our
legislators and provided for IN their bills, will
initiate very much against the value to the peo-
pie OF q rapid transit railway. The legislators
must be made to understand these details. They
must not be allowed to pass upon the subject or
rapid transit and, II they overslaugh II. have the
opportunity to plead that IL was not presented to
them fully. Nor must they be permitted to pass
halLpeasure that Will really defeat rapid transit.
And;ot the only way such things can
be Nprevented Is through discussion by
the people; not only the wealthy. who
have monetary interest In the accomplishment
OF rapid transit, but the poorer people. whose
methods Of life Will be affected oy 1t. What has
been urged 20 often in the columns of the HERALD
now seems about to be begun with vigor. 1t Is
the organization OF ward clubs to express the
popular desire for rapid transit. This work the
committee which was appointed at the meeting
in the Chamber OF Commerce. held several weeks
ago. has determined to commend 10 the subscrfb-
ers to the deferred capital" which is now being
raised.
Preparations are IN progress for a meeting Of
such subscribers, so that an organization may be
MADE In regular form. The meeting will proba.
bly, be held this week. and at 1t the subscribers
viii be told OF according TO the wards in which
they reside. and each parcel Will De requested to
form rapid transit club IN It's district.
In forming these clubs the organizers must not
look to monetary qualification alone. 1t was the
primary object OF the organization of the CItl-
Zens Association to procure rapid transit, and
when they adopted this deferred capital plan
they intended II to be always aid and
never q detrimen. to rapid transit IT, how.
ever, the organizers OF the ward clubs admit
into them the property owners and well.to-do
men VINO are willing to subscribe even small sums
to the deferred capitap' fund.- and exclude the
poor men who are heartily concerned IN the
necessity for travelling facilities through the city,
the full strength oil the popular sentiment will not
be evoked. The movement now going on, 1t is
evident, must be urged by the people, else It will
fail the time being. 1he capitalists, II they
snrewd and wish 10 have rapid transit railway
built by themselves, as a means or economy, Will
concIliate the masses and draw them to their sup
port Otherwise there may be started
democratic movement democratic In the
true sense OF the worry opposed to
permitting private company of capitalists to con-
struct and to operate rapid transit railway, and
In favor OF empowering the city to do such work
such an event would, undoubtedly. suit the de-
signs OF great number OF people. There Is a
strong element now urging the passage by the
Legislature OF scheme 10 authorize The city to DO
the work. IL Is composed OF political tricksters
on the lookout Tor places In a new department,
some owners OF uptown and Westchester property,
who disguised with the failure OF capitalists
to build a railway hitherto, ana several pmian-
thropsts VINO are urged by the general motive Of
element throws aside all regard Tor con.
sututlonal obstacles 10 It's project. 1t urges Its
IDEAS on purely sentimental grounds, with the
statement that IL the cty snail buld the rapid
transit raliNa the aOOrefs 1t Will not be
worked and viii be wen paid; and further, That
the profits OF the railway, wnen 1t Is IN operation,
Will nquidate the city's deDt. More tDan TINS, this
element declare tnat tine rapid transit railway
butt and operated Dy private company would
because the company would keep the rate OF are
up TO the highest sum which moderately
weil.to-dc man could pay daily. As set-on
to these arguments the majority OF people who
favor the construction OF railway by capitalists
only quote the constitutional provisions that
stand III the way OF the city. The REMAINDER OF
/ the III, however, supplement their quotations with
the remark That, even II the constitutional
amendments dld not iorDld the city to build rail-
way, 1t should not be allowed to do 50, because the
WORK would be characterized Oy fraud on the
part OF puDllc onlciais. ana because the railway
department would become machine Tor tue
manuacture OF workers, whose usefulness would
be apparent at the poIIs oniy."
Taxing the arguments 10 iavor OF allowing the
city 10 build TIE railway tpere Is no one but
must cOncedc that 1t wOId be a good thing Tor
the municipal debt to be reduced with such RAJ
transit railway. But the CONSTITUTIONAL amend
mems stand III the way OF such all event. On the
other hand there Is ground Tor susoecting that
the aiminstratIon Of "A railway under cry gov
eminent wond not be altogether pure. There Is
a way, however. to make some oi The annual
profits OF railway for rapid transit iau into the