The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-06
RAPID TRANSIT.
Public Approval of the Routes Chosen
by the Commissioners.
The Gilbert Plan Probably To
Be Adopted.

The routes adopted by the Rapid Transit Commission,
and exclusively announced in the HERALD oi yesterday,
have elected wide comment In the city.
The excitement incident upon the revelation OF the
secret would have been noticeable had been
Sunday; but even il was, the HERALD eagerly
scrutnized by the thousands deeply interested in the
problem Of rapid transit
After careful inquiry it is safe to say that the action
Of the commission has met with general and heartfelt
commentator Every disinterested person said that
commission could possibly selected better
routes and If their aim hit the very Of the
pubos desire it must be admitted that they have made
bull seye. The writer conversed with a number of
vel known and highly respected citizens and they all
layished the highest encomums upon the commission,
and more especially upon the taste they showed in
designating
THE SECOND AND THIRD AVENUES,
and not the Third avenue alone This generally
garded as a piece OF wise forethought If the Third
Avenue Company carries out its menace to spend
rather four millions Of their property than TO suffer the
elevated road 10 be built what they call 'ther''
avenue, if the opposition of the property
both causes perhaps-shoud snatch the of that
lhoroughiarc from the people, the work of the
mission would have proved failure had they pro-
vdcd good substitute In the Second avenue As il is
II the Third avenue, through legal hocus pocus
should be closed elevated railway, there still re-
mains the which is considered the 10
he Third, namely the Second This was
he chain OF argument by which the
Commissioners the prudent conclusion to
designate both avenues and is which does credit
To their discretion and judgment But may be asked
Cannot the opposition OF the Second Avenue Horse
Car Company and of the property defeat this
Choice alsoY No, because the Gilbert charter
GIVES THE USE THAT OUTRIGHT
"a.
of the property In order to take the
fhrd avenue the Commissioners have the consent
Of the property owners and failing to obtain that they
must ask Tor the appointment OF a commission by the
supreme Court whose Judgment may involve consider
able legal delay. And who knows when subject Will
be disposed oil when it has been dragged into the
rourtss
The above is in the main the reasoning of the com
set forth in their lengthy report which Will
probably be published tomorrow 1t applies with the
force to Sixth avenue II does Second The
Gilbert Company has the right under its charter build
elevated road on thai without asking even
the consent o. the property owners Here then there
Is no legal difficulty whatever lurking the distance
and neither is there in regard to the Ninth
(the extension of the Greenwich street road So that
II get the Third all get the
Second the SIXTH and the Ninth avenues, all of which
are excellently suited TO rapid transit purposes.
GILBERT ADOPTED.
From the above intelligent reader will once con
rude that the Gilbert plan is the one favored by the
commission. This IS undoubtedly true As al
ready stated in yesterdays HERALD it appears most
probable that no one plan will be adopted all its de-
that the features several will
bined IN the model scheme Hence II cannot appear
doubtful that the Gilbert plan will probably be subjected
70 such notifications the good judgment Of the
mission and OF its engineers may prescribe And thus
there Is at last probability amounting reasonable
certainty that this enterprise which has long been
before the public and which It's protector has advocated
with such treless energy will have practical trial
The Commissioners have not only had the benefit Of
good advice from first engineers but the legal
questions entering into this subject have all been
maturey considered by their counsel Judge Emott
aud Mr. Nash OF Nash spiers And from all points
d lew he IN N Tint bav NIL
have acted Tor the better interest OF the people than
IN the manner they have done Public sentiment,
could DE ascertained bears them in this opinion
u the Third avenue oe obtained there is doubt
that the Commissioners will leave nothing undone
H. the preference for that has been
generally manifest TO escape their notice.
ROADS OPPOSITION
The first question is What does the opposition Of the
Third avenue road amount toy VIII tins egregious
monopoly really dare to attempt to nuify the out
spoken will OF the people 10 set It's face against
welfare, 10 insult and outrage the public which has
made It's owners rich and prosperous menY The gen
eral opinion Is that Aessrs Phillips and Hart will
50 far forget themselves and that If they should
stue their better sentiments for mercenary motives
that their opposition viii be useless OF course a
shower iniunctions and and suits will appear
very desirable delay the work, il cannot be
stopped bot judges not likely truckle Messrs
Hart and Philips In fact it Is generally thought that
their menacng braggadoco is only wind and will not
amount toany thing The opposition Of the property
ers would Boz much more serious matter but whether
thai ctl utetrlct the public veal remains be seen
tlhe route OF the Gilbert road can, of course he
changed o. Third avenue II should be deemed best to
build Il on that thoroushiare instead OF the Second
sELGMAN COMMENDED
The Commissioners express themselves in high terms
OF commentator regarding Mr. Joseph Selgnan their
President, and Mr. Burton Harrison their Secretary
They say that Il not for Mr. Selgman's prudence
fOrcthought and admirable presiding qualities the
present satisfactory conclusion might not have been
reached Mr. Harrisons clerical services we're also
extremely valuable.
The Commissioners will meet again to-day at one
o'clock 70 read over the report drawn by Mr. Harrison
and 70 aihx their signatures IN Of approval The
Board OF Aldermen, at their special meeting to-day
VIII no doubt have something say about the matter
il Is understood that there bone II ana every