New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-29
THE BACKWARD CITYs NEED.

not less than $lOOOCO The communication was placed
hle and the Engineers views were approved.
THE BACKWARD CITY'S NEED.
THE REVIVAL OF INPATIENT INTEREST IN RAPID
IRANsrT-PREsENT POSITION OF SCHEMES FOR
THAT oBJECr-MAYoR wICKIAM's MESSAGE On
TIE SUBJECT.
The recent Inconvenience to travel arising
the accumulation of in the East RIVER and the
delays caused by the heavy to the horse cars
have intensified tho interest In rapid transit IRiB
reporter called yesterday at the offices OF the Var
GUS projectors rapid transit routes In order to ascer
tain what progress II any had been made toward So
curing that object or what improvements were IN con
temptation At the Office OF the Elevated Railway Com
pany officers said that the Company was busiy
engaged in Strengthening the superstructure OF the
existing track TO Thirtyfourtht and was also making
preparations the contemplated extension or the line
to the Central Park Heretofore cara had only been
intervals OF half hour but In less than GO days
the cars would start every minutes and when neces
sary three could then be attached TO each dummy
engine instead OF two cars, at present In order to
run ears at intervals Of 10 minutes, IL would be ncceS
sary to construct "urnOuts" at certain points to be
subsequently selected; andthese "turnOuts," which
will be ready In two months will have capacity for
accommodating train of three cars and dummy
engine Contracts have been entered into for the con-
structlon and two engines and be
ready for use in co days. 1t IA, therefore, estimated
that before April the road will be enabled to transport
all the passengers who desire TO ride. IL could do 80
now were the passengers TO be uniformly scattered
along through the day; but at present. during certain
hours OF the morning and evening 1t is often necessary
10 turn away hundreds The average number OF tray-
eers on road daily ia about 5000 The bids for the
Company's bonds will not be opened before Monday,
Feb 3. At the Office OF the Beach Pneumatic Tunnel
road information could be obtained as to the pros
meets of enterprise of their projected line or transit
James NJ Drake the Chairman OF the meeting neld on
Wednesday for the purpose or gvlng pTactcal sOli-
ton the problem of rapid transit sad that ne was
eraned at the OF the meeting. He had since
received number of letters from different pers ms nav
ing property ia the upper part OF the island ana IN
WestchesteT County, Offering 70 pledge themselves Tor
certain amounts in order 70 form the iund spoken OF az
that meeting from what he knew OF the character
OF the writer's no felt great confidence IN inc movement
why all former schemes OF rapid transit ha
failed OF definite result that the orignltOrs had
left of where they should have begun, namely IN pro
curing carry the plans Tho object OF the
meeting Oh Wednesday was not to ind9rse any parucu'
lar scheme, but to secure first fund TO WORK Win
transit and TO go to work upon 1t. There Is plenty
OF capital to he had II those who desired to loan OF
their Investments pay. He did not wish TO discuss te
question VI when plan or what line OF route would be
The best for adopuOnthat had nothing to do with the
object OF the meeting The fund now To be raised would
he deferred capital to be used without other nope or
return than the completion on rapid transit rone
until after the preferred capital hai received us proper
return and this plan he believed would be an induce
mcnt for capitalists to invest In any gO0d lne tuas
should have sdch fund to back II.
Mayor Wjckham yesterday sent 20 the Common Coun-
ell the following message GU tho suoiect Of rapid
transit >.,, =, ,o-
To me Honorable ne Common C0HllcH:
GENTLEMEN The subject of ready communication
between the several quarters OF thls cty nae received
much ntOn, aud mas been luis discussed during the
ma few years The for rapid transit Is now
III Today is Of selection between the several practical
methods proposed for accomplishing It. .
That, whCn some proper means or rapid transit shal
have been aScert1ned II Will have an Important lniIu
ence retaining here the wealth which Is created Wy
the enterprise Of citizens and IN stopping the
OF population which mas set SO strongly rom inc
city during ten years past, mas bcen strenuOusy main
that the discussions OF the subject produced
currence Of opinion these cardinal points that any
means of transportation and travel within the city will
be effective developing the growth aud general pros
pery OF the city and In enabling US The more easily To
bear our present heavy burden o debt and taxation;
thar the should be constructed, II practicable by
should be ENCOURAGED to undertake the enterprise
by permission TO select routes along "hich business
likely TO be profitable; that the roads should DO built
upon a system which will not only connect the localities
which residences are with the business qudrters but
reach points which travellers arrive In or depart
from city; that the construction OF road along an
avenue or will not necessarily even temporarily
deurecate but in the end will enhance, the value OF
neghDOrng property and that the owners OF premises
situated on the should regard that result, and
their share OF the great benefit TO the community az
large, compensation for What they may have eA-
pected to he for q time "A local disadvantage
At tue present time the condition upon which assist
ance be had from the State Legislature differ from
the Constitution seem to prohibit the Legislature from
granting special charter for construction Of such roads
"a are mere Contemplated and to forbid palty
! from contributing from funds to aid such
enterprise the hands OF private parties The general
In "a which the amendments to the Constitution contem-
plate to meet tho Ia which special legislation Is
prohibited have not yet been enacted or framed put so
Tar "a the scope and terms OF such laws can oreseen
The power OF legislation this subject will In effect DO
! ultimately deYQlyed upon tue Common Council. Tue
thus WIZ great fOTSs t. your sGnt%
m my message OF the 4th inst and am quite ready to
support and further any reasonable measure To attain
II viii probably he found that energetic capitalists are
prepared 10 buid the road and that advantageous lines
aud economic modes OF construction be selected and
determined. | recommend that you give prompt con-
slderatlon to this subject and that you appoint com
nttee with instructions 10 investigate 1t thoroughly by
hearing all the parties more particularly Interested and
tereupon 10 report at early day such measures AS
are ascertaned DO most feasible and best adapted 10
the necessary conditions or such work Eucc ua re-
lief from present difficulties may be thus secured;
aud is only by the Common Council that measures can
be initiated to meet the popular demand for some action
WILLIAM II. wICKHAM, Mayor.
In the discussion OF the matter, most Of the Aldermen
their appreciation or the Importance OF the
project Alderman rnrrH VINO represents ,h tno an
mite stops should be taken looking toward securing
rapid transit at early day On his motion, President
Lewis was empowered to appoint special committee
| OF lve to whom the matter should be referred
| RESEARCHES OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE.
| ADDRESSES BEFORE TIE NEw-YoRK SOCIETY OF
| PRACTICAL KNGINEERs-DEyICES FOR CLEARING
THE STREETS OF sNOw-AUToMArIC RAILROAD
sIGNALs-PRoTECTIoN OF FIREMEN AND MINERS
| FROM SMOKE AND GASES.
The session of the New-YOrk Society OF
Practical Engineering closed with the meeting of las
evening" in the Geographical Rooms. Cooper Institute
This meeting devoted to the reading and discussion
Of miscellaneous papers, the most interesting or which
we're those on the removal OF from city streets
the use OF electricity for railway signaling. and the
| protection OF iremen, miners, aud Others from smoke
| and gases.
william Edwards presented the paper on the first named
gayp "A of the various for