The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-06
THE RAPID TRANSIT QUESTION
Capitalists Ready to Buy the
Franchise.
NEEDS OF THE MERCHANTS


NEEDS OF THE MERCHANTS
II 10 In the way Of person writing about rapid
transit-the obstacles 20 IT, and the needs 10 will
overcome-to speak, not only OF that system Of
railways which ought to DO insugurased immedi.
| atey. but also of that which must be provided IN
| the future. or surety something must DO done
within few years increase the facilities OF our
commercial shippers Tor freight tran1c and to save
| to them those enormous sums which they now
lose every year.
| The general public cannot understand how much
| our merchants lose BY breaEage in bulk of their
packages on the docks and by thelts from such
packages lying exposed In that way. The city
loses through the losses OF It's business men. II
| q fac: that men, most OF them concerned in the
cotton trade, nave been forced to leave
this city and to 60 10 other cities to carry
| on their business because their losses IRON
| thefts on our docks, whore the packages
| must lie ungarded for long time. leave them
| but small margin for profit The merchants naA
| agreed among themselves to bear their losses
patiently for some time longer, because they DO
uevei that they saw prospect for relief whom
| TIE DOCK DEPARTMENT
had complsted their WORK laid out They thought
there was coming . haicyon business
period, when goods would be landed di.
| rectly from vessels into great storehouse4
! ana then transported throughout the city
on steam track railway running along the rlvei
fronts. But their hopes ana beliefs have received
q severe shock. The Dock Department passed
resolution ON Wednesday requesting the Legis
lature to empower 1t to draw In the lines OF the
bulkheads and piers ITO feet nearer to the houses
on south street tnan IL was proposed to run those
\ hA ri fha M.
partment, General Charles K. Graham,
inspired that action BY reporting that
II the space mentioned was cut from the proposed
width Of South street the city would save $75o,ooo
| on every mile Of artificial river boundary con-
| structed.
| The merchants are very angry ct the action Of
| the Dock Commissioners, and declare that II ita
new PROJECT 10 executed New York will DO kept
behind all tue other commercial cities. al
| ready" they say, ''the city Ia dying.
Does the Dock Department want to Kill
II az one stroke II We do moi
have those facilities Tor business which merchants
in other cities have we cannot compete. The TIVE
questions Of rapid transit Tor passengers and Of
rapid transportation for freight from secure ware.
houses ana docks throughout the city, are
intimately connected. BY providing her
with the nrst desideratum you will secure
to New York her population; by giving
I
her present share Of business, but insure Its ten.
fold increase" Thus speak the merchants about
the action Of the DOCK Department. on Weunes-
day.
After leaving the tar tainted atmosphere OF the
netghbornood or the docks the writer folio wing
the sinuous ways Of the streets that LEAD from it.
arrived as the great money mart Of the city,
Bent upon hearing more ideas upon. rapid
transit, he vtstten the oces or several capitalists
ne elected VAS taoE rapid transit would be
Snow r Moud e ros Ieads
but none OF them mad any accurate idea o. TO how
1t may be brought INTO being. Finally. however.
Su: modest man, H was mes aud he s~ va: asked, asked
''Aow iar are We from the realization Of rapid
the period at which we shall ontoy daily wnirl
inc answer was made In a sympathetic tone.
out solitary new Item or idea aoo1t the subject
snmed the consoiatory capitalist, who now seemed
to have been overcome BY thar oacostnes
rapld transit, and there is too little real etror;
Anything S person. 9Sa
any, ~ nu , ne rs %sar' AND son n ao
SsSes to ess Yet tss me Sins
10 p ~oss ,o %n1 much
not Of men VINO savs money Mr. brake
men who are possessed OF means, and that, there.
lore, those men Will discern that II tnev
give a., certain ,,a sum to enforce ms .rolec,
ia the future. lie Is wrong in tnis,
and 80: .,, believe n Ennis MS prospect w moi
iallure TO De conspicuous. want some other plan
to spring mp Immediately which win attract all
portions viii hide Mr. BRAKES aud allow it to DIE
unobserved Mr.; Drake, | am sure. would not
could be- procured through some other
means. re-, He , has . already effected good
o sas saSes nous
several parties mat must cuiminate IN one Of
neps is viii s n ps Ss
tue CITY government. The road can DO built BY .
Is passed by the LEGISLATURE, authorizing thu city
authorities to sell the franchise Ior an
| RLEyATgD RAPID TRANSIT RAILWAY.
there Will be general scramble for that privilege
l know OF several associations that are waiting
quietly for chance 10 bid for such Irancnlse.
city, ana one Of them. the latest organized, is
posed at present OF SIX men VINO represent more
great capitalists 90 not come to the support Of
Mr. Drake and his fellow workers."
THE CITIZENS MOVEMENT"
All the gentlemen who have Identified them
selves WITH the project a inausura;eG BY Mr. j. N
there we're many Callers a. the once
OF Mr.. Drake yesterday, ana eli q them
Expressed their satisfaction with the move.
mcnt at Its present stage. Mr.. Drake
also received number OF letters expressing sym.
patny with his plan. He visited several Capital
lists himself Tor the purpose oil enllsting them II
the ranks OF tue 'Citizens' Rapid Transit subsidy
scheme" Mr.. Charles y. Roosevelt, the secretary
OF the committee appointed at the Chamber OF
Commerce, also made visits to the o6icei
OF many moneyed men and distributed
a. number OF subscription lsts'' to ap.
the President OF the Produce Exchange, whc
spoke encouragingy or the project he represented,
and SAID that the subject OF providing rapid tran.
SIT would probably be discussed at the next meet
ing oil the Exchange. Mr.. Edison assured Mr..
Roosevelt that ne would endeavor to nave the
Exchange take soma useful part IN forwarding the
scheme TO bring rapid transit into life.
WHAT WILL OCCUR TO DAY.
The Assembly and the Aldermanic committees
VIII both meet Ia the CITY Hal to-day they Will