The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-07

The cheap Cab Question.
There are three things needed in this city
to make it a comfortable place of residence
for the million persons forming its popula-
ton. These are rapid transit for long dis
tances, proper accommodation for tho pas
scngers on tho horse cars and system Of
cheap cabs. The first two will come in time
for, in spite of injunctions, petitions and
vexatious legal opposition, the elevated
steam railroads will eventually be put into
complete operation on both sides Of the city.
With rapid transit the present crush of
travel on the horse cars will be lessened
and these surface roads find their true
sphere of usefulness in carrying the way
travel. It is perhaps, a hopeless task to at
tempt carrying ont the mo seat no fare" re-
form now, Us the companies hesitate at no
means to defeat the movement made so often
to compel them to give better accommoda-
tons and more cars on their respective
routes. But they will be compelled to do
SO by the force of the competition brought
against them by the elevated roads.
Cheap cabs, however, can be secured i'm
mcdiately. There is no reason why owners
of cabs cannot begin running vehicles
on q moderate and honest scale of prices.
There is no law to prevent the APP
pearance of cheap cabs, though the existing
ordinances arc intended, ostcnsibly. to pre-
vent overchargcs. The field for cheap cabs
being thus open it is singular that that class
of public service is not at once taken posses
sion Of. The American District Telegraph
Company was prompt in announcing, when
the HERALD began agitating the subject, its
intention to make the necessary arrange
ments for giving the public plenty of cheap
cabs. But several weeks have elapsed since
this announcement yet the promised vehicles
are still invisible, though it is said by tho
company's officers that they arc, indeed.
coming. Granting this fact, and there does
not seem any reason for doubling it, the
question naturally arises How far does the
telegraph company intend to cover the
ground? 1t is now understood that their
cabs will only be furnished to customers
who summon the vehicles through the signal
instruments. This is very good as far Us it
in the streets, and unless tho owners of cabs
who ore combining with the telegraph COM
pany intend to Gil the other branch of tho
service they will only do half the work
expected Of them.
Surely it is feasible to furnish cabs
signals, and if the whole service is
promptly entered ON the success Of the
experiment is at once assured. But the
reform must be complete and thorough
to prove successful and popular, for the
present system can only be pushed aside by
vigorous opposition and sharp competition.
The cheap cabs must be accessible at rail-
road depots, steamship landings, ferry
houses and at the various stands, as we'll as
on call by telegraph. II they are abundant
business can be secured and the public
derive that benefit they are entitled to.
ANNA D1cKrSsoN's DEBUT An important
event in the dramatic and literary world
will be the first appearance of Miss Anna
Dickinson on the stage at the Boston Theatre
on Monday night. She is so well known as
speaker and writer that tho debut will
attract an audience scarcely inferior in
celebrity and intellect to that which greeted
the production of Mr.. Tennyscns new drama
in London. Our Boston letter gives an in
tcresting account Of Miss Dickinson's views
of tho theatre and the motives which have
imrclled her TO select the dramatic profess
sion for her future field. She has certainly
displayed much courage in writing her own
play, and that is quality which the Ameri-
can public invariably appreciates. We trust
that both as actress and author Miss Dickin-
son will succeed, and tina; ANNE Boleyn."
the drama, and Anne Bolcyn, the character,
vii. have long and happy reign upon our
stage.
The ALDERMEN on THEIR MgrrLE Mayor
Wickham is entitled, by the grace Of the
Custom House republicans in the Legsa-
turc. to appoint thirty-iivc city marshals for
the term OF three years from May !. 1t WINS
expected that he would send in the names
o. his appointees to the Board Of Aldermen
yesterday, bat when his communication WAS
rad il was Discovered that he had TRIMS
ini:tcd only Twelve, the others being held in
reserve. IL was soon Sccn that the batch
transmitted did not embrace any of the can