New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-09
BRTDGR AND ELEVATED RAILWAY.

BRIDGE AND ELBVATED Rail WAY.
An angry correspondent writes: on are not
"fair in comparing the Gilbert Elevated Rail-
"way scheme with the East River Bridge. The
"latter is an important improvement for the
"bcnelit of the people Of two large cities.
"The other is an outrage on every SIXTH
save. prOperty-Ow This letter furnishes
new illustration of what wonderful
difference it makes whose OK is gored.
Doubtless there are persons near either ter
minus of tho bridge who are firmly
convinced that rapid transit through Sixtl-ave.
il a public necessity, and that the bridge Is
swindle perpetrated in gross violation OF their
special interests. THE TRIBUNE, on the other
hand, holds that both enterprises are OF the
highest importance to the development of the
city, and that they are In the general interest
of its citizens. While some individual inter-
ests may be injured. their completion Will, we
are sure, benefit the larger number.
Thus far we have heard no satisfactory ar
gumcnts against these two works, except those
of extravaganza which characterized the first
management of the bridge, and which were
long since corrected. largely. We believe,
city has now voted to extend further aid, and
that action We heartily commend. The argu-
ments of special and very limited shipping in
tcrests against the bridge we are convinced are
very trivial Those advanced against the Gil
bert Elevated Railway a few nights ago ut 4
meeting of property -owncrs on Si1th-ave. were
wholly unworthy serious consideration, and
proceeded evidently from few individuals
whose particular oxen may be in danger, urged
on 10y the Sixth Avenue horse-car company,
whose special OK is doubtless in very serious
danger.
The principle involved in taking possession
of the various thoroughfarcs for the bridge
and railway is simple one. The highways
are for the benefit Of the whole, not part.
Tho Taxpayer Mt Harlem has precisely the
same right TO passage through the thorough
fare that any resident along Slxtl-ave.
POSSESSES and consequently the company,
whether laying surface track or building an
elevated road, duly lcgalized in the public
interest, has equal right Of passage through IT..
The same hue and cry now raised against The
Elevated road was heard when tho Sixth
Avenue horse-car track was laid, and will be
again when some quicker and better method
have no record of it, but doubtless some
special interest, like that which now opposes
the bridge, felt itself irrctrievably ruined
when the Union Ferry Company began to
" obstruct the river and "cndangcr thou
"sands of lives" by running its numerous
boats at brief intervals directly across that
public highway.
Since the necessity Of rapid transit Is
generally acknowledged, somebody's OK has
to be gOrcd for the public good, and it
happens that very able and honorable
Commission of citizens and engineers selected
by Gov. Dix, has decided that it is Sixth
ave. which must suffer. We say suffer, be-
cause that il the favorte deprccatory sigh of
the property Owners, but we have no idea that
they will suffer in the slightest degree. Ii IL
possible that some branches of trade will have
10 seek new localities, but it Is only such
special interests that can suffer, and these
need not if owners will recognize the inevi-
table and prepare for the change which will
follow. Sixth-ave. will DO altered in charac-
ter, but it will change in the very direction
in which it is changing now. Residences
have been fast disappearing from it;
| light manufactures and retail stores are
the other; and these the railway will increase
greatly to the benefit of property. 1t il a
deduction any man who knows of the city's
development in years past must draw from that
observation and experience. Wisdom will best
show itself in early comprehension of the change
winch will be wrought. The Elevated Railway
| is necessity the Company has all the money
! it needs; a large amount of the iron work Is
| finished, and tho rest under contract, and with
out Unforeseen accident or obstruction it may
reasonably be expected the road will be fin
shed within year. The public meetings,
suits, and mjunctons which have been gotten
up are in the nature only of distractions pro-
ceeding from the old monopoly on Sixth-ave.,
and cannot in the end do more than delay the
accomplishment of the work. OF course, this
in itself would be q misfortune, but it is not
| irretrievable.
| IN ADMIRABLE PROTECT
A. e Al, "a