The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-05

the most prominent citizens IS to try 10 dis-
cover who ''runs'' New York. The people
who will assemble this evening at CHECKER
ing Hall are to shear from some OF their
representatives in the Legislature an ac-
count of the impediments thrown in the
way of rapid transit during the last ses-
sion"
We confess to lively curiosity about the
matter. New York is governed so largely
and SO badly at Albany that it has had to
wait for many needed improvements. The
real public opinion of the city finds great
difficulty in making itself felt at the dis
lance Of Albany F.; the opponents of an i'm
provement have an immense advantage
there, for they work in secret upon the
ignorance and prejudice Of country men,
bers. If the gentlemen who are to speak
tonight will oblige the city with genuine
exposure of the means which have been
used to defeat rapid transit, and Of the
authors of these means, they will put the
whole people under obligations to them,
and they will enable the press and the pub
lie to fix the seal Of righteous condemnation
upon these persons
The city of New York has a peculiar
position. 1t lies on an island thirteen and
half miles long and Of varying width, it
being about three-quarters OF mile wide at
Fulton street, about mile and half at
Canal street. two miles and a quarter at
Fourteenth street and diminishing to less
than a mile in width at 130th street. This
form of the island gives New York unrivalled
advantages of water front, but it makes
absolutely necessary to the comfort and
convenience Of the inhabitants and to the
sound growth of the city abundant means
of rapid access to the upper parts Of the
island. The distances to be traversed are
unusually great our population cannot
radiate in all directions from a common
business centre, and so long as steam roads,
moving trains quickly between the northern
denied us not only is the growth of the city
seriously checked, but large mass of its
population is compelled to crowd into IN
wholesome quarters
IT is hardly necessary that the HERALD
should repeat to its readers all the evils
which the city suffers for lack Of rapid tran
sit. Our journal has for years persistently
presented them and urged the remedy. Nor
is there any one improvement the necessity
for which is SO unanimously accepted. We
believe if a vote were taken next week for
and against rapid transit the people would
cast nm almost unanimous voice for it. We
say almost unanimous because it is evident
that there are persons opposed. Their OPP
position is more or less secret if it could
be forced to face the day its authors would
be put to shame, and we should see once
more how impudently an Insignificant num-
Der of selfish men ore allowed in this city
year after year to stand in the way of it's
growth and prosperity and the comfort of
its people.
# the secret history Of the Instructions to
rapid transit could be told the people Of
New York would be amazed and indignant
to discover how small number Of men had
the INSCRIPTIONS audacity and selfshness to
stand in the way Of this great boon, and how
various and often desperate have been the de-
vices by which they have so long succeeded.
In the days Of the Tweed Ring the corrup-
tionists went so far as to try to indict the
Greenwich street elevated road rs nuisance
they boosted that they would not only tear
down the road, but would fine and imprison
the enterprising citizens who advanced
money to try this important and now en-
tirely successful experiment. Engineers
and newspapers were hired to assert that the
road would not stand; that it was dangerous
to the lives of the passengers that it would
cause constant runaways Of horses that it
would destroy business and attempts were
even made at one time to incite mob vio-
lence against it, To-day the Elevated Rail-
way is, as far as its track extends, one of the
greatest conveniences the city has; and we
regard it as a most fortunate circumstance
that abundant capital in the hands Of ener-
getic men has been put into the enterprise,
SO that if the Court of Appeals shall decide
favorably to the city the case it has now be-
fore it there is no longer any doubt that
this road will be continued as rapidly rs
wcrkmen can put the material together,
along tho east side of the city to Harlem.
How the Court of Appeals may decide Of
course no one can foreteil nor would it
be proper to address the judges upon the
subject. But we may ut least hope that
they will make their decision known as
speedily as possible. If it proves to be adj
verse to the city We shall then have the
more time to prepare for the next Legis-
lature a measure which will stand before
the courts and to discover who are the
secret foes of rapid transit and countcract
their manmuyres. If, on the contrary, the
decision should be favorable 10 the best in
terests and the universal desires Of the city,
then the quicker it is rendered the sooner
will the work so on.
But we hope the speakers this evening