The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-13
Meeting Of Property Owners in Oppose
ton to the Gilbert Road.
THE SIXTH AVENUE JEREMIAHS,
Horse Car Obstructionists-An AL
dermanic Hearing.
FIGURES ON THE PEOPLES SIDE

third street and Sixth avenue, for the purpose pro-
testing against the Gilbert Elevated Railroad beng
run through Sixth avenue About 200 people
were present, many OF them, no doubt,
being property owners the avenue, but a
considerable number appeared to be- nero Gu
riosity seekers while not few had the appear
ancc of being car conductors and drivers OF duty.
There enthusiasm manifostcd anu the applause
was OF slightly periunctory character. The indig.
nation expressed by the speakers II genuine conveyed
the impression that had been taken iorco
it, and altogether the proceedings very tame
and unlneresting The speakers showed n wonderful
unanimlty two ponts--admiration tor rapid
transit theoretically considered, and deter
minaton 10 oppose tho urst practical effort TO
bring It into operation. All conceded the
right Of the state TO tho avenue tor the public
benefit but all were equally unanimous in insisting
a handsome compensation to the property owners for
the depreciation in the value OF their property which
would, they said follow tho construction OF the Ele-
waited railroad in Sixth avenue. The chair taken
by Mr. II. A. Morrison, and five gentlemen occu-
pied seats tho platform.
KNOCK DOWN ARGUMENT
Mr. Morrison said 1t unnecessary to explain the
objects Of the meeting, those present were well I'D
vised Of IT. Stli, order that they might go
undcrstandingy, It was just us well that he should
give them motto, and that was, 'f you possess
anything worth having you have to fight for It," As
the association had been placed false light how
ever, It just well, he said, to state
that It not Identified with the Sixth
Avenue Railroad Company. Tho association
not opposed to rapid transit, but to q
particular scheme which would destroy their prop
ery. Things done In this so.callod country
he said, which would not be tolerated In any OF the
monarches OF Europe, ana among them invading
q ma NOR
under discussion He told tho story of foreigner who
to this country and, entering orchard helped
himself 10 fruit, and when tho farmer demonstrated
remarked that IL was free country. EYES," said the
farmer. it Is free for knock you down. and
he did 1t. In like manner, said Mr.. Morrison doughty,
II the Elevated road was going to steal their property
they hoped TO knock IL down before It got through
(Laughtcr) In conclusion the speaker made sug-
gestion ITO gentlemen who wished rapid transit
roads" They shoud either build solid ground or
else buy the right OF way through the and CON-
pensatc the owners OF adjoining houses
MR. Fircn's SPEECH
Mr.. J. p. Fitch then introduced. Hc said his
property would not be affected In any way by the pro-
posed road. rs he owned none the avenue Conse-
queny he did hot come there to guard his estate
and might be said to have no selfish motive. ne was
present because he interested in everything that
portaincd to the welfare and honor oil the CITY, As
ciIzen of New York he bushed every time he looked
at those structures (the elevated roads, In
its streets II was disgrace to tho city.
The friends Of tho road had not treated
its opponents fairly. They represented them as
being opposed to rapid transit any form. That was
They were not opposed 10 proper fora OF
rapid transit all alike interested In having
and knew how necessary tor the development OF
the city aud the Of the community Bust
much Interested IN 1t the working
men, who wanted comfortable homo within easy reach
of his place OF work. Property owners conceded tho
right OF the State to use their property TOR
the public good public necessity required the sac
rIncc but they did not acknowledge the right Of the
State rob- the authorities Of the State city by
constructing steam railroad through an avenue of
the city deprecated the value OF the property on that
the owners entitled TO adequate coInpcn-
sation. 1t would not be enough to give them
tho nero value Of tho amount Of ground used when
tho value OF the whole properly was thereby
considerably deprecated or perhaps rendered
useless The property owners OF Sixth avenue did not
come to That meeting 10 oppose rapid transit, but to
raise their voices against the of the
used for any other purpose than that OF public hgn.
way. They came there to endcavor to arouse public
sentiment against obstructng a public highway.
Under the British any European govern
ment the rights of the individual were better
protected than this free country "a dcsirc Tor
The pubic good often Induces people 10 trampc upon
the most sacred personal rights. The Gilbert Ele-
waited KHtrOnd, he said, with fraud
from its very inception, and II were to have rapid
transit let us have system not open to such
objection.
GENERAL vIELE's REMARKS
General VieIc was then introduced, and said There
three factors to be considered the discussion
The question Of rapid transit engineering
problem OF the most difficult description aud had
occupied the profession In both Ecmsphcrcs for fifteen
years They had discussed 1t from every point OF
view, but with that profession, which CLAIMED TO be
TIE pioneer of civilization OF this continent the bogus
fraudulent rdicr Ious structure now reing erected in
% In sln
(ApDause.) IL was tho coDcet OF idiot aud
brought up for the destruction Of luuatcs. A pm
vender dreamed that night and took It TO the Leg
slature, and they, thinking get rid OF him, passed
passed IT with the aid of OF those individuals
who had left hrs country Tor his country's good.
and his name Thomas G. Fields lie was
tho legislative father OF the GILBERT Elevated
Railroad. Through his personal influence the charter
obtained. The speaker pronounced IT ian on
ginecring fraud from beginning TO end" Tue citizens
OF New York had not attempted to solve the rapid
transit lem, lie said, had left II spectators
and adventurcrs, ana they were reaping the consc.
quences. The New York Elevated Railroad Company,
lie said, bought Tor $4,000 lot vi Old
which mad encountered Greenwich street, aud with
that as sole asset OF the concern put upon
the market So 600 600 and ST., 600 600 of stocks
u.aughterL The plan of road they had mot to oppose
was conceived Ia Wall street. and II would dc
after all the money that could be got out of ad been
made. The structure beng erected IN Amiiy sheet
and south Fith avenue was ridcned by the speaker.
He said there not IN the l4U 900 miles OF railroad
this country aud Europe anything resembling IT,
IL would not bear The weight OF locomotive necessary
to draw cars large enough Tor the public accommoda-
ton, ana IN fact II was SIMPLY an impeachment 10 rapid
transit generally. As 10 the dire effects the railroad
would have upon adjacent property, the speaker
he had carefully examined the subject aud had
made inquiries. He found that in New Jersey
town lots ON an avenue through which II road
passed were assessed ut So 900 while similar
plots on adjonging avenue Tree from tho
sold Tor $4,000 each. A person claiming own
1000 In the Gilbert road tried to sell IT, and as an
inducemcnt to the purchaser told hun that the con-
tract Tor the building OF that road had been taken by
sort of credit mob,lier company and they had sub.
lot It Tor $500 per mile Tho Cr6dii MvbiIer
proD % esuc loft mill IN bc hutt