The New York herald., 1877-03-18
Rapid Transit I'm tho state Legisla-
ture.

ministration of affairs in New York city,
Mr.. Graham, of Monroe county, made use
of the following language, which, on the
motion of New York member, was written
out by the official stenographer 81, for
one. have arrived at the conclusion, after
good deal of consideration and after men,
bership of two years in the Committee on
Cities, that the salvation of that city lies
more with the country members than with
the city members Leave them alone and
they will go to their own destruction, and
they will carry that city so that it will be
disgrace to the Empire State and SO that
business there" The object of the
representative in requiring the formal re-
port of the words to the House was to de-
clare Mr.. Graham in contempt for having
made an unparliamentary charge against
his associates, but the Chairman of the Com
mittee of the Whole very properly ruled the
point of order not well taken. the remarks
being general and not rejecting upon any
individual member.
Without pausing to inquire how much or
how little Of justice there may be in Mr..
Graham's arraignment Of the New York
representatives in the State Legislature on
general principles, we are constrained to
admit that it seems to be justified when
applied to the course pursued by the city
delegation Oh the question of rapid transit
The necessity of rapid transit to the
progress Of the city, and to the pros
perity and happiness of the people,
is no longer an open question. The
special interests which, on selfish con-
siderations, oppose some particular plan
of rapid transit do not venture to deny that
steam transportation through the city is a
public need. Only they desire that it may
follow route which will save them individ-
ually from some'real or imaginary sacrifice.
1t is notorious that the principal opposition
comes from the horse car railroad COM
panies, whose business would, no doubt,
be injuriously affected by the completion
of rapid transit line running from
the Battery to Harlem Bridge through any
of the main thoroughfares Of the city. TO
these opponents of the great public i'm
provement may be added few unenter-
prisng property owners, who would be
found denouncing any work, however i'm
portant, which, in their contracted views,
would be likely to take few dollars out Of
their own pockets. This is in reality all
there is of the opposition to rapid transit,
while on the other hand it would directly
benefit nearly million of people; would
increase the value of more acres of real
kc&o osokn
and would improve the health, NOR
ais and comfort of the entire popula-
ton. When, therefore, we find New York
Senators and Assemblymen arraying them
selves in this matter on the side of selfish
few in opposition to the general good of the
people they pretend to represent we may
fairly conclude that their duty to their con-
stituents is sacrificed to corrupt considera-
tions, and that the Monroe county member
is not altogether incorrect when he declares
that "the salvation Of the city lies more
with the country members than with the
city members"
The question of rapid transit for New
York is not one on which an honest differ
ence of opinion can we'll exist. The con-
formation of the city is such that the people
are compelled to live'at long distances from
their places of occupation or to crowd into
inconvenient, unhealthful and demoralizing
downtown tenement houses. They are thus
necessitated to ride in the horse cars,
and their patronage creates the wealth
which is used to prevent any i'm
provement Of their condition or any
removal of their discomforts New York
cannot grow without rapid transit. It's
business men prefer to seek residences in the
suburbs, on Long Island or in New Jersey,
to the fatigue and hazard Of riding up town
in horse cars, some of which are nests of
filth and disease, while others are conve-
nient operating places for thieves who ply
their trade under the protecting friendship
of drivers and conductors. Two-thirds of
the city earnestly desire the construction of
steam railroad which shall carry them from
the Battery to Harlem bridge in twenty five
minutes at low rate of fare. 1t is admitted
that such road would add half million
to our population forthwith, would largely
increase the assessable value of our real
estate, would give an impetus to the build
ing business, which employs labor, would
increase the retail trade of the city, improve
the public health and morals and give the
poorer classes cheap and decent homes
Yet all these advantages are to be withheld
from the people because selfish corporations,
which have received free gift of valuable
franchises from the city, desire to monopo-
lie the business of transportation and cor
rupty use the money they have made out of
the people to defeat the peoples comfort,
convenience and prosperity.
1t seems plausible enough to insist that