The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-12

Not even the oldest wayfarer, though in
terested in horse railroad, could be aston
ished at the result of the reflections made
by Senator Conkling after visit to the
greatest city of the world. That the Sena-
tor should bring home from n short stay
abroad few regrets for his country and many
sentiments Of satisfaction and pride in the
comparison she makes with older iands
in oil the substantial elements OF great
and happy State is indeed not strange, Tor
an ultimate analysis of the judgments OF I'M
partial observers would reach the same
result as to the larger number OF points In
which our social organization, commercial
system and political machinery could be
compared with those of European States;
and as to those points in which the cold
critical or cynical observation of an I'M
sympathetic traveller might compare us
with other countries to our prejudice, the
generous fervor of an ardent faith in repub-
lican institutions might we'll dim the eyes
of an enthusiastic lover of his country. 1t
is therefore only to recognize that our dis
tinguished representative in the United
States is a good American to say that the
superficial delights of life abroad have not
dazzled his vision nor prevented that spirit
of deeper observation in which the merits
and real nature of facts are bal
anced against their specious appearances
Steadfast souls that do not change with the
change of skies will ever judge in that way
and that ready admiration of all that is
seen abroad which visits our own country
with the facile expression of an unfavorable
opinion-an admiration characteristic OF
fabby minded Americans-is received by the
judicious less as the praise of foreign coun-
tries than as the condemnation of the critic.
But the Senator's opinions are not less
valid in the one point as to which he finds
the comparison not to our favor than in the
many as to which he was amazed to find
that foreign countries had little to teach us
that was really worth our study. Rapid
and cheap transit is indeed the one feature
as to which London is UNNECESSARILY in
advance Of this city, and this one diff
ference is of such leading Importance
and far-reaching effect that it forces
itself upon the attention. London proper
the district inhabited by that part of
the vast aggregate Of population which
may Justly be distinguished from the subur-
ban population an area about three
times as great as the surface of this city
and within that limit circulation equally for
great distances and for small ones is FREE
quent, regular, rapid and cheap. 1t meets
these requirements so fully that complaint
is scarcely heard and indeed it is the gen.
eral conviction Of people constitutionally
disposed to grumble that complaint at the
accommodation or the charge made for it
would be unreasonable. Indeed, over all
parts of an area of about sixty square miles
there is facility and convenience of move
ment in every direction to which there is
scarcely any comparison even for small dis
tricts Of our own city. If the Elevated Rail-
road now in operation had three or four
times its present capacity it would supply on
one line Of travel an accommodation to
the public equal to that which radiates to
every part OF the British metropolis. In its
present condition that line is delusion,
because at those hours of the day when peo-
pie most wish to 60 up town or come down
all who live near stations not in the imme-
date vicinity of either end of the line may
cool their patience on the platform,
while train after train passes by, till
weary with waiting they betake them
selves to the horse cars. In Lon
don the capacities of the several lines
are equal to every possible demand, and
great item for poor people-the fare is
regulated for the distance Ten cents may
not be too great charge for swift and COM
Portable transportation from the Ba terry to
Fitty-n street; but if it is fair charge
for that distance then the man who is COM
PEELED to pay the same sum for his ride
from one station to another, or for half the
length of the line even, is robbed Of five
cents.
But such as it is, the slight experience of
the people with that line may enable them
to understand the comforts and advantages
of o system by which an accommodation
like that, but made sufficient for all needs,
and fair in its charges, is extended in the
direction of every great avenue Of traffic and
travel. Nor is the facility for speedy and
inexpensive movements from one part to
another of the city the whole story of rapid
transit in London. Its operation, on the con-
trary, is continued to the suburban
districts on the same great lines of radia-
ton and to such an extent that the district
readily accessible to O man whose occupa-
ton is in London is not less than four hun
dred square miles. Within that area the
man of family can have to himself COM
Portable little house and garden tor rent of
ten dollars month, and can be within from
thirty minutes to an hour of his place of
daily occupation. AS to suburban commu-
nicaiion we are ourselves tar better sup
piled than for communication within
the city But'our misfortune in this respect