The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-20


through the upper part Of the city over their road 10
connection with the projected road south OF Forty
STREET RAILROAD TRAVEL
The travel upon all the street railroads OF the city
lions being discarded :-lsc6 90 600 coo passengers
1867 l0l 500 600 passengers; 1865 100 900 passcn
passensers 1871. 1888 800, 600 passengers: ISTs.
las COO passengers 1873 14l 700 600 passengers
lsl lal 900 passengers; 1885, 1856 600 passcn
gers
In the year 1875 the travel upon north and south
lines between Second and Eighth avenues was as fol-
lows-sccond avenue road, 10. 600 passengers,
Third road ~ 800 600 passengers Fourth
enth avenue road, 10 100 900 Sixth avenue
road, H. 700. 900 passengers; Eighth avenue road,
600 passengers om nn ono lines and Harlem
10. 900. 600 passengers.
TIE OUTLOOK.
With tho above ngurcs before US tho important
question 10 be considered Is how many passengers
daily may safely DO counted on for an underground
from the Guy Hall to Forty second street, con-
Meeting near that point with tho Harlem Railroad?
Tho should considered pnd worked ono limo
from the limits OF the city TO the City Hall.
When such road Is built travel Will accommodate
Itself to IT, Cross railroads, like the Twentythird
street lino would probably be built from rverto river
at every half mlc about which distance apart stations
wold be placed upon tho steam roads These
town roads would bring much travel TO the man line,
and thousands would lind their way on foot to these
stations, where they would meet a train every iev
minutes with ASSURANCE OF comfortable seats to their
BY estimating tho travel at 100 900 passengers daily
the eprniugS would be followS:--
Ono hundred thvus md passengers daily at
five cents each per day So 900 and Tor 3j5
days. from City Hall 10 Forsy-sxth street,
, say. ...................- 500 goo
REQUIRED to pay interest on capital 100000
Leaving for all expenses OF operation, re-
pairs and renewals. ST. zoe, 600
r II SIX cents per PASSAGE can DO CHARGED, them
The daily receipts would DO 81. 600; tho
yearly receipts would be, say 81 300 600
Required for interest. .................. 100000
Leaving Tor all expenses and perhaps
somc surplus over expenses. Il, 600, 600
IT the estimates Of travel this line made by tho
engineers in 1865 and 1859 should verified the earn
ngs would be far greater than those above stated.
The increase IN tho city travel is very In 1868,
1t was 90 600 900 passengers. In 1875 166 UOO
600 passengers lncreso in ten years 49, COO 900 pas
sengors, or more than 50 per cent When we reflect
passengers daily nearly 81 900 900 annually the am
ticipaon OF 100000 each day, So 900 0o0 for tho
hardly be deemed extravaganza No allowance has been
made for goods express matter, mails which would
add something TO the receipts.
THE PRIVATE ENTERPRISE SCHEME.
The Mayor Is also directed by the resolution of tho
Common Council to ascertain the feasibility OF
structng such road by private enterprise, and tho
necessary legal steps to obtain tho requisite franchise
All the special grauts Tor underground roads
have lapsed by noncompliance with prescribed
ditions to time OF commencement ana of pro-
gress. In fact no bona fde commencement OF actual
construction made under any OF these char.
tiers. Any organization, duly empowered. would.
therefore, have clear field and tho opportunity
lect tho best route without Infringing the rights
others.
MAYORS POWER.
The Commissioners appointed by Mayor Wickham
selected and plans, and authorized
cra corporations to proceed with the construction of
elevated roads Having completed their duties, tho
terms of oce Of tho Commissioners probably expired.
Whether tho Mayor may appoint another commission
to select other routes and plans proper application,
is question tor consideration 1t would hardly
have boen the intent and meaning general law
limit its operations to any one year, or to three or Jour
routes or 10 any particular PLAN Time might show the
necessity Of additional llnes and experience prove tho
tho advantage OF other plans. Ii these views be
rect, then new commission may be appointed to act
upon application for steam road between tho
points designated by tho resolutions OF the Board
Of Aldermen, and 10 decide upon tho route and
whether the shall be depressed road UNDER
these points the commission could fix tho amount
OF capital and open books OF subscription This
would DO one mode OF ascertaining the feasibility
OF conducting such work by private enterprise.
CITY UNABLE
The constitution prohibits subscriptions by the city
or loan OF credit aid OF the road of private
corporation, but II this not SO, public
officer could ut this time consccntiously recommend
aid, in OF the existing burden OF debt and
taxation, for the promotion OF the great public
benefit. which this important work would undoubtedly
Tho Commissioner however, thinks that owners Of
real estate in the upper part OF the city, the great
porations whose railways converge at the proposed
terminus OF the route well citizens and capitalists
generally might be induced contribute 10 the capital
OF such a company organized upon sound basis,
though IL must be confessed the times unpropi-
tious for such AN undertaking.
The report referred to the Committee on Rail.
roads, and ordered to BIO printed.