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


The Enemies or Rapid Transit.
The enemies of rapid transit are the enc
mics of New York.
Who are they? Mr.. Purdy, member of
the Legislature from Westchester, spoke out
last night at the rapid transit meeting. He
asserted that Of the twenty-one members of
the lower house from the city of New York
only four, Messrs. Ecclesine, Mitchell,
O'Hare and Langbein favored rapid transit;
and, he added, the city had not one friend
among its Senators. Mr.. Ecclesine con-
firmed this statement in general terms
Here, then, is matter for the consideration of
the people of New York. The measure which
they have most at heart which is most vi
tally necessary to the city's growth and
prosperity, which is needed to give to the
families of the workingmen comfortable and
healthful homes, this measure found but four
friends among the twenty-one persons
elected to represent and care for the inter-
ests of the city in the Assembly and not one
among the five Senator's.
The meeting last night was called to hear
from members of the Legislature what were
the impediments placed in the way of rapid
transit in the last Legislature. Well, if the
people of New York want to know, they need
only read the reports of the speeches. The
enemies of rapid transit-the enemies of
New York therefore-included seventeen
members of the Assembly from the
city, and all its Senators and standing
behind these, according to the testimony
of Messrs. Ecclesine and Purdy and Judge
Fithian. the horse railroad corporations,
and the steam railroad companies which
run into the city. when saw, said Mr..
Ecclesine, ''well known Albany corruption
lists, known to be in the service of the horse
car companies, daily and hourly in conference
with certain members, dining them, sitting
by them, and sending them notes, and
when saw these men afterward voting
against measures intended to further rapid
transit" well, Mr.. Ecclesine remarks, he
drew his own Inference. Mr.. Purdy's testi-
mony and Judge Fithian's was to the same
effect
If, therefore, it is true, as Mr.. O'Conor
wrote, that rapid transit twill give health
full and pleasant homes in rural territory to
toiling thousands, and greatly diminish in
temperance and vice." we know whom to
blame, and whom to hold accountable, that
these blessings are denied to our laboring
population-the horse car corporations and
the recreant Senators and Assemblymen.
If it is true, as Alderman Cowing said,
that if we had had rapid transit ten years
4
sand people who have left the city in dis
gust, we know whom to hold responsible for
this loss-the horse car corporations and
seventeen Assemblymen who were false to
the interests Of the people who elected them.
If it is true, as Mr.. S. E. Church said,
York thirty-fve millions of dollars year,
in loss Of time, while statistics show that
New York has gained less in population in
the last ten years than any other city in the
United States, we now know who has
brought upon us these losses-the horse car
corporations.
While New York has gained but eighty
per cent Jersey City has gained ATT per cent
in population. There are fifty thousand
vacant lots in the city above Fifty-ffth
street, and ten miles of vacant water front.
For lack of rapid transit the prosperity Of
New York has been seriously checked and
its growth has been brought almost to
stop. 1t is useful to know who is RESPONSE
BILE for these things.
The meeting last night was large and en-
thusiastic. The resolutions adopted give
due credit to the few members of the Legis-
lature who were faithful to the city inter-
ests We wish they had also named those
who were false to them. A committee of
fifteen citizens was appointed to watch
rapid transit affairs, and to call future
meetings of citizens if necessary. We hope
every one will read the remarks of Messrs.
Purdy and Ecclesine and of Judge Fithian.
What they said deserves the careful atten-
ton Of eyery inhabitant of New York.