The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-19
A Proposal TO Spoil Coney Island.

railway corporation in Kings county
proposes to build and operate Il steam rail-
road along the Coney Island beach. about
four hundred feet from the sea. This pro-
jet is not favored Ivy the owners of property
on Concy Island and the town Of Gravcsend
recently applied to the supreme Court in
the Second Judicial District 10 change the
route from that designated by the company
to one which would not interfere with the
public enjoyment of the island as seaside
resort. The question was referred To COM
mission Of three persons for their opinion.
Two Of the commissioners have reported in
favor Of the beach route, while the third, Mr..
THOMAS KINsELLA, disscnts. His minority
report is strong argument against the
proposed railroad.
In summer, Coney Island is pleasure
ground for tired New York and Brooklyn.
On ut least one day in the week thousands
OF weary parents and pale children. ex-
hausted by tho sultry city heat, go there
for health and rest. They got Whit oi the
invigoratng sea breeze. and perhaps have
dip into the sea itself; at all events, they
are able to be out in the fresh. open air, ON
the clean. clear sand, and to spend few
hours OF innocent recreation and harmless
enjoyment away from the CONSTANTS q;
the city. II is only necessary to visit Coney
Island on n pleasant Sunday afternoon, to
be convinced of the benefits which vast num-
bcrs Of our people derive from it as n sum
mcr resort Hitherto, one OF its great adj
vantages has been its perfect safety. OF
course, the peril which grows out Of i'm
prudent bathing is common to all similar
seaside places; but apart from that, there
has been no liability To danger Of any sort.
The beach is not adapted to driving; and
children can safely play about in the sand,
as So many Of them do. without cause for
the slightest apprehension lest they should
be- run over.
II Is plain that all this will be changed by
the construction Of n steam railway along
the beach, and only a few hundred feet from
the water. Everybody that goes Ia Coney
Island wants to go down to the water To
reach it they must cross this railroad. They
must cross it again to get back to the main
part OF the island. Thus the probability is
that every visitor. great or small, cautious
or careless Will be exposed at least twice to
the danger Of crossing n railway track ON
which numerous trains will constantly be
moving at Il high rate of speed. Casualties
will inevitably occur, and from time to time
there will be sorrowful journeys home by
those who went out joyiully in the morning
The dissenting commissioner is right in
refusing to throw this shadow ~ danger on
Conoy Island. This ENTERPRISE. ne says.
" is exceptional among railroad undertake
ings in this, that no one owning property on
the line of the route, or at either end of II,
seems to favor 1t or to want it," The statute
under which the commissioners were ap-
pointed makes it their duty to take such ac-
ton a. may be consistent with the Just
rights of all parties and the public. All the
interested parties, except the railroad COM
pany itself, appear to be opposed to the
designated route. The convenience Of trans
portation from one part of COncy Island To
arothcr, which the beach railroad would
offer to the public was urged upon the
commission n an argument in opposition
to any change ; but we are quite of the
opinion that this would be far more than
countcrbalanced by the danger to the pub
lie. Besides, IL does the VietOls good To
walk AZ much as they now have to walk In
order 10 go about from one point of interest
To another Hcalthful exercise is one ~ the
very things they seek. But, in any event,
horse railroad, and that at a considerable
distance back from the beach, would supply
every want in this respect, though we see
no necessity even for that, A steam rail
road along the beach is not only wholly I'M
necessary, but will really be dangerous
public nuisance. We hope this attempt to
spoil Concy Island will be defeated.