The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-22
Cheap Fares.

The communications addressed to the
HERALD on the subject Of low fare on the
elevated railroads. only small number of
which we are enabled to publish, show how
eager the people are to secure the advan-
tago Of the five cent rate and afford evil
dence of the large increase in the travel
which the reduction would insure. Some
Of our correspondents regard the question
as one that should be settled from the point
of view Of the public interests alone, but
the enterprise which has given us rapid
transit so speedily and in form
generally satisfactory is entitled to fair
consideration. If the roads could not be
profitably run at the uniform rate of five
cents fare we should have no right to ask
the reduction at the hands of the COR
porations. But it is because all expert
ence tends to prove that the five cents fare
would be more profitable toAhe companies
and yield more money to their treasures
than the ten cents fare that we urge the
adoption Of the lower rate.
The fact that the horse cars of the Sixth
and Third avenue street railroads lose pas
sengers during the five cent hours on the
two elevated roads while at other times of
the day they carry about as many as usual,
is of itself conclusive evidence that the high
rate OF ten cents keeps people away from
the rapid transit lines. Ii the fare were the
same on the elevated roads and the horse
cars the latter would at once lose fifty per
cent Of their present patronage. The street
railroads would then find it necessaryto de-
crease their accommod atoms and to run what
are known as '.bobtail' cars, or short cars
drawn by one horse and without conduc-
tor. This would remove the street rail
roads in a great measure from rivalry with
the elevated lines. But while the fare on
the latter is kept up to the ten cent rate the
street railroads will maintain their accom-
modations and continue to compete with
the rapid transit roads, especially tor short
travel.
One of the main advantages Of uni
form five cent rate of fare would be the
relief it would afford during the hours
when the trains are at present overcrowded.
When people could travel for five cents as
well at four o'clock or eight o'clock rs be-
tween five and seven they would for their
own comfort and safety avoid crowd
ing. and thus draw to the elevated
trains hundreds who are now driven
from them. Besides, at five cents fare,
thousands of passengers who now make
two trips a day would make four We
have but little doubt that the number
of passengers carried on both the Sixth
avenue and Third avenue elevated roads
for the next year would be three times as
large at uniform rate Of five cents as
under the present regulations.
While we concede the right of the ele-
waited railroad companies to make a fair
and even liberal profit on their invest
ment we must remind them that the people
who bestowed upon them the franchises
they enjoy are entitled to consideration.
If the roads can be made fairly remunera-
tive at five cents fare the people have right
to demand the reduction. They have also
right to insist upon being supplied with
reasonable accommodations and conven-
iences such as separate waiting rooms at
the depots, warm cars and covered stair
ways. The snow storm Of yesterday proved
the discomfort and even danger of the open
stairways, and the people who were COM
PEELED to ascend and descend the stairs
of the Third avenue line through slush
and snow, and at the risk of breaking their
necks, will no doubt bear witness to the ne
cessity of the improvement we urge. The
Sixth avenue stairs were in a much better
condition, but even there a great i'm
provement might be made by ex-
tending the roofs so far over the sides
Of the stairs as to prevent the snow and
rain from beating in. The Third avenue
elevated cars, although provided with pipes,
are not yet warmed, and this is subject Of
complaint. II we reiterate our advice to the
rapid transit companies to make all desir-
able improvements now it is because they
can be better done and at less cost while
the roads are in process of construction than
after their completion. AS to the question
of cheap fares, we believe that the adoption
of uniform rate Of five cents would be Of
pecuniary advantage to the companies,
hence we regard them as having quite MS
much interest in the matter as the people
who use the roads.
Wnshburne.
1t has been proposed that Mr.. f. b. Wash
burne the most justly distinguished Of any
represen tative the United States has sent