The New York herald., 1878-12-31

Japan, the world will witness the accom-
plishment Of an unparalleled feat in Arctic
| navigation.
Fair Promises for Rapid Transit.
Mr.. Cyrus w. Fields views as to the pro-
posed improved facilities for travel on the
Third avenue elevated railroad, as explained
to HERALD reporter, are set forth in
another column. Summarized, they favor
the running of mixed trains, comprising
one first, one second and one third class
car, at fifteen, ten and five cents fare re-
spectively the extension Of the City Park
terminus to the Post Office building Us soon
as the necessary authority can be obtained !;
the relief of travel during the busiest hours
OF the day by means of special trains started
from switches or pockets" at the most
crowded dcpots, and Of q third track for
through trains between Fifth street and
Harlem; separate trains from Third ave-
nue. at Forty-second street to the Grand
Central Depot, to be reached by passengers
by bridge over the track, and the running
Of trains all night for passengers and freight
at such intervals as the public convenience
may REQUIRE.
These are mainly admirable propositions,
and it is gratifying to find that Mr.. Field is
SO ready to adopt suggestions for the ex-
tension Of the benefits of rapid transit, and
SO desirous to accommodate and serve the
public. So far as the authority to extend
the City Park terminus Of the road to the
;. Ia, - - na1.
that there would be any attempt to obstruct
tho immediate adoption Of such . neces-
sary step, and we can see no good reason
why the work should not be continued to
the natural and proper terminus at once,
when it can be done with greater convenience
and at less expense than at some future
time. II no one raises an objection
to the extension of the road to the south
end of Park row, the company ought to be
glad to construct the short additional line
without delay. and the authority. if any
should be required. will no dOubt be
forthcoming in good time. The idea Of
third track for through trains between
Harlem and Fifth street is an excel
lent one, provided the structure on Third
avenue is strong enough for the pur-
pose-a question that will of course be
satisfactorily decided by competent autho-
rity before the attempt is made. Equally
excellent are the propositions to relieve the
main line by disseminating the Forty-sec-
ond street depot trains, and to run cars for
passengers and freight at all hours OF the
night
Mr.. Fields idea Of adopting the European
plan Of mixed trains does not strike us
favorablyy We do not believe that the
classification Of railroad passengers into
first, second and third class will ever be
popular or successful in this country. The
proposition to charge fifteen cents for o
first class passage and five cents for third
class, with the ten cent fare sandwiched be-
tween them, takes the appearance Of de-
sire to make the we'll buttered fifteen cent
car compensate for the dry bread FIVE cent
car. We can conceive Of nothing better
calculated to make road unpopular.
The single fve cent car attached to q
train would scarcely ever be sufficient
to accommodate the people desiring to ride
for the cheapest fare, and this would lead
to overcrowding on the car and delay at the
depots, unless passengers made up their
minds to pay the ten cent rate, which
would then look to them like an imposi-
ton. Besides, the conclusive argument
against mixed trims is the fact that five
cents fare will greatly more than double the
number Of passengers on the elevated road,
and thus bring more money and larger profits
into the company's treasury. The deficient
accommodation supplied by q single five
cent car on each train would not increase
the travel as it would be increased by a
uniform five cent rate on all the cars. If
the road can make enough money to pay
large dividends and enrich its owners
rapidly at FIVE cents fare all day long there
can he no need Of experiments, and tho
company ought certainly to be satisfied.
We hope that Mr.. Field, having progressed
thus far in his views, will boldly advocate
the liberal policy of five cents fare, and we
are satisfied that his we'll known energy and
sincerity may be relied upon as sufficient
guarantee that his other promised improve
ments will in good time be faithfully car
ried out.
Dean Stanley's Impressions OF America.
II ia announced that Dean Stanley will