The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-16
New York and Its Population.

One needs only to ride on either OF the
elevated railroads at the hours when the
fares are reduced to five cenls-the hours
when the majority Of men AID women in
business and at work at trades down town
are returning to their homes-to appreciate
the fact that these roads have so far failed
to provide sufficient accommodation for the
crowds who now use them, to say nothing
OF the thousands of other people who might
avail themselves Of rapid transit II there
was room in the cars Though the trains
run in frequent succession. there is such a
rush at the METROPOLITAN stations between
half past five and seven that by the time
Park place Is passed every seat Is filled and
passengers are standing. And yet the great
mass OF people at work below Fourteenth
street do not use the elevated railroads.
When the Second avenue line is COM
pleted, and the Bowery line is opened to
traffic from the City Hall, rapid transit will
afford greatly increased facilities for the
uptown travel, which is now SO enormous,
and is SO steadily increasing. But even II
elevated roads were created ON nearly every
avenue aud trains were run as frequently
as at present on the existing roads, they
could not meet the demands upon them
ut early evening and in the morning
without crowding their cars at those hours.
So far, while they have proved great con-
Venence, and have certainly given new
impetus to building in the upper wards,
they chiefly carry the more well-to-do classes
OF the community. even at the hours when
their fares are reduced to the price Of those
On the horse cars.
The great mass OF the people are not yet
prov ded with the means Of rapid transit
Ii all those who live at distance Of mile
or two from their downtown work should
press forward to get into the trains, the sta
tions on the elevated railways would be
damned between and in the evening, and
only fraction Of the crowds would be able
10 get into the cars. They are full enough
as it is at that hour Of the day, but II five or
ten times as many people sought to rido up
town by steam, what a thrOng there would
be at every station from the Battery TO
Grand street,
What the elevated railways may do, how
ever, is 10 provide the present residents In
the lower wards in better circumstances
with the means Of obtaining easy access TO
more desirable homes above the Central
Park. Undoubtedly they will have the
effect OF inducing such an emigration To the
upper part OF the island, where there is
abundant room for a vastly increased popu-
latlOn. The city now extends far up the
North River. almost or quite 10 Yonkers
and before Che year 1900 we may expect 10
see that now ilourishing suburb a part Of
the metropolis, and the territory between it
and Central Park laid out in city streets
with close blocks Of Inhabited dwellings.
Tho pushing northward Of so large
share Of the population Of the city will leave
the region below say Twenty-third street
for business and Tor the dwelling places Of
that vast proportion Of the population who
now live in tenement houses, ana vino must
be near their places Of labor, When tho
subject Of the homes Of the aborng class IN
London was under careful consideration
several years ago. the conclusion was early
reached that the great necessity With the
majority of them was dwellings not distant
from their work; and the same conclusion
must be reached in New York A man with
n family, who earns only from six 10 el.;ht or
ten dollars week. cannot afford 10 pay "A
tenth part Of his wages for his oEu car fare,
besides paying that oi his wife and children
on occasions. A gill who earns Two OF
three dollars week may be- compelled 10
endure The seyerest hardship IN order b. exc
cut ten cents a day for a ride 10 aud from
her work Moreover, after an cAhuusting
day Of physical toll, a long car rilo is not
tempting, aud the laborcr prefers to spend
his money Tor other purposes.
We must therefore always expect to see II
large traction Of the city's population dwell
ing In the lower part Of New York, calling