The New York herald., 1879-07-30
RAPID TRANSIT.
How Mr.. Jerome Created Sensation
at MelrOse Meeting.
EXPLAINING HIS POSITION.
He Protests Against the Pro-
posed New Routes.

Rapid transit meetings. like all convocations for
the discussion of great economic questions are not
noted for sensatonalism. and it was expected that
that called for last night, in Central Hall, Mel
rose, would be no exception to the general
rule. This expectation rewarded with a
most agreeable disappointment. for probably
more interesting meeting has not been
held since the agitation for rapid transit began
than that called to order last night by Mr.. Aonzo
Carr. Ever since the present Commissioners of
Rapid Transit made their report the has been
industriously circulated that Mr.. Jerome and num-
Der of gentlemen owning real estate large tracts
! in the upper wards instrumental in
having the routes reported adopted by
the Commissioners. At a meeting held
Monday night much was said by certain
speakers. and the public announcement seemed to
nnally settle the question of the influence that had
been at work behind the commission. So settled
was this belief that last night when Mr. Leonard
W. Jerome appeared at Central Hall he
expected to defend the action Of the
mission. When, however, he took the floor and
openly pronounced against the report the astonsh-
ment and enthusiasm OF the people were great and
he frequently interrupted with loud applause.
His sentiments unlike what the people, mis-
led by rumor. had expected that verable sensation
resulted.
MEETING.
Mr.. James r. Angel. prominent citizen Of the
annexed district. opened the meeting by stating that
the purpose in issuing the call had bring to-
gether all tho citizens whose rights and
venience affected by the late report
and get from them expression Of their
opinions in regard to the matter. Further
than this it proposed to hear and entertain sug
gestions concerning what should be done in the
premises With this brief statement of the objects
Of the meeting and with the hope that all the pro-
mi ha coud1 fad ip
Mr.. Angel consigned the meeting into the hands Of
the gentlemen present.
The meeting organized with Alonzo Carr as
preside MT Messrs. Nicholson. Purdy and Brenner
vice presidents and Mr.. D. D. Randall as secretary
Mr.. Randall read the call for the meeting and Mr.
Angel read in order to put the question which
called the meeting together plainly before those
present, the following resolutions. which
ried:-
Resolved. That rapid transit roads constructed upon
routes & s w sSs se popos
to the growth aud prosperity of the
EssoIyed That we greatly the sSmpllsations
the ecmmssio an honesty Of purpose in ,sndesyo,ng TO
them in shoy have adopted in regard to
the rsye s nr line as below
Bridge tho great natural % artery Of local travel tor all
citizens would once become patrons of a rapid
proper and liberal management, remuneratve 10 it's
Resolved That Without rapid transit road along and
strncton Of rapid transit roads within the annexed dis
rict would be practically useless nearly the whole of
Resolved That while we would encourage construc
ons Of annexed territory wherever capital may be
70 n. % ss ra s. sit s and
Third or Fordham avenue from Harlem River north
ResoIycd That firmly believe the construction of
Fordham entirely practicable, aud that capital
piy To to
invest in and operate it,
hat only sspss. from Ias Harlem RsISss
Company q, s @nd ia
Rs;olved Iha, the the Harlem Ia. Bridge Morrisania and
ndisposed, through its imbece management and
ns % s a % "fs either sr
people although has been aided by and
Resolved That committee of five be appointed by the
pressed the public authorities
city Of New York and to take such setSn asw lead
Third avenue the first demand of people
behalf.
Mr.. Lawson N. Fuller, being called upon. addressed
had to say would be mere repetition of the
| experiences of many among his hearers. He had
YEARS. YEARS. in % the up upper 0'e end % Of Manhattan Manhattan
Island. and had. during that time
many changes in the method OF transportation to
the city. He told with quaint humor how often he
! had gone down town in Third avenue car. taken
| his lunch with him and finished 1t the way; OF
how many times he had taken two three good long
maps on the trip up town. "ln fact. he said, IL
think that II calculation of the thing were
made ii would DO found that in the twenty years
preceding rapid transit spent about seven years in
the Third avenue cars" Speaking of the Wander
bilts who said to be at the bottom of this
commissions report, Mr.. Fuller very caustic.
He told how. before the late Mr. Vanderbilt
sumed control OF the Hudson River road fares to
city from Fort Washington cheap. and how
Mr. Vanderbilt assuming control Immediately
doubled the rates of commutation; how after doing
he
to Thirtieth street. and then made his passengers
pay extra five cents from Thirtieth street to the
he said. the backwardness Of the north
western section of Manhattan Island
due Having monopoly Mr.. Vanderbilt
paraiyzed the district ana II he was allowed to get
hold OF rapid transit in westchester county he would
the fate all the once promising villages on the
Harlem road that had been made unten,ble to the
tant fares charged by Mr.. Vanderbilt ON that
road He could no. bring himself. he said,
to charge corruption against the gentlemen
posing the commission. but IL pain TO him that
they had been hoodwinked and captured by some
one in the vanderbilt interest He thought that tho
people of the annexed district should protest against
the routes proposed and insist on having the road
built along Third avenue The Si.5O0.0oO capital
OF the company. he said. would all be absorbed
was proposed to build the road. II the Third ave-
Third or foriham avenue all this expense would DO
saved ard the road would DO in operation IN six
months.
| MI. ANGELS REMARKS
Mr.. Angel followed Mr.. Fuller. He spoke in no
measured terms OF the audacity OF the gigantic
poration that had for years retarded the growth
| of Westchester county seeking to control its
rapid transit franchises and deny II boon long
sought and near Of accomplishment. lie besought
his hearers to stir up their friends to q OF the
real danger that impended While he still speak
ing Mr.. jerome walked into the place and buzz Of
comment went around the hall. When Mr..
| Angel concluded Mr.. Jerome addressed the
Chair and requested that the resolutions,
which had not hear6 be read again. Mr.. Angel
read the resolutions. Having listened attcntivey to
tho reading Mr. Jerome asked permission to say
few words aud procecdcd:--
MIR. JEROME SPEAKS.
II believe" said Mr.. Jerome, 'that I was one
of the hrst men in the annexed district who
signed q petition for rapid transit, and since
the signing OF that petition l have con
tinucd to advocate the plan. / am here tonight
to say that am In favor of rapid transit not for
any particular section OF the annexed district but
for the whole district. That plan which will accom-