The New York herald., 1879-10-24
HIGH RENTS and FARES.
The Tide of Population Flowing Out
Of the City Again
AN OVERDONE SPECULATION
Too Costly Houses and Burdensome
Railroad Charges

In order to ascertain what effect the construction
OF the rapid transit roads had upon the migra-
ton OF people residing in suburban cities and adj
Jacent country places HERALD reporter de-
spatched to the various ferries running to and from
the cities. well to railway offices within cir.
cult OF twenty miles. to express companies and
to other points, for the purpose OF obtaining the
desired information. The facts given communi-
Gated by representative attaches of all the principal
companies. In the matter of handling family
ture the large express companies such the Adams
the American and the United States) take very little
part the expense of transportation is very heavy
and the bulk Of the material is too unwieldy and
fragile to be pecuniarly remunerative.
STATEN ISLAND.
The ferries running from Whitehall slip to the
South and North shores of Staten Island. including
the villages Of Tompkinsvie. Stapleton Clifton and
New Brighton. first visited. Freight agent
Stevens stated without reserve that rapid transit
had perceptible effect as yet upon the number Of
passengers doing business in the city and living
on the island II there any difference Mt ALL Il
showed an increase rather than diminution Of
senger and family traffic in favor of the island.
There nothing be gained by families going to
live in Harlem neither in the rate of fare. time nor
in house rent. the latter being much lower on the
island than in the upper part Of the city.
Woods New York and Staten Island expressmen,
who have good deal to do with the transportation
of family furniture. said that more families
moving down to the island than up to the city.
The freight agent of the Staten Island (North
Shore) ferry said he couldn't tell whether more fami-
lies were moving up or moving down. He had paid
no attention to the subject.
ISLAND sUBURBs
Very little information could be obtained at the
headquarters of the Union ferry. Brooklyn side. to
whi:h point tho reporter was referred for informa-
tion by all the Brooklyn ferry attaches. with SIM
gle exception. applied The freight superintend
ent at the Fulton street ferry said there
means OF giving the amount OF family furniture
going to coming from the city. 1t was his opln-
ion, however, that the stream toward New York.
The ferries of which he spoke include those Ham
uton avenue, Atlantic avenue, Wall street. Fulton
street. Catherine street. and williamsburg
ferry foot Of Main street, Brooklyn said he had paid
attention to the subject since last spring. and
had ascertaned that the number of family furniture
loads going to the city during the month OF April
1885, III May, 200; June. 100; July, 25; August.
25 or 30 September, so, while the number coming
largo exodus last spring to rapid transit in New
York. the working and laboring men could get to
their homes in Harlem at certain hours quicker and
cheaper than they could the Catharipe street
ferry and get to East New York by horse cars.
Superintendent Tucker of the freight depot OF the
Long Island Railroad James slip. stated that the
business of the road had increased very largely
within few months. both in the matter OF passen.
gers and of freight, the tonnage for the month Of
September being larger than ever BEFORE Extra in
ducements had been offered to settlers to locate on
the line OF the road, household goods and building
materials being transported at half rates for ono
year. The receipts from furniture small in
themselves. and no record is kept OF them. Tho
tendency of family moving is along the line of the
railroad rather than toward the city.
''There is plenty or land on the island. said Mr..
Tucker '.to start towns and build up old ones.
Nothing before looked SO encouraging for tho
prosperity of the island and especially the railroad"
JERSEY SUBURBS. t.L
Crossing city, the reporter visited the ferry
at the foot of Christopher street. North River depot
Ioffb fba na Lack AWl nj Weatar
and obtained information about the situation among
the Jersey suburbs in regard to moving toward the
| city from dttdchs who had given much attention
| to the subject. He said there was more moving
toward Jersey than coming this way. and knew Of
some families who had moved over here on the 1st
OF May and moving back again. One man said IL
him dollar day for himself and family for faro
the elevated roads 'You can said our informant
shave q whole house i'll Hoboken Union Hill West
Hoboken Jersey City Heights north of Jersey Cty)
People are going out even to Newark, and travel il
all the increase to Orange. South Orange ArlinG-
ton avenue. Grove street, &c 1t Is difficult to get
| house at some desirable points"
At the Desbrosses street ferry (Pennsylvana road)
the reporter learned 'that there furry last
year in Newark about general movement toward
the city account Of rapid transit. but it did not
amount to much and soon blew over. People will
rates. rates Of rapid transit fare in New York. You
can get Communication tickets to Newark for twenty.
two cents q day. New Yorkers up town building
too expensive houses for people to occupy who are
living at such rates as they do the line OF the
Pennsylyania road. even as far as Elizabeth Railway
&C. 1t represented to the reporter that the do
mand for mutation tickets most OF the Jersey
roads great If not greater. on the LIST inst ~
ever before. Parties had to wait two hours in line
before they could get their tickets renewed on the
1st of the month.
street) it was ascertained that Communication rates
had been reduced far as Port Jervis and intor-
mediate points, including Rutherfurd Park, Passaio
Bridge, Passaic. Clifton Lake View. Paterson. Haw.
thorne. &c. The road had been pretty busy lately
vacations. but not more SO than at former seasons
"we have had our rush OF that kind OF business"
said an employe. "and are glad when it is over"
more moving out to Jersey than TO the city.
The is that people in moderate circumstances
can do better by living i'll the country than III the
city. A man can get home in the country for IS or
| SO month for which he would have to pay s25 or
$50 in the city. 1t is estimated that between
! 30 900 and $4,000 'longshoromen and lHboring
live Jersey and in New York and that 10000
come over every morning and in the evening.
They can't afford rents if rapid transit fare IL
put down one-half certain for their beneht.
A more moderate style of houses should be built in
this city,"
At the Cortlandt street ferry the reporter learned
that from to ten wagons. loaded with family
furniture. come from Jersey City to New York every
day-mostly families of laboring men.
JERSEY CENTRAL.
Freight superintendent j. B. Morford. Of the New
Jersey Central found at his Office foot OF Liberty
street. lie said There moro families moving
went toy, over to-day from New York TO commnnipaw.
There are q good many people going to points on
the road where rents are cheap lots Of houses being
town AZ that In. II was at one time thought that
rapid transit would decrease the population in Jer-
but so far as my observation has extended the
reverse has been tho There more
travel for the past year than heretofore:
The New Jersey Central the towns Of
Claremont Greenvillc, Pamrapo Bayonne. Centre
Vile. Bergen Point, Newark. Elizabeth, Roscie.
Crawford, westfeld Fanwood. Plainheld; on Long
Branch road. Elizabcthport Tremley, East Railway.
Woodbridge. Perth Amboy. South Amboy, Morgan.
Cinwood. Matawan, Middletown, Red Bank. thence
to Long Branch and Seagirt. There has been no
permanent movement from any point toward the
city III consequence of rapid transit. When people
In Jersey come to figure up the expense OF moving
with the Increase of rent they conclude IL Is cheaper
and better to stay where they aro.
At the Barclay street ferry. the express Offices ana
| other points on the North River side the reports
| were generally oil u similar tenor TO the above.
A NtTlI ,pIu,IrnE OE WHALES