The New York herald., 1879-07-09
Five Cent Fares.

There is no antagonism between the
rapid transit railroad companies and the
people on the question of five cent fares.
The people would like to be accommodated
with o uniform low rate ut all hours of the
day. not only because it would be boon
to many who are actually too poor to pay
ten cents and to whom every penny spent
in fare represents some pinching in the
necessaries of life, but because many whose
means are limited would be able to use the
rapid transit roads at the reduced fare more
than they now do. There are, no doubt,
many hundreds of clerks and others re-
ceiving small salaries who would go home
to their midday meal if the fare were five
cents who cannot afford to do SO while
it is twice that sum. Above all, there are
thousands of-men and women who are earn
ing bare living who go to their work after
half-past seven in the morning and to whom
the present five cent hours are consequently
of no advantage. For all these reasons
the people are anxious for the adoption Of
q uniform five cent rate. The companies
on their part concede the great public bene-
fit Of the reduction, and would for several
good reasons like to adopt the five cent
fares; but the directors say, 1--WE do not be-
lieve it will pay, and as we are placed here
to look after the interests Of the stock
holders we do not feel that we ought to be
called upon to make what may be an en-
barrassing pecuniary sacrifice while our
enterprise is still in its infancy"
,ba ,icto Ia ,lyo in
that the five cent rate will not pay. When
rapid transit was regarded as visionary,
and while it was insisted that the enormous
amount OF capital alleged to be needed ior
its construction would be thrown away, the
HERALD predicted its pecuniary success and
insisted that it would prove the most prof
liable investment that had been made for
half century. The result has shown that
the HERALD was correct We assert that
the adoption of uniform five cent rate
Of fare would nearly orquite quadruple the
number OF passengers now carried on all
the rapid transit lines during the ten cent
hours, and thus increase the present cash
receipts of the companies more than one
third. This increase of receipts would be
attenueu ny no extra expense ana WOulu
therefore be just 80 much clear gain. The
street cars on the Third and Sixth avenues
now carry more passengers than they for
merly carried during the ten cent hours on
the rapid. transit lines, and their losses are
confined to the five cent hours. The stages
at five cents fare carry more than four times
the number OF passengers they carried at
ten cents. The TACT is that, whatever ex-
cuses the people may make about climbing
stairs or anything else, they use the horse
cars when going short distances or when
not pressed for time simply and solely be-
cause the fare is five cents on those cars
while it is ten cents on the rapid transit
roads. IT the companies would look at the
matter in q sensible light and learn wisdom
by experience they would not hesitate to
bring their rate Of fare down to five cents
Instead Of doing this and showing that they
wish to serve the public and their own best
interests the two boards of directors are
struggling for the control of the Manhattan
Company, which has really absorbed both
the old ones.