The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-15
DEFENDING RAPID TRANSIT.
president FIELDS SETTING FORTH OF
ms CCMPdNr'S OPERA TIONs.
The New York Elevated Railroad Carrying
to'Ooo,oOO Passengers In n Year. Paying
Its Floating Debt. and Clearing $3.50 900.

ITS flohinK Debt, and Clearing $3.50 900.
Tho annual election of thirteen directors
OF the New York Elevated Railroad Company.
yesterday, resulted in the choice Of Cyrus W.
Field. David Bows. Ashbel II. Barney. John II.
Hall. Josiah NJ. Fiske. Charles J. Canda Alfred
). Barnes. John u. Mairs. Heber H. Bishop.
BENJAMIN Brcwster Daniel A. Hndlcy Edward
NJ. Field. and James A. Cowing. Mr.. W. Y. Pei
ton declined n reelection. Cyrus W. Field was
reelected President. James A. Cowing Treas
urer. and 7. L. Worcester Secretary.
President Field presented his annual report.
On the 10th Of May. 1877. he purchased an
interest in the company. and two days after
ward was elected its President. AT that time"
he says. IL had less than six miles OF single
track railroad in operation. and was carrying
an average OF less than $500 passengers n day.
To-day II has over thirty-one miles Of single
truck road. completed and in operation und has
lately carried 80 500 passengers in single day
The average distance run per day is over q 900
milee-grcater than tho circuit OF the globe
When the extension from Chatham square to
the City Hall. and from Fiity-ninth TO Eighty
third street on the west side. II completed which
soon will be. tho line will have total OF over
thirty eight miles OF single track in operation
On May l6. 1877 it had in its treasury less than
10000 in cash. and owed a floating debt OF
companies on call. over s76sOOO: and has not
one dollar Of floating debt"
In December 1878 the road carried 21si767
passengers. To-day the bonds are selling Mt
more than double their price on May l6. 1877.
and the stock at more than nine times the price
at that date. President Field ascertained that a
contract had been made between the company
and certain persons TO build and equip the road
at a certain figure This discovery was made
soon after his first election. and he had the
contract cancelled, saving the company in the
last year more than tg.0O0.0OO In the cost OF
construction.
In the construction and management OF the
road three great objects have been held in view
safety. speed. and chcapucss The first
necessity has been absolute safety. Some per-
sons have supposed there was special danger
In an elevated railway, This fear can only bo
removed by practical demonstration. The
very deep. and made very broad" Some
Of the foundations contain bricks enough
10 build small house" Every grid
er has been tested ns 70 the number
Of tons weight It would bear. Not one Of the
columns Of tho thirty-one miles hns given in
tho least. The best proof Of security is that in
these twenty months there has not been "a single
accident caused 10y the fault " the company or
It's EMPLOYEES. Three persons have been killed.
ny jumping on trains when in motion. us
they might be GA any surface road. But We are
not Responsible FIR the imprudcnce oi others:
|
The speed will be regulated by safety Many
Suggestions have been received. some write
sS ts ,r",ns oug ~ oe r9n i ~ eTs
swer' Mr.. Fieid says. that We shall run Just
rs iilst ~ We can with safety. and no faster"
As 10 cheapness. Mr.. Field says thai for four
| hours each day the distance from the Battery 10
Harlem, nine miles, can b" travelled for i've
cents, This. no AYERS. l. the cheapest steam
| travelling in the world. The New York Central
complains that it, charter docs not permit IL 10
charge more than two cents per mile for all dis
u M 80 ia n
cents from one station 10 another. no matter
how short the distance. The ." Parliamentary
working cluss. charge two cents per mile. But
We carry Mr.. Field eNciainIs. passengers
nearly nine miles for five cents. \ fraction over
hall cent n mile And still some will not be
satisfied unless this fare. which is marvel Of
11l-Hrhrs-' Us th' sahr ~ an hours OF the uhy;
Perhaps We may yet be able 20 accomplish tins.
some urge mat the company Increase It's
fares To the fun amount allowed hy law. i've To
seven cents Tor commission trains ana from
ton TO seventeen for other trains. some want
saloon cars with an additional charge. tut oih-
tr- urge that they would b. undcnloeratir. To
cratic that th" public want and nre wiling 20
nay Tor. " Comfort W., mean To give 10 all 10 Mr.
Field says. " but luxury none have right To-
usk unless they are wiling 10 pay iur IT, TINS
j. Tree country. and II is a part OF that free
iiil.ses should do go, while those of Us whose
means ARE ]. - are content with palmer uccuin-
mpdHuurs.. TINS subject viii hc further con-
-.d"r"t with th' nope OF hitting upon some
plan wu."h shall meet the wishes of al anu give
ole nee 20 none.
"C1mu.ninis Of overcrowding and Insult
q lent Accommodations ARE - be- eN-
pcctcd IN The starting Of such an iin-
Those who make such complaints do
noe. perhaps, consider that t.s coin
partly IRON our very surc,S-. which
louud Us unpr-pared To- met a.. We eN-
rect"i that me ruh!r use = tht road would Doe
t ~ uter ut slow CROWN. but noeDoner NA, tie
road opened than there WAS ru~n. Wiiirh
owed how % met "a puhic want. Inis 10 smeu-
INu7 N'odude took us on out ."ei. Where W.
cAp"'s, 4 70 carry nous tAu~ w. iha .' carry
teas oi thousands. Finding how limited our
| ifra5 NAT bcnu, We have set ourselves to rcIuIr
our Nf~i ilirlAke n} IruN!d.hS more ample a.
| cimiuodItuus. o. cuurzr. ears itud engines
| could u I be mad at Il weeks notice. III tine pub
| lir WI! huyr little patience. we hope soon 10
NV" tarm iucitles % au I.u Tat no rcslso nab
| A.in can complain.
| COMPLAINT hus been made Of n lack OF proper
| ciNilty ON the part oi conductors and Eatenen
There - 10 excuse for THIS, Mr.. fleld says
and the company hoIcs lis officers Will bc in
formed Of miscundurt, that the offender may he
| promptly dismissed. Al the same time. in JUS
| tee 90 the employees, Il must be recognized
| that 1t require, a good deal OF seli-coutrol 10
| preserve perfect epuanlmiy Mien man -
| trying to force way INTO a car already fun. In
| rritrrlnE 70 thcse thlhss. We 90 mol ma laut
| "ith any lar criticism. pubic enterprise Is
| Legitimate SUBJECT Tor public comment We
| have reason 10 acknowledge the general fair
| ness Oi the pubic ana the press. To the latter
our thanks are duo Tor the manner in which
they have supported the cause Of rapid transit (.
| and II they nave sometimes given us sharp
| ulrusis, We Will accept even these III good
temper. pricking US up 10 still greater efforts
Tor the accommodation of the public We are
also glad To receive suggestions from indlNid-
uals. only they VIII understand that where we
receive by the samc mail letters advising us
10 DO exactly opposite courses. we cannot follow
| both. We can only uss our own best judgment,
| and expect 90 satisfy not everybody. but al
| reasonable men.
| " In regard 10 heating the cars we have Ind
many suggt stions. some recommend leaving
them as they are, rs "A heated car rrndcrs the
| passenger. wnen leaving II. very Liable 10 take
| crd others urAse that the atmosphere within
| tc car bee kept a! what | should call "a pretty
| hgh temperature
| Nj, Field regrets that the stations Were not
| compIeted before cold weather set in. SO ~ not
| Ia expose passengers 90 suffering. The stair
| WAYS viii be sheltered ~ coon rs the best
| means OF doing 50 can be usccrluined.
| The franchise Is held 10 be OF great value. BY
| special provision Ot II the com any has To pay
the cIiY five per cent Of It's annual net income
for the use 81 the streets. TINS Will yield to The
| lily at present t25.OOO To tjDUuO Il year. which
| fund u 10 be- devoted To bHnutiiyln. the avenues
| and streets through which the road passes.
| some OF our stuckhollcrs are impatient 10
| know" Mr.. Field con dudes Wnen We snail de-
| ciHrs "a dividend. We cannot now say. our
| first wss Is Ia make the road perfect. That We
| shall spare no effort IN our power TO d1 this.
| We give the best security IN tho lu.G 20 stake We
| have in the result OF the live millions OF stock
fp.fa