New-York tribune., 1880-01-18
THE GREAT arteries OF TRADE.

Tho nrospect of having street railroads i'll lower
Rroodwav and Chambers-st. has led many persons
% consider what would be the effect of this add
,on 70 the travel in these thoroughfares, already
sufficient to occupy them to their full capacity,
and even at times to block them, and turn many
vehicles into the side streets. An enormous amount
of freight comes into Now-York and goes ont from
the city every day. 1t is the terminal point OF
many railroads. and ocean steamers. rs well as
steamboats, aud canal lines, bring and take
away vast cargoes at brief stated inter
walls. There are below Canal-st, at the
North River piers. the freight depots of twelve
railroads. the wharvcs for the leading and
unloading of twelve freight lines of steamships, eX-
elusive of the great lines of ocean steamships just
above Canal-st-the Inman, Williams and Guion,
National French, Atlas, White Star aad other Ines
and the landings of eight lines of steamboats, ior
local traffic. all of which carry freight, besides iour
large ferries and several important markets Or
the East River there arc five railroad HeiSht ue-
pots ten lines of steamers, four PIERS LOT
canal lines ten steamboat lines seven Ter
r;es and sixteen wharves for the loauihS
and unloading of sailing vessels. All the tranc be-
tween this city and Europe, Cuba and other lorelgh
countries, all that goes by wafer TO New-OTleans
Charleston, Savannah and other domeSnc po''S
and all the vast trade with towns and cities In the
taken TO one of the points named on the North or
East River upon truck and carts. Much of the
freight has to bStaken clear across the city, or
broueht down from uptown, or from the lower end
of the city to uptown wharves.
Resides all this there is a vast amount of local
cartage necessary in transferring goods from one
warehouse to another great. quantity OF tue
freight that is brought here from abroad is taken 10
bonded warehouses. TO be moved again through the
streets when il is required for use and taken out OF
bond Some streets downtown are full of free
warehouses, asO where merchandise Is stored
awaiting its second removal when sold. This I'M
mense business of transferring freight from point 10
point Ia the city, the importance OF which is consd-
cred secondary to other interest, not even the
personal convenience of the public. requires for its
accommodation free and unObstructed passage
through the streets, and easy access to the
water-fronts. r The encroachments OF numerous
street railroads upon the lower part of the city
have left Broadway "a the only longitudinal avenue
now available for this sort of travel. The side
streets arc feeders to the great stream OF vehicles
that constantly thrOng this great thoroughare each
one adding its own peculiar kind of traffic. From
the steamers and freight lines come great trucks
with heavy loads that require to be carefully guided
unless the street is in excellent condition for urcn
into hole In broken pavement, or into sucn
n,osses of ice and snow as often dshgure the side
streets IL a serious matter when a heavy load is
over the wheel. Such railroad tracks as are per-
mitted in NeW-YOrk, which even ight wagons
can cross only at n sufficiently large ange-so high
do the rails rise above the payement-would inter-
fere materially with the passage OF these great
loads. From the express companies come huge
vans loaded to a great height; aud above and be-
low the vicinity of the City Hall the trucks carry
oft tha
ware, paper dry goods and other trade9-rour INTO
Broadway TO 60 up or down.
OVER TWO THOUSAND VEHICLES IN AN HOUR.
That the number of these vehicles is enormous is
readily apparent to anyone who will go TO the water
fronts at busy time of the day. and see the cease
less flow to and from the wharves and docks whence
freight IS dispatched into the heart of the city An
actual count of those passing gwen point III Broad
way. made by TRIBUNE reporter last week, indi-
Gated that neither when the street was very full
and crowded, nor when it was very open and free,
was the maximum reached but when there was a
continuous passage unObstructcd except Tor the
momentary pause made necessary by the approach
of a vehicle crossing the stream Oh Broadway. Al
such times the number reached over Two thousahd
in an bour. Over one thousand vehicles of all des-
criptions passed hourly when the capacities OF the
street were the least taxed and horses were driven
freely at trot, leaving the street easily
passable by pedestrians at any, point. bnl
during such a crush as that whlch occurred III u,
Christmas week il was impossible TO determine no"
many vehicles passed, though one could Ieadlly sec
that the passage exceedingly slow. Inc roau
was heavy with snow and ice and mud the entire
number of carrying vehicles was nndOuotenIy ~
service 10 meet the largely increased deinanus ~
that busy time and the result OF occupying slree'
iu bad condition it'll an unusual number OF Veh-
eles-a thing that may occur not only curing
ChrIstmas week. but at any busy time-was
hlockade almost continuous during an entire day
(iOIfIandt-St. 10
81 Toward evening Il seemed as though even The
slow progress made during the day was no llneel
possible Omnibuses turned out from BrOad"ax "a
t,hambers-st and those of the Fulton Ferry, wal
Street Ferry and SOnth Ferry lines All Reached
the ferries by the side streets 10 pedestrians
the passage across Broadway became dangerous
II has been said that Ncw-YOrkers cultivate al
extra sense which enables them 10 cross where rus
tics fear tread. But no previous experiences VI VA
available on this occasion. TRIBUNE rcpOrter,wh'
thought himself safely over, was only saved 1Iom
prancing hack-hoTse by q timely blow upon th'
horses nose with roll OF paper Lanics lod'i,
NV swearing drivers and a labyrinth of wheels an'
thev seized tho arms OF strange gentlemen 1or pro
lection. With the early comlnk OF darkness an tll
difficulties of the case increased, and Broad
way became impossible. -, ,,,
railroad running through thisstreet wOuld nav
produced such result long beiore and on ordnar
business days would add an element 10 lhe occupd
non of the street that would easily repIouuce sue
scenes as occurred during TINS eXceptonai ln'
During blocka horse-car ls much more OF "a
obs aele than other large vehicles for except eloil
the line of the track, ii is nmova6e, ana can muh
way for nothing All other vehicles must pas
around the cars.
BLocKApEs PROM CARS IN CROWDED STREETS.
The railroads on the side streets show how fr
quently tie ears interfere with the use OF the street
for business purposes. trip through Beckman-s
or Church-st can seldom be made without havn
10 wait for several minutes more than once Tor u
loading Of trucks and at the crossings, where oth
streets contribute their teams, or in crowded pa
Of the street, the presence of the horse-cars mak
the delay III passing or in breaking up blockat
much longer than il they were not there. AT Chan
bers-st. aud West Broadway may be seen on al
afternoon the results of the presence OF horse,ca
and many vehicles ia street OF ordinary Mldl
Several nl tie lineh nf cars pass down West BrOAI