New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-24

served the respectful attention which they received
| The need Of more water In the business part OF
New York is undoubted, and Ii may be that good
way to get it would be to allow the Ramapo Valley
Company to furnish the supply But the hesitation
of the men who form the company to let them
selves be known, naturally and properly excites
suspicion. If they are responsible persons, and IL
there is no job in this business why do they keep
themselves so persistently in the dark' There is
nothing to be ashamed of in legitimate business
venture, even if there are millions in it. 1t is too
much to expect the city to go into an undertaking
of this kind with its eyes shut. The Commissioners
did wisely in laying the matter on the table until
they were informed who is behind ii.
While the use of steam from the cars to melt the
snow on the Elevated Railroads works well for the
companies, it is not altogether satisfactory to the
public. To passers-by who do not happen to be
provided with umbrellas or rubber coats, the
showerbath furnished Is not pleasant incident to
travel.
SHAREHOLDERS in Fulton Market complain that
their retail business has largely decreased since the
Bridge was opened. This is rather unfortunate,
considering that the city has been to a large e1-
pense in rebuilding the market. But 1t is not
probable that the wholesale trade will be affected,
although when proper transit facilities are provid-
ed for passengers the Bridge and the tolls are re-
duced as they ought to be, it is likely the Fulton
Marksr retail trade will suffer much more than 1T
has yet. The wholesale fish trade at this market
has greatly increased in recent years and continues
prosperous. About 1000 fishing smacks are en-
gagged in this trade From 81, 900 900 to 100000
pounds of fish arc annually sold by weight in
Fulton Market, besides 5000 900 by count.
The unanimous decision of the trunk line COM
mittees, giving Commissioner Fink power to reduce
rates through east-bOund and west-bound
freights whenever, in his judgment, the authorized
rates are not strictly adhered to, or are evaded to
extent requiring action thereon" is obviously
preventive measure The reasoning is that no road
will cut rates if it knows that rates OH other roads
will be reduced as much without delay The de-
fects in the plan are two it may be presumed by
any transgressOr that the Commissioner will not
get knowledge Of the transaction with such GER
tainty as TO Justify him in ordering general 70
ductiOn; or it may be presumed that in any case,
there will he considerable delay, that more or
less time will elapse before knowledge of the viola
ton can be gained by the Commissioner, or that
then the offending road can escape penalties by re-
storing rates and promising mot to do so any
more" Nevertheless, the restraint which ii is now
attempted to exercise is cOnfesscdly the only one
within the power of the pool, as il is now organized
In the action unanimously taken the roads all COM
nit themselves once more to the policy of maintain
ing rates and furnishing offenders, even while, by
that very act, they confess that Of them have
been offenders.
A large sum of money, $5,3i8, 223. has been ex-
pended for public aud private charities in this city
during the present year. In four years the ex-
pendiures in this city for that purpose have in
creased 81 per cent, and in the same time ia
Brooklyn they have increased nearly 40 per cent.
The per capita expenditure in Brooklyn however,
is now only - 33, while it is 81 IL in New-York.
No doubt some of the money expended in this way
is wasted, but part of the contributed to the
Hospital Saturday aud Sunday Association is in
danger Of being misplaced. The 1868, 402 required
to make the hospitals self-sustaining during the
next year ought to be contributed without trouble
during the present week.