New-York tribune., 1884-01-13
RAPLD TRANSLT IN BROOKLYM


RAPID TRANSIT IN BROOKLPN
Mayor Lows action in signing the franchise
of the Kings County Elevated Railroad Com
pany meets with general approval in Brooklyn
The necessity for rapid transit in that city has
never seemed so urgent as it has this winter
Street-car travel has never been attended With
so much delay and annoyance. Blocks in
Futon-st. have been frequent; passengers
living three miles from the chief ferry have
had to stand all the way to and from their
homes day after day; during the busiest
morning hours it has often been impossible for
those residing in the central wards to obtain
standing-rO0m on the platform; and between
5 and o'clock in the afternoon every car has
been crammcd to the point OF suitocatlon with
a struggling mob. Belated business men,
hoping to save ten minutes at nighttall by
ayailing themselves of the Bridge railway,
have lost on the other side in a dragging street.
car all the time they have gained, and have
often been forced to fight for foOthold on the
back platform. The accommodations and
resources Of the surface railroads have never
seemed so inadequate as at present. and signs
of growing impatience, irritability and indigna
ton on the part of the public have multiplied.
with the growth of population and the pro-
gress of the new wards. During tho last five
years building operations have been brisk in
the Prospect Park quarter and in the outer
sections of the Hill; and the permanent pros
perity Of the newer portions OF the city is
entirely dependent upon increased facilities
for communication with New-YOrk. The
rejection of the proposed scheme would have
been a gricvOus disappointment to the mass of
the population. Mayor Low has accordingly
added to his popularity by giving his approval
to the resolutions passed by the Common
Council.
1t would have been a serious breach of official
duty and decorum if Mayor Low had disposed
of question of supreme Importance to Brook
lyn without deliberate reflection lie has not
acted with precptate haste, but has carefully
considered the merits of the sSaeme and the
objections that have been urged against It,
The franchise itself contained unmistakable
evidence that the interests Of the city would be
amply protected. 1t distinctly provided for the
direct compensation of property owners along
the proposed route; it opened the two trunk
lines on Myrtle and Fulton-aves. to the
intersectng lines of other companies which
of fare to five cents during the busiest hours of
the day, morning and evening; it pledged the
company to pay the city per cent of the gross
receipts five years after the completion OF the
enterprise and to deposit $l,000,OOO of its
first mortgage bonds in the city treasury as
security for the construction and equipment OF
the railway; and it gave assurance that the
work should be begun as early as September OF
this year and finished within two years These
conditions were manifcsty favorable to the
city that the Mayors attention was mainly
directed to the responsibility Of the directors of
the corporation. He seems to have satisfied
himself that they were acting in good faith, had
the financial resources requisite for so great an
undertaking, aud were prepared by means OF
personal subscriptions to give the corporation
command of $1,0O0,000 at once for construc-
ton purposes. 1t accordingly became his
official duty to sanction the action Of the
Common Council in giving the company
permission to build the railway.
While the prospect of the speedy solution OF
this vcxatious problem has materially i'm
proved, the residents of Brooklyn may only be
preparing themselves for another disappOint-
ment. The company. in agreeing to compensate
propcrty-oWners and to give the city per cent
of its gross receipts without securing mo-
nopoly of the rapid transit business, is assuming
burdens by which it may be speedily over
whelmed. 1t is matter of grave uncertainty
whether rates of compensation that will prove
satisfactory to property will not bank
rupt the corporation and preclude the constTuc-
ton and successful operation of the railway.
The greed of the property -Owners may give a
premature dcath-blOw to the enterprise within
six months. Serious embarrassment may be
caused by the company's relations with the
Bruff road, whose line it crosses at right
angle; and Mr.. COrbn and Mr.. Maxwell, of the
Long Island Railroad, will not be disposed to
remain idle spectators, while trunk line
parallel for several miles to their own tracks
in Atlantic-ave. secures direct connection with
the Bridge and Fulton Ferry. Brooklyn res
idents cannot afford TO take too sanguine
view of the prospects of rapid transit. The
question has fairly been opened. That, to be
sure, is step in advance; but it is not the final
solution. The problem has still to be worked
out practically.