New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-30
P4pTD TRANSIT

There are signs that an energetic effort Will
be made this winter to solve the problem OF
rapid transit 1t is time that the Legislature
took hold of this subject in earnest. Probably
there will be no dissent from the opinion that
the present system of so-called rapid transit
is as inadequate to the needs of the city as
the horse-car system was when the elevated
roads were first built. The marvellous growth
of the city has overwhelmed them with bust
ness greater than they can do. The discom-
forts of ride upon these roads during the
crowded hours are nearly, if not quite, as great
as those which horse-car passengers once eX-
perienced. Then, too, the roads being con-
sohdated into one corporation, and being with
out competition, are managed with complete
disregard of the comfort and convenience OF
passengers During the busy hours of the day
trains are Undoubtedly run as frequently as 10
is possible to do so, but it has now become
common occurrence to see cars in the middle OF
the day crowded with standing passengers who
cannot have seats because it costs the company
less to run trains at considerable intervals
and let the passengers stand than at shorter
intervals and carry them in comfort.
Perhaps the most serious Indictment. how
not furnish anything remotely resembling rapid
transit. In every station there hangs card
showing the timetable between the various
stations. 1t is amusing to note the difference
between the promises of this schedule and the
actual time made by the trains for long dis
tances. This is doubtless due in part to the
increased travel, rendering longer delays at the
stations necessary to let passengers on and oil
but also, in large part, to the decrease in speed,
which seems to have been made for the pur-
pose Of saving wear and tear OF the rolling
stock and the structure. The sooner the Legls-
lature sets about giving us something better
than the present system the more probability
there will be that we shall get one that will
stand the test of time and not mere make
shift.
Plans for cable elevated roads seem to be
attracting much attention. A cable system, if
practicable, ought certainly to present many
advantages over the present methods. If the
locomotives were withdrawn we should no long
er have the smoke and foul smells that now
affiict us, and the noise as well as the strain
upon the stl ucture would be greatly diminished.
II is claimed in behalf of at least one OF these
projects that speed of twenty miles an hour
can be obtained, and is proposed to give up
Broadway to a new elevated road built upon
this plan. A number of property-holdeis on
that street have expressed themselves in favor
of such road, but we believe chat the general
sentiment of the people is against sacrificing
any more of our great avenues for such pur-
poses. Certainly the Legislature will need to
move with great caution before giving up
street like Broadway to the horrors Of an ele-
waited road, even though every effort be made
to interfere as little as possible with the light
and air. The entire subject should be inyesti-
gated by a body composed Of practical men
whose motives would be above suspicion. If
it should be found that the cable system IL
practicable, why should not the present ele-
waited roads be compelled to adopt it? As it
is at present informed, the public will certainly
be disposed TO receive with some incredulity
the statement that a great rate of speed can
be reached on any road having many stations
and only two tracks Apparently the only
solution of the rapid transit problem in this
city is to be found in four-track roads admit
ting the running of express trains for long dis
tances, and four-track elevated road occupy
ing a street is out Of the question.