New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-15
CHEAP TRdTNv


Cheap trains in and out Of large cities, by
which the working classes may reach cheap
homes, have been tried in several European
countries and usually with satisfactory re-
suits. There is no city in the world probably
so much in need Of such system as New y ork,
where the pressure of population is already
enormous, owing to its peculiar geographical
position, and must grow worse each year. with
tunnel communications with the New-Jersey
and Long Island shores and cheap trains, the
problem Of decent homes for the working
classes would seem less hopeless at least, than
it is at present. But even under existing con-
ditions, much would be accomplished if the
railroads running to the various suburbs would
provide trains or parts of trains, at very low
rates during the hours when workingmen
would use them. There is every reason to sup
pose that the railroads would find them event.
ually, if not Immediately, remuneratve.
"The Railroad Gazette" gives an interesting
account Of the success Of experiments Of this
kind elsewhere These are divided into two
classes-one Of giving communication for short
periods, the other, of special trains at special
rates. The former system exists in Belgium,
and the rates are singularly low. The work
man travels third-class, usually by designated
trains, upon ticket, to be obtained by proof
that he is a workingman for which he pays a
certain sum per week. Fortwelye journeys Of
three miles each he pays twenty cents, or a
little more than half cent mile; for daily
Journey each way Of six miles he pays twenty
six cents, or a little more than third Of cent
mile. and so on up to forty miles each way
for fifty-two cents week or a little more than
one-tenth of cent per mile. This system has
been in operation for number of years, but it
is not stated how extensively it is used. In
Prussia there is system of weekly tickets
limited to certain trains at two-thirds the or
binary fourth-class rates, or little over half
a cent mile, which is considerably more than
the average of the Belgian rates. Besides this
there is the regular fourth-class car, without
seats in which the charge is about eight-tenths
of a cent mile. In England the famous penny
trains were established, on which the charge
was only penny for a short journey, but the
rate has been remunerative only under ex-
ceptional circumstances, and so the system has
not gained ground.
The only similar experiments in this country
have been in Massachusetts, where these trains
were introduced fifteen years ago upon the sug-
gestion of the railroad commissioners. On the
Eastern road. for example, tickets for train
between Boston and Lynn, thirteen miles, were
sold twenty for dollar, or little more than a
third of q cent mile. Other experiments were
made on the Old Colony and the Boston and
Maine and the Fitchburg, but were not
successful. More recent attempts, however,
in Germany have proved entirely satisfactory
In Gera, Dresden, Leipsic and Chemntz weekly
tickets are sold at prices making the rate per
mile average little more than half a cent. The
railroads believe the traffic pays its expenses,
and is indirectly source Of revenue by de-
yeloping the country.
The problem to be solved here depends, of
course, on entirely different conditions, but
much may be learned from the results Of these
efforts. There is the possibility Of vast social
and moral Improvement in n similar system in
this city, above almost all others in the world
outside Of China. The Saxon Factory Inspectors
say the good results in that country are al
ready apparent" and that the railroads have
proved valuable ally in the struggle for tene-