New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-03
STREET RAILROAD CONSOLIDATION

I'pon various features OF the law reldtlng 10
the motive power of street railroads we have
already commented. Another Of the trans
portation bills which became laws by the Gov
errors signature under the influence OF con-
siderations which he has explained through an
interview in our columns, is that permitting the
consolidation of existing lines The chief con-
dition which this law imposes is that person
NAV ride over all such consolidated routes on
nayment of single fare the company supply
ing transfer tickets. 1t has not appeared d.
rectlv at whose instance this law was passed,
but it is supposed that the Philadelphia syn
dictate. which now controls and operates the
Broadway and Seventh Avenue Line and It's
branches and the Avenue G Line; which prob
ably has an interest in other roads capable OF
being made a controlling interest without much
difficulty, and which very likely has other ac-
ouisitions in prospect was chiefly concerned IN
the enactment.
There are two points of view from which this
measure may be considered, namely the gen.
eral propriety and advantage of facilitating
sucb a monopoly of street railway traffic, and
the particular effect upon the revenues OF the
CITY. With reference to the former it may be
said that public opinion is undoubtedly hostile
at present to huge combinations of capital et-
fected for the specific purpose Of blending in
terests which are naturally distinct. 1t is not
always easy to prove that the people actually
suffer in any respect or degree from movements
of this sort indeed, it would often be easier
to prove that they reap decided advantages
from them. But this has not hitherto made
them popular. There are presumably surface
railroads in this city which the syndicate could
not acquire at any price; there are others Which
it probably could acquire by the offer OF Speclai
inducements, and there are others still which
could be had cheap if they were wanted. AT
present such monopoly of street lines as has
been achieved in some other cities seems re-
mote contingency in New-York. The right Of
consolidation granted by the new law is condi-
tional upon a very valuable concession to thou
sands of individuals. 1t is no slight convenience
10 be able to make what have hitherto De3h
two or more separate trips for a single fare,
and to multitude of poor people such pnV-
ileoe would mean an important saving OF money
or of fatigue The municipal authorities OPP
nosed this measure before Governor Hill on
the ground that it would operate to reduce the
percentage of receipts which now goes into the
city treasury, but the Governor argued that the
advantage to individuals of the class most con-
cerned would more than offset the loss to the
municipality. This is a reasonable conclusion
and so far as this simple proposition goes VIC
are inclined to agree with him.
Just what the ultimate effect of the law VIII
prove to be remains to be seen. The interests
which stand behind legislation affecting cor
porations are usually rather slow in disclosing
themselves, and we may have to wait con-
siderable time in the present instance to learn
precisely what objects the law was designed to
further. No step has yet been openly taken
under the law which permits change OF
motive power, though it is understood that the
Third Avenue Railway Company is about to
make an application of some sort-presumabl ~
in furtherance of its cable project-to the Board
of Railroad Commissioners. If the people
watch closely enough they may expect to see
before long some movement which Will serve
10 indicate the motive for the Consolidation
Act. and then we shall be able to reach more
definite conclusions as to it's proprety. In the
meantime a good many persons will probably
| take pains to keep their eyes open