New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-22

wel-considered scheme for giving us more rapid
transit than we now have. There is no
doubt that the city needs more rapid
transit, and the more facilities there
are the more travel there will be. The
elevated roads themselves have demonstrated
that. They have been increasing their faclIltes
ever since they were established, anC the de-
mand for further extensions has grown as FAST
and faster than they were supplied lhere is no
doubt that many people contend that the eleVated
roads have reached the limit of their capacity.
IL is not for me 10 say whether this is or is not
So but the need for more rapid transit is too plain
TO be denied.
The commissioners named in this bill
very good men. and it seems TO me that the city
is amply protected by the provision that the
franchises must be sold at public auction and by
the other restrictions The elevated roads are not
shut out as bidders for new franchises, and II
the bill passes they may be the highest bidders
there are many things to be considered. This
bill may not pass the Legislature. and If 1t does
the Governor may not sign It, The commits
soners have the power to reject all bids So you
see in its present stage 1t would be difficult 10
say what the outcome Will be. AIteT
casual examination Of the abstract
it seems to me the bill has been carefully pre-
pared and that the cty's interests are well pro
vided for. The measure does not antagonlze
any of interests / can say nothing more
than this from the brief consideration l have
given to the subject"
MR. GALLAwAY SPEAKS FOR THE ELEVATED
r. NJ Galloway, vice-president of the Man
haitian Elevated Railway Company, began by
asking the reporter these questions What
need is there for such a bill ?" What necessity
was there for the introduction of the so-caed
Grant bill?" why is not the present law good
enough p ,,,,
The reporter protested that he was more skilled
in listening to explanations than at giving them,
and Mr.. Galloway proceeded to answer his own
questions. There necessity for the IN
PRODUCTION of either the Grant bill or this one,
lo for NCith
general rapd-transit law and the Cantor act pro
vide for everything covered by this blil, win
one exception-the power to OBTAIN rlght OF way
through the middle of blocks by process OF con
demnation As Senator Fassett said in his speech.
this bill is not in the interests OF either thc
elevated surface roads, nor does 1t assall them
We do not stand in hostile attitude to TINS blil
as il now reads, for IL does not and cannot attack
our vested rights But if the bill should be
we will fight it aggressively. Under the present
law if the public want increased facilities they
can be obtained quite as readily as by tins
measure. All that it is necessary TO do is for
fifty reputable property owners TO petition the
Mayor, and be will appoint commission to lay
out new route. II then remains for us or any
ditions and specifications adopted by the commits
sioners. During Mayor llewitts incumbency TINS
course was adopted, and route was Ialt Out
from South Ferry through South and West SITS;
not pay and declined TO build them
on the specifications provided, and there
cessions meet, with the facilities that we
can command, every requirement of rapld-Tan'
sit service.
Il do not see what benefit is to be derived
from the provision of this bill that route may
be fixed through blocks well as through streets.
for under the process of condemnation the night OF
way would cost much that road could scarcely
he operated with profit. 1t certainly could not
be at five cent fares. The cost would be SO great
that the transportation OF passengers from the
Battery TO Harlem at a ive.cent fare would not
pay for the coal consumed As il is now, we do
not make profit by carrying people through from
one end Of the line TO the other at five cents.
It's the short rides that pay.
"This bill provides that the franchise Shall
be sold at public auction. Well, can't we be
bidders, too? When il becomes necessary 10
increase our facilities in that way | think We
can act as vigorously as anybody. and ! think
we have as much money as anybody 10 operate
with Under such provision, however, the
roads will be too severely taxed We already
pay to the city from 100000 TO 100000 in
taxes annually Last year il was nearly 100000
Under this bill, besides paying these enormous
taxes we would have to give a bonus TO the city
for the privilege of increasing our facilities Stll
unless some proposition is made 10 take from US
privileges that we possess will not consider
this a hostile measure. Really. there is no neces-
sity for either this bill or the Mayors. The com
missioners named in the bill good business
men, What the people want is not commissions
and bills, but more money with which to buld
more roads under the present effective general
rapid.transit law"