New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-23
VIEWS ON RAPID TRANSIT.
MR.. GOULD THINKS OLD WAYS ARE BEST.
MR. CROKER SAYS TAMMANY WILL BE SATISFIED
IF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT
OWNED BY ANY PARTY.

If THE COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT
OWNED BY ANY PARTY
The Manhattan Railway Company may be disturbed
by the public demand for rapid transit but it
apparelty is not strongly ell to the nonpr;isan
bil for that purpose now before the senate Jay
could, the president and principal owner Of tho
elevated railroads in this city, confessed yesterday
that he had not read the bill carefully, but he
confident that no legislation was needed. lie said
I'm regald 70 the two bills recently proposed:
The changes in Rapid Transit Act OF 1875 proposed
* Mayor Grants BILL in three directions Under
the present law start commission for the laying out
OF a route REQUIRES statement by fifty
that line Is necessary. The Mayors bill provides
that the machinery may be set In motion without these
andlyts at the will OF the Mayor. In the next place,
after the commission has effected the organization Of
company rights sold al auction to the highest bid
der Under the bill the franchise be sold at
auction but u may be awarded 70 the highest the lowest
bidder at the discretion Of the Sinking Fund Commission
The present law excerpts the boueyaFds among other
street, and avenues and the Grant bill throws them open
In these respects the Republican bin provides fixed
commission opens boulevards and
about the -ac Of franchises These
the most important differences between bills
present law and do not the particular advantages.
The adays Of nfty landowners certainly protection
to the street, Of the city, which otherwise
rendered To elevated railroads II the franchises
be sold at auction should think It would
the city that the award should be to the hlghes; bidder.
70 the suggestion that, If he buying. tie
lowest bid might be more satisfactory, Mr. Gould
replied
If was going into new enterprises OF this kind think
should prefer to build under the present than
the Mayors bill or Republican bill fact have no
intention Of doing have things in snug shape,
have now only my properties. intend.
ing 10 extend the elevated railroads and not know
anybody who wishes to build new The capacity
OF aroad measured by its terminal facilities and the
Manhattan Railway could easily double It's II Il had
enough room at terminals Tor the rapid handling Of
trains Trains on the nes-the Second and Ninth
ave Ines-arc not than quarter full, and the
other lines could carry much larger number Of passen-
gers than they have yet done
All the elevated railroads in this city the Suburban
above the Harlem River and the system In Brooklyn have
been built under present law In Brooklyn the
prise ha. been in liberal spirit and the system has
been extended Tho right Of has cost little and the
court, held when the question has occurred that In
estimating TO property the bcttermcns should be
considered Is not surprising that the system should
grow under the, conditions, In this city the courts have
decided I'm effect tho building ~ the roads quad
ruped Of property, the company was sl liable
for damages. IL almost a. II there was desire
the property Of our company The consttu'
tlonal provision that the property citizen may not
be- taken without compensation applies IN this city to the
land owners instance To the elevated railroads
What NcwYork T. not new legislation or now
.-ous just support instead Of constant persc
cutlon. u the present system
Charles IS. Bullcn, acting commissioner OF the trunk
Line Associations said yesterday that he had not read
the bill but had seen summaries OF II, adding;
81 am living IN Ncw-Jer,cy. and therefore may not
take the same Interest in the question Of rapid transit
here 4, A Ncv, Yorker wolld. But it is a subject
Of vital Importance TO the city and even NONRESIDENT
who has any travelling to do here must recognize the
imperative need Of expanded facilities in this direction
/ should Judge from what ! have heard that the
new bin ought to command general support. In an
undertaking II this magnitude IL certainly IS desirable
to assure 10 the rs conduct under auspices relieved
Of an suspicion Of partsanshp and committed solely
10 giving the citizens system satisfactory IN al
res poets and honestly and economically established
1t is also probably advisable to limit the Influences
Of existing corporate interests, II their services are
not absolutely needed. should imagine that the
commission proposed ia the lll would fairly repre-
sent conflicting political factions, while the character
of the gentlemen selected should lit them above re
proach IN the launching Of the enterprise. Ncw-fork
has had some unfortunate experiences in providing
facilities for travel and II would seem plausible that
tho work Of eluippng the city with comprehensive
and effective system Of rapid transit can be &C
comui.hcd better than In any other Way by placing
IL I'm the hand, Of a body Of men removed from the
sphere ~ political or private considerations
cts Chamberlain croker. referring to his inter
Wow published yesterday REGARDING the measure sara
that e de- rcd 10 correct his statement about Joseph
!. o'Donohuc's resignation from Tammany and ms
motive for rcslgnin- adding:
II would nrlrar that Inferred that Mr.. Donohue
had l,ft Tauuany Han for re purpose ~ becoming
,td transit comm .-louor. NOW have no right 70 as
sumo that Mr u'uonohuc had this object In view That
IA. o., course h.,t known himself. Nr. o'Donohne
believe ~ hr good Democrat and personal friend OF
mine H. IA. done good service for the party but ' Is not
nov member " the Iamuany Hall a"iin"n ana 'n''
fl, what wanted to make clear. dd NOT lhid 20 say
that there vas only Democrat ON ue ''nn.,' ou'
that t..re Wa. hut one representative - IamHauf Han
IL make. no dr. pence 20 1ammluy nan whether 10 has
member OF not long Comm s-on'r7 arr not ""'n
y any party OF corporation. RAPID uan is muth he'd,a
ia our city and trust that may have OH tat VIII
offer cheap fare and good service and which "" be- sat
isfactory 70 the public.
MAYOR Grant said Yesterday that ho had been 700
busy carefully 10 examine the Fassott RAPID Transit
bill and did not h. express an opinion ailer Only
a cur.ory reading Of IT. provisions, adding;
am In favor ~ the best system Of rapid transit h"'
an b. foundno, only that. but the work should be car
rcd out wholly apart politics fos th" moment th'
p,lllc begins 70 suspect that tho PROJECT l. not p'he
solely on cuisines, principles all confidence IN IL
VIII Doe Lost.
Tx.Nayor Hewitt said that the bill was the only
one Of the Kind introduced in The Legislature intended
To serve the people rather than the pohU,lahs since
his own Rapid Transit b WAS introduced
A BOARD DISCUSSES ITS POWERS