Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21
MURRAY'S MUSINGS.

mURRAY'S MUSINGS,
Gigantic Enterprises Already Under Way
in New York-Troublesome Canadian
COMA Way to Keep City Sidewalks
Clear-The Howling Swell.
rFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT
GIGANTIC enterprises now in progress and
still more gigantic enterprises duly char
tered and to be early begun indicate future
for New York beyond the widest dreams
Of enthusiasts Of this day and generation of
dreamers. These enterprises will all be under
active headway within two years, and will be
carried on simultaneously. They comprise the
railway tunnel now being constructed under
the Hudson river, and the magnificent railway
bridge over the same broad stream, both con-
Meeting the trunk lines directly with New
York and the great Northern routes; the rail-
way tunnel under the city itself by way
of Forty-second street, between the Hudson and
Loug Island (jus: authorized), the railway tun-
mel by way of Staten Island under the Narrows
to Brooklyn; the enlargement of the city's
boundaries to include her present and future
population; The comprehensive scheme of rapid
transit by tunnel or vaduct which will doubt
less be authorized by the State Legislature this
winter. Almost any of these enterprises would
command the undivided attention and require
all OF the surplus energy and capital OF great
city. Ii is proposed to practically inaugurate
and carry them forward here at one and the
same time, Nor is any one OF them considered
unnecessary or financially hazardous.
Perhaps with the tunnel now under way be-
meath the Hudson New York might get along
without the projected bridge recently chartered
by Congress; perhaps the tunnel under New
York by which freight and passenger transfers
can he erected more rapidly and cheaply would
seem 10 render the Wiman tunnel under the
Narrows to effect the same thing unnecessary
But then it will be remembered what was said
of the Brooklyn bridge scheme on its incep-
tion. That grand structure taxed to its fullest
capacity Is not equal to half the demands OF
everyday travel. The added facilities for get
ting around encourages people to travel. So
unQueStlonably the increased facilities tor han
ding freight Will bring more freight to handle
That New Y Iork should have so long depended
upon the uncertain ferries and clumsy barges
padding around with loaded freight cars Will
soon be wonder to even the Oldest of old
fogies.
Already visions of 1.-THE Greater New York;
rise before her business inhabitants. With the
completion of the magnificent undertakings
ABOVE mentioned she will have laid the founda-
tlons for the most important commercial city
In the world. The removal of the extra cost OF
rehandling freight and thus cheapenlng food
to metropolitan consumers and goods to inland
customers will alone soon repay every dollar of
expenditures. Cheap freights and rapid transit
Will invite population and business energy ana
increased capital The New Yorker of to-day
need not be surprised IL the next census finds
the great metropolis with over 3,000,O 600 lnhabl-
tants and the second largest city III the world.
Overtops Pittsburg a Little.
THE cost of living in New Y ork is greatly
enhanced by the lack of immediate and
direc: access of freight from those garden
spots, Long Island and New Jersey. This cost
is not to be correctly estimated by the daily
market reports sent out by wire. The great
mass of New Yorks population does not and
cannot, buy at any such prices. The majority
of people have no market except the grocery
and butcher shop around the corner. There
are two or three sets OF middlemen between
the general market and the consumer AS
householder buy Just as cheaply and advan-
tageously as anybody can buy on the West
Side. Here are some actual figures taken from
my grocery book this week: Butter, 30 cents;
potatoes 80 cents a half-peck; eggs, 43 cents;
apples. Is cents quart; -four, 90 cents 2i11da-
pound sack; onions, Is cents quart; bananas,
Is cents a half-dozen; caulifiOwer Is cents;
maple syrup, So cents quart; celery. IL cents
bunch of three stalks; wax beans. 25 cents
quart; lettuce. IL cents head; milk, 9 cents
quart. All kinds of meat are in the same pro-
portion. Let the out-of-New York house.
holder scan these figures well II ne would un-
derstand what direct freights mean for this
city.
Women and the L Roads.
A BsENT-MINDEDNEss is by no means rare
thing. The gateman of an elevated sta
tion has splendid opportunity for studying
this phase of human nature. There Is some
thing i'll the rush and hustle of the elevated
crowd, the rattle and bang of gates and grated
portculis the hiss of steam and grinding of
wheels that drives the wits out of many people
l have myself several times dropped my change
in the box instead of the ticket. This is too
common to excite attention. OF course, you
must put ticket in also. fact that is espe-
cially aggravating to women. The other day
my wife told me on her way home she had
walked right by the box and boarded the train
with the bit of pasteboard in her fingers.
Somebody had yelled at her, but she didn't take
the hint. She cannot get over the idea that
the conductor will collect fares. When told
the gateman aboutit, he said TITS done here 20
tipes day. Women are the hardest to teach
anything They seem to expect somebody else
to do their thinking fer them. Down at the
big shopping stations an extra man is hired to
do that. good many women will actually
sneak by. in my opinion, knowing that once on
the platform they are safe. l can't leave the
chopper an instant, or dozen may get through,
SO the woman who bolts past is
liable to get away Most of them, however,
are simply confused and can't think quickly or
of two things at once. A woman yesterday
threw her little bundle in the box-gloves she
had just bought and it took smart work of two
men to keep her from boarding the train
When they drop their money in they get just
hopping mad and threaten all sorts of things to
me and tine company. They usually expect me
TO Dreak the DOA anu geL LDelT ulChtl, UT pay IL
out of my own pocket. An old gentleman threw
his glasses into my chopper once. There are
women who would throw their babies in 1t II
they weren't watched. Curious, but It's fact.
Hold on! Put your ticket in the box,
madam. Put it in yourself" The woman
turned an indignant look upon him as she re-
Piled for he had touched her arm, she had
rendered the ticket and he had of course de-
clined. as he was in duty required. 1t was only
an instan. but she missed the train.
Nov that lady is just mad enough to bite
my head Off" said he, moody. I'm not al
lowed to take tickets. That is just why the
chopper is put here. This business is enough
to make man go off and croak."
Sailing Under False COlors.
"THE most pestiferous individual with
whom we have to DEAL" said hotel man
the other day. sis the fellow who uses our read
ingroom and writes his letters on our station
cry He is nearly always swindler. or at
least sailing under false pretenses Perhaps
he may stay day in the house as bona tde
guest and then go off to some cheap place, but
continue to have his mail directed to the house
and to use our stationery. This may be harm
less deceit through vanity, as he wants to be
known to his friends as stopping at frst-class
purposes Very frequently. however, this sort
of a man never stopped here at all. He will
not then call for stationery, but will take his
chances on such stray noteheads and en-
yelopes as he may tind lying around loose on the
writing tables, often taking them away with
him and using them elsewhere"