New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-15

LEY SYSTEM FOR ELEVATED
ROADS REJECTED BY THE
MANHATTAN COMPANY.
An open sesame" is needed to get prompt adj
mttance to Mr.. Jay Gould in his office In the
Western Union Building. 1t consists of a series
Of telegraphic "taps" with lead pencil on the
glass door of the main Office. / don't intend to
tell what these clicks read. l do know that
they are heard inside, and that the door soon
opens to admit those who make the mysteri-
sounds in the mystic Morse alphabet.
The only sign indicating Mr.. Goulds business
Office is the name Jay Gould" an ordinary
door-plate, which, however, Is not on the en-
trance to his rooms at all. On the contrary, l
fancy the door which the name appears In
modest letters has not been opened for years; it
certainly looks rusty and dusty, as If long in
dsuse; and this particular room to which it
leads, rather to which it bars entrance appears
to be sort of document room, what a house
wife would call lumber room." This you sec
through another open door which connects the
room with Mr. Gould's private office The room
into which one is first admitted is the central
one of suite OF several rooms, the whole form
ing altogether a unique set of Offices There is
nothing of the luxurious character which those
unfamiliar with them are apt to conceive of the
business surroundings of an immensely wealthy
man. They are neither offices nor apartments eN-
actly but have some of the characteristics OF
BOTH In the central room are high desks common
in busy offices everywhere; there are safes and
boxes filled with papers and like paraphernalia OF
the ordinary commercial office In Mr.. Goulds
private room are low, fiat desks and hanging
maps and plans and innumer1Dle documents
thrown about in some disorder but reaVy carpet
ing and curtains and leather-covered arm chairs
and lounges give the place some of the aspects OF
comfortable apartment. But everything is sub
dued in color, simple in pattern, and OF very
evident practical value; and notes instantly
and irresistibly the absence of the glitter and
gaudiness of many business offices of lesser men
of minor affairs
| did not find Mr. Gould at ease In his luXuri-
Gus chair arrayed in rich robe or an elegant
business suit. One never sees him so In his
office, though he is particularly precise in dress
when elsewhere, nor is he difficult of approach
and reserved and naughty in manner. On the
contrary when | saw him recently he was stand
ing behind ore of the high bookkeeper's desks in
the outer office at work over some incomplete
tabular statement upon which he was figuring,
and he had evidently dofsed his street suit for
well-worn office duster-I think office coat" is
the term in common USE At any rate, II was
his working suit and the thought flashed across
duty, and that the wearer needed and had doubt
less earned new one. 1t gave, at glance,
practical object lesson would, the impression that
Mr. Gould was "a working man." 1t APP
parent at the next moment that he was o bus-
ness man in the full sense of the term, for he
only looked up from his papers brief second to
shake hands and ask to wait for him in his
private
l am a little particular in describing these i'm
pressions of the man, because they differ
ent from the preconceved ideas of him which |
believe the general public entertains. He has
perceptiby aged in the last few years. His hair is
iron-gray, whereas it jet black when | first
knew him in the old Erie days sallowness
has crept into his face, and his black eyes are
not as piercing as then; but his small igure is
still unbent, and his brisk but easy manners Of
those days are more slow and reserved at this
period of his life. So much pen picture
of the Jay Gould Of to-day.
Mr. Gould knew that | desired him to talk
of the recently projected underground rapid
transit scheme, and l found him quite willing
enough. | led up to the subject by remarking
that his testimony Before the Rapid Transit
Commissioners had revealed that he had per.
sonally given close study to the details Of the
elevated railway system, and | esked him If
he had given equal attention TO underground
systems.
"Yes,' he replied ~ have found it pleas
ure as well as q business duty to study very
closely every feature of the development of this
city by the improvement of its means Ct transit.
have personally watched this wonderful develop
ment of the city for many years past and can say
with confidence that it has largely been owing to
the elevated railways as the first practical appli-
cation OF anything approaching rapid transit facli
ties. When first came to New-iork." he added,
smiling as he became reminiscent there were only
three things to see-or four | should say. Every
body who wished to be regarded as somebody stop
ped at the only iirst-class hotel in town. and
lounged at sundown in the shadow of the Astor
House There was other big place TO which
to 20 and the papers reported distinguished
rivals at no other house BOy-like." he continued,
my first sightseeing was at Bamums Museum.
but my second vSit-possibly indicating my latent
inclinations-was to the then famous Harlem tun-
mel under what is now Park-ave.. where |
first saw, with amazement. a locomotive pulling
its way of the bowels of the earth. L next
went TO the CrotOn Aqueduct. at what is now
Forty-second-st. and Fifth-ave.. and climbing TO
the top of its wall looked with admiration upon
the green fields and farms in every direction
far as my eye could reach. the view ending with
New-York far in the southern distance. l have
seen developments ever since In every one OF these
directions. except another quiet smile betraying
a sense OF humor-" at Balnum's Museum.
yes" he resumed after moment, Il have
personally inquired into the underground system
of rapid transit, and my impressions are not alto
gcther favorable TO it for New-York City. l spent
three days on the London underground road, and
contracted a bronchial trouble | have never been
able TO get rid Of, and he touched his throat and
coughed slightly if 20 emphasize minor OBJ
lection to underground transit :" examined it
first as TO the speed attanable next as 10 the
economies possible, and last TO tie comfort and
conveniences afforded by the system There is
no greater speed 70 be obtained on an underground
road than on an elevated road with an equal num-
Der of stoppages for the speed is regulated for