New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-15
,rp AMIN IN RAPID TRANSIT.

| In this issue of THE TRIBUNE is reported
s,,, ,nd frea conversation with Mr.. Jay Gould
on the growth of New-York, the achievements
opdoavors and desires of the Manhattan Com
pany. and the underground transportation prof.
ect outlined by the Rapd-Transt Commission
er. Nobody needs to be told that Mr.. uoulu
has stn1ied this subject closely in all It's rela-
tions that he has greater personal concern IN
II than any other individual, and that his ut
terances thereon, supposing them to represent
his deliberate convictions are deserving OF care
ful consideration. Whatever opinion our read
ers NAV form as to the accuracy of his statements
and the soundness of his arguments their IN
terest and significance will be readily acknowl-
edged
Il should be said at the outset that MI. Ooulu
does not appear to understand the attitude OF
many citizens, and of the newspapers In general
toward the elevated railroads. Nobody, we
think. is disposed to deny that they have played
an important and, so far as can be seen, an III
dispensabe part in the development OF the Guy
Whatever feeling of irritation and resentment
their shortcomings and the selfish policy OF their
managers NAV have produced, the people OF
Na,v- York are not so foolish as to desire to re-
strict and cripple them to their own permanent
| loss Knit there is q wel-nigh universal con-
rict;on that the elevated system can never sup
nIv tho demand for rapid means OF communica-
ZION with all parts of the city, without aU tic
| same time imposing losses and burdens Whlcn
the community has no need to incur 10 one
evanston of these lines of transit WITHIN hnli's
and under conditions rgidly defined ana maln-
| tanned by commission in which PUBIC coh-
ddence is reposed there is not, so FAR as we are
owore anv intelligent and determined Oppo-
clifton The elevated roads are here TO stay
ord sonsihle persons want them to be as
efficient as the circumstances, wisely improved
will hermit: but they do not want to sacrlhce
Broadway and Battery Park, nor to have existing
privileges or new concessions so useo as U hihue
the introduction of better system.
Mr.. Gould, it will be Observed says en-
phatically that the Manhattan directors are
nerfectly willing to see the underground anu lle
viaduct systems completed" but 1t is evident
that he desires the public to believe that I'D HIS
Judgment capital embarked IN such enterprises
would he subjected to dangerous risks. our
readers will decide for themselves whether III
seeking to put investors on their guard MI
Gould is actuated by an unselhsn aversion "
seeing good money thrown away, or Whetner
dread of an experiment which may prove 10 De
. colossal success predsposes him to give OPP
nosinp arguments all the weight that they can
he made to carry In either case it Is fair to
saw that he states with much cearness and force
some strong reasons for believing that whatever
facilitates the growth of the city will bring IN
creased revenues to the Manhattan Company
Mr. Gouds dstrlst of underground roads IS
based largely upon the assumption that there
is no electric motor in existence or likely soon TO
be invented, capable of drawing heavy trains
rapidly and economically over the required DIS
tances. Without pretending to expert knowl-
edge on this point we may venture to say that
his opinion is not shared by many who have
studied recent developments in London. we
note also with interest that wellknown cleo
trcian and inventor has offered to make prac-
teal test of this question, at great loss to himself
in case of failure. The Rapid-Trausit Commits
sioners. moreover, are men of sagacity and eX-
nerieuce scarcely inferior to Mr.. GOuld's, and
ohviousIy they are convinced that electricity can
be satisfactorily applied to the work Of trans
portation, for their plan expressly excludes steam
locomotives, and in so doing practically en1oin'
the use of electric motors.
Finally, in commencing this notable interview
to our readers we consider it special duty Il
express the opinion that Mr.. Gould underesu
mates tie value and totally misconceves thC
purpose and uses of our public parks. 1t is no
strange that encroachments, defacements anC
membranes around the Battery should appea
trivial matter to man who blunty assert
his wonder and regret that the people Of New
York objected to surrendering Central Park t.
) the Worlds Fair.