New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-16
FyGVT THE TROLLEY!

Two or three years ago, in obedience to pop
ular sentiment, the municipal authorities maze
a vigorous and meaS,lrably successful attack
upon overhead wires and the poles which sup
ported them. If at that time anybody had pre-
dicted that the trolley system of street-car pro-
pulsion would soon he introduced upon the
crowded thoroughfares Of New-York he would
have been deemed an mbecile. But as things
now look he would have actually been entitled
to fame as a prophet. At this moment the
trolley is making a quiet advance upon the
town, and is not unlikely to effect an entrance
The guarded utteranceS of individuals con-
nected with the powerful syndicate which Is
absorbing the surface railroads OF New-i YORK
are net 50 guarded as to disguise the purpose
of that organization to employ the trolley as
soon and as extensively as possible. "fhe
New-Yorl Herald" reports Mr.. John d. Grim
minis as cautiously acknowledging that his com
pany cOntemplatcs the introduction or this
system under the elevated railroads, while dis
countenancing the suppositon that it is TO he
generally used. But as "Thc Herald points
out. the syndicate is now bnsily planning cx-
tensions and connections which will give it all
the facilities it needs for the employment OF
nobody can doubt that such an advantage OF
position once obtained would be adroitly used
TO accomplish additional entertainments.
In an editorial reference TO this scheme our
contemporary says /" It may as well be fully
understood now Us later by this combination
that popular sentiment will never countenance
and the people will never permit the introduc-
ton of the trolley on single mile OF thorough
fare in the metropolis-under the elevated road
or anywhere else" We agree with The
Herald" in the belief that popular sentiment
will never sanction such an undertaking. but
we are not so sure that the people VIII never
permit it to succeed. Indeed, II seems to us
that il is necessary TO arouse public opinion AT
once by vigorous means and begin lvciy
opposition The community ought to be per-
petuaIly on the alert against abuses. for their
advocates arc never weary or indoent so long
as they have before them a prospect Of pc
cuniary advantage For their purposes an in
terval of popular heedlessness like the present
is of great value. Experience shows that there
is no safety from the trolley except in constant
vntchfulness and agitation. That instrument
Of evil has gained foothold already, here and
there. from which it cannot be easily dlslodged.
II it's operation had rcfuted the charges made
against if the case would be different. But
such is not the fact so far as we can ascer-
tain il makes no converts excepting among the
few whose personal profit it promotes II re-
mains what it always has been and from It's
nature always must be in crowded GieS-uh-
slightly. obstructive, inefficient and dangerous
The citizens of Brooklyn, against whose pro-
tests the trolley was introduced upon certain
streets in that city, have not been convicted OF
ignorance or in the least Modified by an in
innate acquaintance with the system They
are still complaining bitterly Of the pcris and
annoyances which it produces, and with good
reason. The people of Boston, and of nuIner-
GUS other important towns, after longer ex-
perence are unrcconciled to the evils IRON
which they do not know how to escape. Ana
the people of New-YOrh will be fools If they
permit themselves to be dcluded into indiffcr-
ence to the approach of similar Affections. 1he
trolley inspires ardent affection in the breasts
of those who have much to gain by diminish
ing the cost of street-car propulsion. IL can
be cheaply installed and operated, as compared
with other systems. That is its only merit,
and it does not appeal in the least degree to
the community. Its Introduction anywhere in
this city would be q curse. II offers not a
single benefit to ffset the manifold evils which
it would nfict. Not an argument can be adj
yanccd In its favor which does not begin and
end with the selfish interests of its promoters.
The sole significance of all their commentators
is that it will increase their profits. 1t is an
intolerable nuisance, and the thing to do is To
prevent its introduction now instead OF dis
cussne hereafter how it can be abatcd