Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-10

Views of Ex-Mayor Hewitt on the Situation
in New York.


Ex-Mayor Hewitt of New York, who has been
in retirement since he was defeated for mayor,
has been spurred by the rapid transit question
again to come before the public that he NAV
make agitation in favor Of some permanent
system. Mr.. Hewitt says that he regards the
question Of rapid transit not only for New York
city, but for all the greater cities of the
United States, as perhaps the most important
problem which they have to solve. He does
not believe that trolley system, however ex-
tensive and perfected. such one as Ph,ladel-
phia proposes for instance, will give permanent
relief to those who dwell in great cities and
who seek swift and sure transit to and from
their homes and places of business SO far as
New York is concerned Mr.. Hewitt is inclined
to think that the rapid transit question is Of
moro consequence perhaps even than the fnan-
cial questions which are to be discussed by
Congress.
The indications all are. saws "Holland" Of
the Philadelphia Press. that the rapid transit
commission is possessed by those who control
the elevated railroad property. or course l do
not mean by possessed that anything like money
considerations or improper influences hav Q
been used. Mr.. Pierpont Morgan would sooner
lose battle than to win it dishonorably. But
the commission is plainly in sympathy with the
elevated people and il apparently forced 10 a
choice Of one of two alternatives. II must
either make arrangements with the elevated
people greatly to increase it's service and there
fore largely to increase its elevated structures
or else il must permit what is believed to be
the Interior purpose of Tammany to be carried
ont. and that is for the city to build n road
itself
Holland asked ex-Mavor Hewitt IL he be-
lieved an elevated railroad system could fur
nish New York or any other city permanent and
sufficient rapid transit, and his reply was en-
phatic and immediate. He said that even with
all of the increased facilities which the elevated
people asked for the relief would be only tenn
porary. In two or three years We should be
just as badly OH as We now
MUST BE UNDERGROUND.
When Holland asked him to set forth what
he believed TO be the ideal rapid transit system
for New York and other cities he said that in
some of the larger cities permanent and sub
stantial viaduct like that in Berlin providing
swift express ana slower accommodation trains
would undoubtedly be the best. and I am in
clined to think that he is of opinion that this
system would furnish Philadelphia wha. is there
needed for swift and sure city transit. But for
New York the vaduct system he believes to be
practically impossible. He thinks that the
New York Central railroad might be permitted
to extend its tracks from 42d street to the city
hall. ''Bnt." said he .'for New York CITY only
one permanent, swift and sure rapid transit
plant is possible and that is an underground
one. IL there were statesmen controlling the
administration of the municipality they would
be able to provide for the construction of an
underground system which in little over a
generation would be returned to the city free
of cost. could easily show how that could be
done. The city might build the road and issue
bonds at per cent in payment for it. IL built
economically and as a private corporation
would construct the work ii would be q massive
and perfect piece of engineering constructed at
minimum cost. The city would then offer the
franchise to responsible capitalists say at an
annual rental of per cent. Three per cent of
this sum would go to paw the interest on the
bonds and per cent would be converted into a
sinking fund, which Mt the end of thirty-five
years would be large enough to liquidate the
bonds. and thus the city would own this plant
without having cost it penny. But in the
present state of affairs l suspect we should find
it hard work to find any public officer who
would care to advocate such plan"
Nevertheless. Mayor Hewitt believes that be-
fore the beginning of the next century conges-
ton will be so intolerable that public opinion
will compel the undertaking either bv private
capital or by the city OF such great work as
this.
We shall probably see in q few DAYS what the
influences are which are bearing upon the rapid
transit commission Meanwhile the Philadel-
phia syndicate is surely getting control of sur
face traffic, and there il no doubt but that it
expects before many months have passed to
have secured the right, as it has in PHILADELPHIA
to substitute the trolley or the cable for horse
power.