New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06
RAPID TRANSIT IN BOSTON.
NO NEARER REALIZATION THAN IN
NETWORK
4 CuIMERIcAI SCHEME BEFORE THE LEGrs
LATURE WHICH WILL PROBABLY
NOT ZEE ADOPTED.
a STEAM YACHT FOR THE COACHES.

Boston, May ) (SpeciaD.-There seems to be little
likelihood that the rapid-transt problem IN Boston
will be solved by the present legislature Inc cues
ton has been for years football, bGffeied about
from one Legislature to another. The mucn-suftsr-
ing public has occasionally had a gImmer OF NsnI
and hope has been buoyed up for a time that some
one of the many schemes would maierialize, OUT
nothing would come OF It. The Only reason to ex-
pee; now that something viii be done ere long ID
based upon the temper of the people OF Boston.
BostOns narrow streets are 80 consested al al
hours of the day that pubic sentiment may soon
compel action. Il seemed last winter as II scheme
had been devised which might possibly meet with
popular approval. Mayor Matthews favored the con-
structlon OF a tunnel abou, one mile long, extend
Ing from the corner OF Pleasant and fremont SITS.
10 the termni OF the northern railways IN cause
way-st. Into this subway another ntersectlng sub
way beginning al the corner Of Clarles-st. ana
Park Square was 10 empty at the corner OF Boyl-
ston and fremont SITS \ Kite later the bill was
amended 50 as to provide for the construction OF an
elevated road beginning at Peasants;. and extend
ing out into Roxbury and Dorchester. The tunnel
scheme was expected 70 cost abou; 100000 \ Dill
was presented to the Legislature covering this plan,
AMI here the real fight began The merchants and
real-estate owners along the line or the proposed
tunnel entered vigorous protest The result is
that Mayor Matthews has net his Waterloo. his
bill has been rejected by the legislative Committee
on Rapid Transit 10 to .. and a bill favorng the
Meigs elevated road in place OF the subway has
been reported favOraby. 10 to L.
II is altogether possible that the extraordinary
course OF Mayor Matthews the gas question
greatly weakened his rapidtransit scheme. his al
legged combination with the Standard OIL people Tor
the purpose of crushing Adlicks, the head OF the
Bay State Gas Company. which year ago was
practically the only company an Boston, has
made Matthews unpopular with nearly every class
in the city. To crush ,diicks he permitted The
Brookiine Gas Company 10 dig up the city streets
and enter into competition with the old company
and in doing this made it appear that he had thereby
given Boston dollar gas In reality. the Gas COM
mission reduced the price OF gas 10 81. and It could
have been brought about without letting the Brook
line Company into the city. The streets were dug
up AMI the city left in disgraceful condition Tor
several months. II has not proved a good specula-
ton for the Brookiine Company for before 1t got
ready 10 begin supplying the people Of Boston with
gas so much III feeling was aroused that thousands
refused to permit the outside company 10 enter
their premises. advantage would be derived
from 4. as the price was uniform. The result Is
that Brookline gas securities have been knocked
down about one-half The Bay State people, in the
mean time had discovered the secret OF making
water gas economically and were prepared to meet
the cut in price with greater equanlmty than their
The Bay state Company had control a long time.
and ought to have reduced the price before II was
compelled to; This might have been done but fos
the stock jobbing schemes. and the company would
have had the field TO itself. But the means adopted
by the Mayor to bring about this reform has not
wav scheme the intelligent public looked askance,
and soon an active opposition was organized. which
has been powerful enough 10 head the Mayor OF.
The public suspected his sagacity, to say the least.
II i probable that between the devil and the
Sufficient transit resources. The West End man.
agement controls all the In Boston ana
lis suburbs Since the retirement Of President
Whitney the company seems 10 be In a rnoribund
awake methods OF Improvement are concerned.
The company has of course. opposed any elevated
or tunnel scheme. although IL professed 10 be merely
an onooker. A vigorous onslaught on the road baS
been made this winter by combination headed by
the Mayor, but the outcome does not appear 10
have been more than a scheme TO I'LL the pockets
OF a few lawyers engaged by both sides.
The Megs elevated system does not meet with
general favor. 1t Is an unknown quantity, 80 far
as actual experiment is concerned IL Is single
railroad and a small section OF road was built In
Cambridge a few years ago for the purpose OF
experlmertlng with the move. method IL mas
never been tested severely enough 10 demonstrate
It's value and the Legislative Committee on RAPID
TRANSIT is severely criticised for reporting a BILL
with such sweeping provisions II practically
throws every street In Boston open TO company
10 Introduce unknown railway project Inc
bill provides for the erection or an elevated roa0
BEGINNING IN Charestown and running to South
Roston Roxbury. Dorchester and Somervllle;
haa,nnng In Cambridge and running to Bos-
and Brookline The company is authorized to place
stations along the lines OF the different routes at
Convenient points and they may be over any street
or NAV and IL Il further authorized TO take LAND
by right OF eminent domain. Inc company small
not be required to pay any State or local taxes for
Ave wears from the date on which Its railway shall
be open for public use The fare on the different
routes shall not exceed cents IL Is provided that
the rasssge OF the act at least five miles OF road