New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-17
BOSTON'S TRANSIT SCHEME.
TIE MEIGs ELEVATED RAILWAY ELL AND ITS
PROVISIONS

TIE MEIGs ELEVATED RAILWAY ELL AND ITS
PROVISIONS
Boston June &c Specialize the surprise OF the
pubic generally. the Meigs Elevated Railway bill
passed the House. and by astonishing majority
III TO q Everybody was surprised 70 put II mildly.
when the b.. reported 20 the Legislature. ord
It was not genera,ly supposed that !; would be pos
sb.e 10 get the bill through. This question has been
SO long knocked about from pillar 70 post that
undoubtedly d good many members were glad to
get rid OF 1t. and were deceived by the spccous
arguments OF the promoters OF the Megs system
II is not fair charge dishonesty 20 all who voted
for the bill The injustice o: the whole scheme Is
shown whea It is known Mat not "A member would
hazard his Own money In such an enterprise, where
as II IT were a feasible project. 1t would be one
Of the most profitable undertakings Of recent years
Boston is sadly ham7ered by her narrow streets
and insuflcien; means OF transit 10 and from her
rapidly growing suburbs. The Yves, End Naiiwoy
Company has improved upon the methods In vogue
fifteen years ago. bu: the citT has grown faster
than the means Of transi. within and without her
borders.
The men who are al the back OF the enterprise are
not heavy enough to give the public confidence
In their ability or disposition 70 pay damages TO
property by the construction Of the road They ask
for power capitalize the company al 100000
while Mr. Meigs himself estimates that half OF ms
sum viii build and equip the lines proposed
| When the bill came up Tor engrossnent II was
amended 10 provide that all issues OF the STOCK and
! bonds OF the company must be approved by the
| Railway Commissioners before they snail be legal.
| The Meigs bill has been most crafty drawn To
the casual observer II seems 10 provide honestly Tor
the construction OF the road within a reasonable
time limit The bill provides that said corporation
shall construct. within two years after It's routes
shall have been definitely determined. In said city
OF Boston. at least twenty-five miles Of elevated rail-
| way track" and II IL fails TO DO 80 It's charter
shall be annu.led. Another section provides that
| within six months after ts routes shall have been
definitely fixed within the limits OF the city Of
Boston the corporation shall deposit wiki the state
Treasurer $4,000 IN cash. satisfactory sccurities
be held forfeit TO the Common wealth II the
corporation shall construct at least twenty
| miles OF track within the two years above men
| toned.
| But another section further provides that from
this period OF two years and six months shall BE- de-
Quoted any time that may elepsc while any inJunc-
ton restraining order shall be outstanding
against this company. Thus 1t would be possible
that a bogus suit might be Instituted. and IN this
way the company could secure as much time a was
necessary dispose OF its securities. I'll is pockets.
| and then allow Itself 10 be put out OF existence.
! The scheme purposes 90 build a one-track Gle
| waited road from Charlestown TO Boston. 10 South
RostOn, Dorchester Chelsea. and Revere. from
! Bonneville through q part Of Cambridge across
| Cragfes Bridge Boston 10 Brookstonc and
! Brighton. ana from Charlrstown TO Roxbury and
Dorchester 1t purposes 10 the structure through
some Of BosOn's busiest business streets. already
too narrow TO accommodate present business
a call is being circulated for mass meeting In
| Fanueil Hall Wednesday evening 10 de-
mand the submission Of the Meigs bill 70 "a popular