New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-29
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
MEANS OF TRANSIT BADLY NEEDED.

MEANS OF TRANSIT BADLY NEEDED.
WHAT Is REQUIRED TO DEVELOP a MUCH NEG
IECTED PORTION OF MANHATTAN ISLAND.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The tail should never wag the dog, but II the
dog never wags his tail It is plain there must be
something wrong. That part of Manhattan Island
between the Harlem and the Hudson rivers. just
south of Spuyten Duyv Creek. is long and narrow
enough to be a caudal appendage to the great
metropolis and 1t Is not the first part OF the city
which n foreigner would But II Is certainly
the most neglected portion not excepting the re-
Gently annexed district which In some respects Is
vastly better off a strip Of land one mile wide and
three miles long. at Inwood and Fort washington
is more destitute Of railroads. telegraphs and teie-
phones to say nothing OF other necessities Of mod
civilized life than many border village In the
West And yet It is only ten miles from the City
Hall. and for a quarter OF a century and more II
has been a very attractive part OF the metropolis
Many years ago real estate was steadily enhancing
In value there until by the Fourth-ave improve
ment, the local trains the New-York Central ana
Hudson River Railroad were diverted from the old
Thlrteth-st station to the Grand Central at Forty
second-st. From that time on there have been a
continual decline In real and a corresponding
diminution In the number OF inhabitants. IL is an
traordinary fact that here is portion of New
York city three square miles In extent where for
the last twenty years there have not been twenty
families added to the population solely because
there have been adequate facilities for business
men to get back and forth from the business por-
lions Of the city Property Is far less valuable mere
than 1t in 1870. and solely because nothing mas
been done toward furnishing the extreme north OF
the island with rapid transit. or for that matter,
with any kind Of transit, the few and the mis-
cradle little trains to Thrtieth-st.
The residents and property-owners at lnwood ana
Fort Washington accordingly feel the liveliest IN
In the fate of the petition recently presenter
TO the Common Council praying that the appiica-
ton OF the Metropolitan Traction Company DE
granted This company proposes build at once
along the Kingsbrdge road through these portions
of tho ctv a surface road. to be run by cable or
an underground electric which shall connect with
other roads Of the same CORPORATION on Dtn 70 .ne
single fare OF cents convey passenger from me
Battery TO Klngsbridge or return. NothinS coud i
walt several years And this work can be speedily
There are welgh,y reasons why It should be done
by ms comp ccpa5 privilege Of extending their cabe
road through St Nichclas,ave ana the Kinssprihee
CORPORATION were serious in making this proposition
and should at once extend their lines as proposed
they could not possibly give the city what the
na; the Deo Iy who Wlsb ,S 6 at abe iGc
TO go downtown for single fare. either on me
west or east side - Contra. Park. and on.y The
to give them that privilege 1t is great aiyantage
to have lexington Columbus ana shngton
Heights to Fifty -nnth-st and other streets below
that and this advantage on.y the metropolitan can
ofcr il Is an additional advantage OF very great
importance to be abe 10 get transfer. ether west
or east AT Ffiy-nnth-si.. and not only So put 10
choose for single fare between the Bet Line
tho Ninth Avenue the seventh Avenue. the SKIN
Avenue and the Green car Line which rlInbes
al over the downtown streets 50 accommodating y
The Third Avenue line. the other hand. can on.y
present iOne route. across one-hhhurei-ahu
twentv-nfih-st and down Third-ave.
Third-ave IS too far east for most. ana the ass
OF uasscngerS which encounters on tnAt rpul"
is not as "A rule the most agreeable or we.l-taxote9
II were better than nothing 10 have the Ihlrd-
ave but when one considers how very much inner
cars tho METROPOLITAN Traction Company AFFORDS us
passengers. how much more attractive they are
and the superior lighting and heating one may NM
In them q, seems as though the Board OF Aldermen
| need not deliberate Ave hours over the Application
and the petition by which i, s enforced
Such a surface road WI. Always be indispensable
even after The rapid transit road IL completed, ana
as for The opposition of proper yhoders aong some
portions 81 he route Il is Invariably the case ma
The interests of the few must give way 10 the needs
OF the many. GEORGE SHliMAN IN sun
Inwood on tho Hudson y. Y. Sept. u, 1884