New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06
A TALE OF RAPID TRANSIT.
TO BE TOLD TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.


MEN WHO on THE STAGE OF LIFE PLAYED
THINKING PARTS FOR MANY YEARS.
In the bright days of the future. when Rapid Tran
sit Commissioners shall be no more when people
will be carried from the Battery TO Harlem in ten
minutes and when all the vexed questions of travel
in this city shall be settled. some old man may tell
his grandchildren the following tale:
.T-nder the bssful shade of old pine tree in
Greenwood Cemetery five tombstones stand. Near
bv a sorrowful-faced man PAGES up and down. Irst
a few feet to the north and then few feet to the
south of the graves. marked by the stones never
turning his eyes from the gloomy-looking plot
that incloses the halowed ground strangers as
they pass tread lightly, and with EFFORTS restrain
their tears for they have all heard or those VINO
lie beneath the sod in that little plot Pity and re-
greet are depicted on the face of each one who
passes and even the murmuring winds that sign
so sadly in graveyard become hushed when they
blow by those silent tombstones. There is similar
ity in each stone which makes one think that the
men who lie beneath must have had one purpose
in life on each stone is the simple inscription:
r.. r. c. Died in the knowle1ge that he had accom-
plished nothing. Weared and worried he gave up
his ghost Stranger. tread lightly as you pass by
Then at the bottom Of the stones are the follow
ing lines
"JIe lived and nourlshed. but worked in vain
".IIis timely death was Rapid Transits gain
of anv one throws off that sepulchral demeanor
which the epitaph commands the faithful guardian
of these silent sends out his voice In warn
ing TO leave the dead 10 rest In peace Peace they
need IT, These particular graves. occupied by men
whose lives were one continual scene OF activity,
deserve the peace that graveyards alone can give.
Peace they never had IT in life and their residuary
leeatees say that the peace not granted to the
Rapd Transit Commissioners has passed them also
by.
while it Is rare for any one those graves
uniformed as the history OF the dead men, there
are however some who have never heard OF those
to whom the stones stand in memory. When such
a person stops and tries to think and figure and
wonder what 1t all means the guardian Of these
graves a man whose birth some say dates back to
years before any OF us born, takes the on
locker aside and bids him preserve silence ana open
his ears In words that sound like the echo of some
voice long since at rest. he speaks somewhat as
follows:
d" % uncnllghtened stranger, ncophyte In obitu-
airy records know you that underneath those mounds
lie the bones Of men VINO IN their day were the
glory Of themselves and the perplexity Of the city.
Hist, breathe lightly: they were the Rapid Transit
Commissioners"
'Can this he true? the stranger replies. at the
same time sinking TO inconsistencies. Famed by
the winds OF Greenwood. he soon reyves. and then
the guardian continues:
'1'hcs, men were appointed TO give to New
York % system Of rapid transit Nohy they ac-
ceptcd The commission. AMI IN one years time they
had accomplished wonders. Rapid transit seemed
to be in view. and $4,000 of the city's money was
gone. Various schemes had been hit upon 20 solve
the vcxed problem and At the md OF threc years
rapid transit stn in sight. and $1,000 Of the
ciiy's money vas gone In the calm and peaceful
summer of 1873 the commissioners met as, usnal
one afternoon al the chairman mouse anu "ltl
each one had taken his accustomed nap ana was
Herr Stein~ay that t"c meeting stood adjourned
until tho next meeting. one called Starln. without
hxei upon one spencer declared tha' Sronc.r was
u" NOR worthy 10 "c q c'innniS-9i,r t-'.,"-, ne
elevated railroad company. with emotions ~ min
elcl wrath and chaFrin spencer jumped o. his f""t
unconcerned ana held 10 his statement
The memory Of this TIT between two members
Of the quiet commission cleuded their efforts NJ
incensnJ A. tho tone ~ si,rin the four other com.
mlssioners resigned. but subsequently upon the IN
working men leave The rapid-transt problem N
that condition. they went back to their toll spen-
GER however. could no longer associate with Starin.
and he resigned and ono named Porter. who
history SAYS never opened his mouth at any meet
Ing Of tho commission. took bis place. The thira
winter since the commission had been In existence
now arrived and t2D0n - the otys money WAS
gone. Rapid transit. however. was In View, and
the commissioners renewe. their enprts with in
creased activity. one narnel Ruslp thought ~ had
solved the problem Ile pat before his brother com
road SUSCEPTIBILITY called H., iron~arr nshnare
which would griiron N" whoi" ciy-a route which
would go through thc most valutbl" streets II vas
calculated TO rua through parks. completely hide
works OF art in tho city and. IN fact. make eve
sore Of the greater part Of the town. Tn" com
Bushe chuck.ed. While lawson FULLER. man VINO
had haunted The RAPID Transit Commissioners at
'rhe work OF drawing plans and making surveys
began. and soon S0VI more Of IA" citv's money
ana at the end Of that time. having nsci $1,000
additional Of III citv's money. ani having accom-
5aihrrs n. Ishc rfan and anno,inc.i mat tholr