New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-14
THE RAPID TRANSIT SITUATION.

An application is to be made to the General
Term of the Supreme Court to-day on behalf
of the Rapid Transit Commissioners for the APP
pontment of special commissioners to determine
upon the ACCESSIBILITY OF constructing the pro-
posed underground railroads. The appointment
Of such commissioners has been delayed by
complications growing out OF the queston
whether they should be named by the General
Term or by the Appellate Division OF the Sill
preme Court which does not come into exist
ence until January. The Court OF Appeals de-
cided last month that the powers OF the General
Term had in no way been abridged through the
establishment of the Appellate Division by the
new Constitution, and the way was thus cleared
for the action of the General Term in this vital
matter The commissioners ought to be named
without delay-there has been too much delay
already-and should do their work as eX-
pedtiously as may be. They will have sixty
DAYS from the time Of their appointment to take
evidence and complete their report, which will
be presented to the General Term for confirma-
tion-or to the Appellate Division If the Gen.
cral Tern passes out Of existence before the
report is handed in If the report is confirmed
there can be. as we understand 1t, no appeal to
the Court Of Appeals.
II is TO be assumed that the General Term will
select for these special commissioners men OF
exceptional intelligence and public spirit who
will take liberal view of the work intrllsted
to them. and make as great haste as possible in
performing it, So far as can now be seen,
this is the only important thing to be attend
cd to before the Rapid Transit Commission
can solicit bids for The construction of the I'M
derground lines. The plans for the tun-
ncls are completed, the points for sta
lions have been selected, the city officials are
ready to issue the necessary bonds; everything
now waits upon the action Of the commission
crs. whose consent TO the building Of the roads,
If II Is given as we have no doubt 1t will be-
will stand in the place Of the consent OF the in
terested property-owners. 1t Is impossible. Of
course. TO tell what unexpected obstacles may
vet be thrown in the way Of the Rapid Transit
commissioners but at present the outlook for
rapd transit in New-York Is better than 1t has
ever been before
1t is especially gratifying to learn from Com
missioner Steinway that the Metropolitan Trac
ton Company has decided not to oppose In any
way the construction Of the rapid-transit roads,
but will cooperate actively with the Commits
sion. 1t has looked into the matter carefully
and come to the conclusion that the operation
Of the underground roads will increase Its own
business. This is by no means the attitude
taken by other transportation companies when
the question Of providing better travelling facli
ties has been raised But 1t Is the right atti
tude, looking at the matter In comprehensive
way The greater the facilities for carrying
passengers the more passengers there will be to
carry, and the better for all the companies en-
gagged in the business. That Is the rule and
we are glad the Metropolitan Company has been
sagacious enough to recognize It,