New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-08
the whole English-readng world back into the
chaos OF freebOoting, would be an unspeaknbe
disaster
4 RENEWAL OF OLD TACTICS.

A nroldnged silence as to the operations and
exncctations Of the Rapid Transit Commission
has recently been broken by renewal Of the
old arguments against the scheme which the
neonle approved by large majority last year
That the Manhattan Company has Inspired this
lotest campaign is not improbable; that 1t is
agreeable TO that company cannot De doubted
In any case !, suggests res'atement of few
simple facts The silence OF the Commissioners
Is not strange or discouraging. They have not
talked much Of late, for the reason that they have
had no important news to communicate. Legal
combinations have necessarily delayed that part
Of their work which would have been more or
less open TO observation II II had been going for
warl but in the mean time the engineers have
been steadily engaged and making satisfactory
nrogress as they say and as nobody has reason
70 doubt. Otherwise the undertaking has made
loss Roadway than was expected. and this is re-
crcttabe partly because II gives rise TO just such
merctricous criticisms as we are considering.
The present opposition makes use Of all the
old weapons. but covers no new ground. 1t is
alleged in the first place that the sum lawfully
provided for the construction Of rapid transit
roads will be sufficient to complete only small
part of the work; that when the S33.Oo0,0o0 for
upon the city has been expended, an unknown
sum far in excess Of that provision VIII be need
ed TO finish il, and hence that the mere financing
of the enterprise is sure to impose ruinous bur
dcn even II II does not Involve insolnpe dlri-
c,ltics Possibly these critics are right but they
produce no proofs TO sustain their cohteh'ioh'
In this respect there has been no visible change
Of conditions since an estimate OF the cost was
first made public That estimate was made AFTER
close study by competent engineers, ana II was
substantially confirmed by an independent COM
mittec composed Of experts and men OF large
experience In practical matters and established
business sagacity. II these calculations are seri-
ously at fault. there Is little use In attempting
to estimate in advance the cost OF any extensive
undertaking. Yet such estimates are constantly
made the basis Of great Industrial operations,
and the results do not usually tend to show mat
those who make them are utterly untrustworthy.
The financial argument against the rapid IRAN
sit plans has nc more strength to-day than IL
had when IL was first presented and rejected.
II IL again represented, furthermore, that IN
superable engineering difficulties will obstruct
and delay and probably stop the work, to the
incalculable cost of the city and the humiliation
with nothing to sustain the assumption, and
weight of expert knowledge and testimony TO
upset II. To adopt such conclusion is to set
aside all the teachings Of experience Modern
engineers are not easily halted by the obstacles
which Nature interposes between them and their
goal Still staler, more shallow and more disin-
genuous are the predictions now repeated con-
corning the inevitable conditions which VIII
surround traffic through the underground roads
In case they should ever be completed. The old
underground roads OF London are once more
cited TO prove that travellers beneath the sur
face of New-York will have to ride through foul
and gloomy tunnels, in constant danger OF dis
aster and with an absolute assurance Of being
tortured and poisoned by bad air. The fact Is
that when the lines have been put in operation
Messengers will be drawn swiftly by electricity
through clean wholesome and brilliantly lighted
avenues, without distress OF mind or body or
the least cause to apprehend injurious conse-
quences Of any kind.
We hold no brief for the Rapid Transit Com
mlssioners They may prove to be unit for their
task though we see no present reason 10 antic-
pate such disclosure, and the task itself may
possibly refutc the calculations OF Its magnitude
and cost on which those responsible FOR lis exc
cution have staked their reputation. Our only
purpose at this time is TO remind the public.
which has voted to undertake and pay for the
work. believing that II Is essential TO the welfare
Of the city, that 10 new discoveries have been
made Of an adverse nature, and that the recent
" renewed opposition Is merely serving up old
and dlscredited assumptions.