New-York tribune., 1896-06-06
MANHATTAN EXTENSIONS.

Such extensions of the elevated railroad sys-
TEN as might reasonably be expected to anord
substantial relief from present conditions would
inevitably involve considerable sacrifices on the
nort Of the people. and at the best could moi be
made adequate TO q constantly increasing Do
mand. This is the chief misfortune of being
compelled to fall back upon the Mammalian
Company for additional transportation facili-
ties But inasmuch as the community has been
put in this dilemma by the decision OF the Ap-
pcllate Division, 1t is desirable to face it frank
ly and consider how the general welfare can De
promoted with such means as the court mas
left us. The Rapid Transit Commission ~
serving the city wisely and in just the right
spirit by consulting with the Manhattan man.
ayers We are glad TO see also that the re-
sponsible officials of the company are disposed
at last to be frank, and especially that they
have abandoned the idea. If they ever enter
tancd It. of imposing conditions which could
not possibly be accepted.
The tentative propositions which were laid be
fore the Commission on Thursday would per
nit the use by the elevated railroads of certain
streets to which they could be admitted with
out serious injury TO important Interests. one
of these is West-st. and beyond doubt rapid
transit line along that thoroushfarc, giving
convenient access To the ferries, would be a
great convenience TO a multitude OF travellers.
Other routes are also included In the pro
visional scheme which are not likely 70 cncoun-
ter serious opposition. But there are features
OF the plan which many persons are sure 10
consider offensive, and which should be sui.
iectcd to the mos; careful examination. one
Of these is the proposal 10 cross Broadway at
Canal-st There has been and We suppose
there still Is. strong popular dslnclinat!on 10
surrender right Of way over the chief com
mcrcial thoroughfare Of the metropolis ana Of
the country at any point south OF Thirty third
ST. Possibly this is an unreasonable prejudice
but IT will have to be taken into account. and
the opposition ought not to bc lightly overrul"d
TO the use OF the Boulevard for 81 elevated
railroad there has likewise been Il decided feel
ing of hostility on the part Of citizens who have
hoped to see the original promise Of that fine
street ultimately fulfilled. On the other hand
the Manhattan Company is more modest than
it was expected to he in omtting to s,pulatc
for a loop In Battery Park, and on the Who'll,
is proposals are not Of such a character as tc
make final agreement ON a suitable basis seen
impossible.
pressed by the apparent Willingness Of the Man
haitian managers to rclinqu.sh their former de
mand for n generous slice Of Battery Park
Hitherto they have always asserted that this
they must have in order 10 operate their roads
satisfactorily. The people have not seen Tho
matter n that light. and have beer rcsolutel!
opposed 10 any further sacrifice Of one of th'
most charming and useful open spaces in th'
city II has never been clearly understood by
anybody except the Manhattan officials. o
clearly explained by them. why trains shOuh
not move continuously around the lower enc
Of the city from both northern tcrmini Of th'
elevated roads Sam Patch philosophically re
marked that some things could be done as wei
as others. and perhaps his dictum has iiDall!
found acceptance in the minds Of Mr. Goul'
and his colleagues. Experience shows that th'
officers OF transportation companies are some
times slower than outsiders TO discern the pos
sibity and even the advantage Of changing nj
established policy. Thus. for example the Inv
Of this Stnte requiring railroad cars to be heat
ed by modern appliances was denounced al
not merely arbitrary and unjust, but Incapable
of being executed and dreadfully dangerous
Mr.. Depew was quoted as declaring that steam
pipes would be constantly bursting and tha
passengers would Dc Scalueu 10 uehtn Dv III
hundred Mr. Depcw always stands manfull,
by what he says, and we suspect that he some
times stands amiably by what he hasn't sai'
rather than get his friends the reporters Int
| trouble Perhaps his anxiety about passenger
| subjected to the risk of escaping steam wa
| exaggerated. but lie and other railroad mel
| certainly dsliked in advance the law which ha
worked we'll and which they have no presen
| desire to repeal.
1t may be that the Manhattan people are nov
| cultivating a sweet reasonableness. and resolv
| ing to play the strong hand which they hol'
in a perfectly fair and straightforward man
| ner We sincerely hope that this may prov
to be the case They have not served them
selves we'll heretofore by serving the communlt
badly. and change Of policy would be n wis
experiment, TO say the least