New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-21
NEW CHANCE FOR RAPID TRANSIT

VIEW CHANCE FOR RAPID TRANSIT
The commissioners who have been appointed
by the Appellate Division to ascertain ana re-
port whether or not the latest plan or the Rapiu
Transit Commission ought TO be executed shouiu
enter upon their task with determination 10
complete 1t as soon as possible. ii is desirapie
10 have the matter settled promptly in one wa!
or the other, though no doubt an un1aVorapie
decision would cause great disappointment.
There is no reason to suppose that puDhc opii-
ion has been to any extent reversed since the
popular vote authorizing municipal constructor
of rapid transit roads by a large majority was
cast in 1894 On the contrary. it may farl!
be assumed that the disposition which that wore
EXPRESSED Is stronger now than 1t was theh'
II certainly should be. The expansion or sur
face roads and the various changes when nave
increased the carrying capacity or OLD lines
have not diminished the necessity Tor new
TRANSPORTATION system on which fast time Ior
long distances could be made. Indeed, observa-
ton and comment lead 10 the belief that the
need of new facilities constantly increases. Inc
complaints against the transportation COM
panles which are necessarily found in the news
papers and heard everywhere in private con-
vcrsatlon largely relate to the evils caused di-
rcctly or indirectly by the overcrowding OF pup
lie conveyances, and consequently bear witness
TO an unsuppled demand of which the COM
munlty is fully conscious.
Furthermore there is nothing to warrant a
supposition that The requirements OF New-1ork
can ever be met by any possible development
of existing transportation lines on or above the
surface There would be little reason to ex-
meet such a relief even II there were nothing
more than the present traffic to consider. New
methods of propulsion will probably make
travelling about the city safer and more com
Portable. and they may enable the companies
10 carry more passengers: but nobody supposes
that electricity is going to Increase enormously
the capacity Of roads whose cars are now run
ming on a Roadway and at a speed which are
close to the highest permissible limit. The eX-
listing congestion is apparently incurable eX
cepting by means Of genuine rapid transit
system and il must inevitably Increase with
the growth Of the city. The population OF New
York is presumably larger 10y more than 1OO,-
900 than it was three years ago when the peo-
ple voted to lend their credit TO a scheme for
their own benefit. Moreover. in addition 10 the
increasing demand which an increasing pOpu-
lation creates. the construction Of new bridges
across the East River and the growth OF Inter
course naturally resulting from consolidation
will surely steadily and largely promote traffic
In all parts of Greater New-YOrk and espe-
cla,ly Oh Manhattan Island
TO these facts the commissioners appointed
BY The Appellate Division will doubtless give
Que weight. They were carefully considered by
the commission which approved the rapid tran
sit plan submitted more than two years ago.
and II was largely because the Court in reject
ing the report of the commission appeared to
underestimate the necessities OF the situation
that its decision excited general dlsapprobaton.
The present plan does not provide so extensive
a measure Of relief. and IN some other respects
Is not so satisfactory as that which had 10 be
Abandoned bui II would be an enormous benefit
TO the city and it is capable of expansion at
any time. The fact that 1t contemplates an ex-
pendiiure far below that which The former plan
would have required encourages the hope that
the Court will not consider its cost valid OBJ