New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-11
pDOOEIYV aND RdPTD TRANSIT.

We feel sure that our esteemed contcmpo-
rary. The Brooklyn Eagle. VIII moderate It's
somewhat extreme opposition 10 the proposed
underground railroad if it will take Il metro
politan rather than a Brooklyn view OF 'he
rapid-transit problem. In that case, instead OF
dcnouncng the ma jorty Of the newborn news
papers for attempting to "intimidate the Appel
late Division into approving the plans II might
cease from what looks quite as much Ike an
attompt 10 intimidate those judges mo dlSap'
nrovlnr them. 1t is perfectly natural that The
Eagle and it's Brooklyn constituency should
sock iealously 10 guard the interests OF their
borough in the expenditures Of the new munlc-
ipality. but we think that on reflection they
Will not hold that justice to their future requires
Abandonment Of ug-planrcd NewYor< enter
prlsos which New Workers have for some years
been eager to undertake AZ their own expense
II Is true that II New-York now bonds Itself
for the underground line the margin of debt
creating power OF the consolidated city VIII be-
lessened But the present margin Is all New
Works. and II surely may do what II will with
It's own Brooklyn has used MP lis resources
and as a part OF the new city hopes that New
York's reserve wealth may contribute To It's
development. That hope is reasonable. ana VIII
doubtless be realized. But II is somewhat IN
reasonable 10 protest that New York shall mean
while do nothing for its own improvement so
that Brooklyn after the union shall have all
the money 10 spend The rapld-translt plan u
not new one An underground road has been
the CRYING demand OF every man, whether living
in Manhattan or in Brooklyn. who had business
rcoulrlng him To traverse this island daily. Tho
question was submitted 20 the people IN l,sa
and so anxious were they for the road that they
voted almost three to one in favor OF lending
the city's credit for the work. That was the
same wear that the vote for consolidation was
taken. Under the mandate OF the people the
Commissioners have been n, work. Their In
tentons have been known all the time. The
consolidation has been effected in face or their
operations Brooklyn has not been I'm the dark.
II does not wake up 10 find that New York !
bonding power Is threatened by a new danger.
Nor does il find Itself robbed OF anything II
now has or was ever promised The complaint
amounts 10 nothing but n protest against the
saving member of the new partnership carry
ing out a legitimate scheme OF development In
stead of boarding all the funds for the spend
thrift
Nor is It fair to assume that the tunnel s
solely Manhattan enterprise. which VIII
tard the legitimate growth OF Brooklyn. The
Tribune has answered the insular Newly orkers
complaints against building bridges to help peo-
ole to get away to Brooklyn or New-Jersey with
the argument that promotion OF general con-
vcnicncc redoundcd more to n clty's welfare
than any narrow scctionalsm. SO now we hold
that what makes for general ease OF communi-
cation in the most congcsted portion Of the
metropolis is for the benefit OF all sections.
This narrow island cannot get on without
underground rapld-translt roads. To deny the
boon is TO parayZe the heart OF the mctr0pO-
lis itself and make all Improvements in the out
skirts vain. This Is the last chance To get what
Ncw-Yorl has for ten years been struggling TO
get. Certainly our new feOw-tOwnSmen will
not use their new relationship to condemn us
and themselves to n hopeless struggle with over
whclming congestion. The new road IS not for
any borough, but for the Greater New-York
The Rapid Transit Commission Is headed by nm
eminent citizen Of Brooklyn in the person OF
Alexander J.. Orr. No man IS more Interested
than he in solving the problem. Surely all
brooklyn, when 1t permits itself to take as
broad views as he, will agree with him that It
IS Il matter OF general concern.