New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-28
THE MANHATTAN'S LATEST.

There Is little or nothing to indicate that the
Rapid Transit Commission and the Manhattan
company are getting together but they do ap-
pear to be making some progress toward
point from which the possibility or impossl-
bily of a compromise may be finally deter
mined. The document just issued in the form
of a franchise for the West-st. route which the
company Is willing to accept Is assuredly not
such n franchise as the Commission can be ex-
pected to grant. But It does in all important
particulars meet the demand for an explicit
statement Of the company's position, and there
fore supplies a basis for negotiations which
ought to lead without much further delay either
to an agreement for elevated railroad exten-
sions or to an abandonment Of the effort to
reach an agreement
The chief differences between Commission
and company which remain to be adjusted or
declared irreconcilable relate to grade crossings
and rentals. AS to the former, It Is scarcely
supposahle that full discretion will be left to
the Manhattan company, the Commission hav-
ing heretofore held firmly that to insure safety
and to prevent such a congestion Of traffic at
points of connection as would largely offset the
advantage Of increased facilities there ought to
be no crossings at grade. In the matter Of
Commission would concede something from It's
original demand Of 8 per cent Of the gross re-
ceipts for twenty-five years. but We have no
idea that It will or ought to adopt the COM
pany's basis of oneh half OF per cent for thirty
five years and on subsequent readjustments
rate which might pay the city nothing at all
when the companys bookkeepers had figured
out the stipulated deductions for repairs, inter
est and deterioration. Somewhere between
these extremes a reasonable compromise may
perhaps be found
The Rapid Transit Commission has thus far
kept the public welfare steadily In view. The
Manhattan is an ill-deserving corporation. bit
It would be foolish on that account to prevent
such an extension OF the privileges which. wise
" or foolishly have been already bestowed
upon It as would largely promote the general
convenience at a relatively small additional
sacrifice on the part Of the community. 1t
seems probable that new lines and tracks might
now produce benefits outwelghing the disad-
vantages Of further DETACHMENT and obstruction,
and obviously one OF the important considera-
tons Is an adequate contribution 10 the public
treasury. But Just here appears the difficulty
arising from a radical difference between the
companys point Of view and that OF the city.
The people Of New-York undoubtedly consider
the elevated railroads to be hi1eous and vari-
ously detrimental, and tolerable only &C
count OF their limited utility The Manhattan
managers on the other hand. exemplifying in
a wonderful manner the proverb that love is
blind maintain that they are ornamental, IN
trinsically excellent and altogether a blessing
without drawbacks. Whether il Is in the
power Of the Commission not TO dispel that
Illusion. but to convince the Manhattan man.
ayers that the rest OF the people will never en-
brace It, remains to he seen.