New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-24
TRANSPORTATION PRINCIPLES.

II Is n fayorite argument Of the local trans
portation companies that the facilities they oner
are n benefit to the whole city. that they In
crease the value of property and the volume OF
business. and that therefore the city could wen
afford TO give the companies all the franchises
they want on streets and bridges That argu-
ment has recently been used to prove that the
CITY ought to pay for the building Of another
East River bridge for the exclusive use or the
railroad companies The rush Of new population
IN Rrooklvn which enlarged transit facilities
would provoke, and the consequent increase OF
ground valves and rentals, and of course OF as
sessments and taxes. would make the invest
ment n profitable one to the municipality. Inc
city should not complain Of the cost of the
bridge If its revenues are correspondlngiy IN
creased. and the individual should not complain
of higher taxes II the value of his property Is
correspondngy enhanced.
The statements of the benefits or transporta-
ton facilities and of the prospective Dement'S OF
a new bridge are indlsputably correct But the
conclusion drawn Is n hopeless non sequitur. III
Is n homey saying, but true one that every
tub must stand upon its own bottom and II IS
equally true that the responsibilities OF each In
dividual or corporation must he graded accord
Ing to his or it's privileges. and not according to
the direct or indirect effects upon the fortunes
Of others II man purchases ground and builds
n fine house on n poor or unimproved street. he
increases the value OF the neighborlng property.
and benefits the owners thereof and the whole
city But Is that any reason why his neighbors
should pay for the building Of his house, or the
civ should remit his taxes? We reckon not.
Nor is there any more reason why the people
should pay for the building OF bridge for rail-
road use or the city should let the railroads usc
its brldges and streets free Of charge
II tho people must pay for such works how
ever, Justice requires that they should own
them, administer them for their own benefit.
and themselves inherit their Increment Of value
That was the princple-now unhapplly aban-
doned-on which the present East River Bridge
was buIlt Tile people paid for building 1t and
then paid for using IT, but the latter payment
WAS made TO themselves. for their own profit
Had that principle been maintained. the Bridge
would In time have paid the cost OF Its own con
struction, and then either have turned hand
some revenue into the city treasury or have pro-
vldcd practically free transportation between
the boroughs And Il Is TO be remembered. too
that not only do bridges and railroads stimulate
the growth OF population and benefit the city.
but the growth of population md increase OF
business in turn benefit the railroad companies
The case is as broad as It Is long A new bridge
might bring half q million more people TO Brook
Ign. which would be great thing for Brooklyn.
But that increase Of population would give
proportonate number Of new patrons to the
railroad companies at five cents apiece each trip,
which would be great thing for the companies.
One Of these days, II is to be hoped, these fun
damenta principles will be recognized and ac-
cepted or enforced. Then We shall have what
we never yet have had public transportation
service based upon the sound methods and pro-
vldlng the adequate facilities that prevail in
other lines Of business.