New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24
ELEVATED RAILROADS.
viPORTANT SYSTEMS HANDLING THE
PASSENGER TRAFFIC. OF THE
GREATER CITY.


YORK AND THE SUBURBS OF BROOKLYN
STATISTICS RELATING TO THE An
NUAL OPERATIONS.
One OF the most interesting features OF New
York to strangers is the elevated railroad which
has been no small factor in aiding the develop
nent Of the city AS late as 1876 only three OF
the street railroads Of the city had tracks
tending above Fifty-ninth-st.. and the transpor-
tation afforded was too slow to admit Of many
persons living along their routes at long dis
tances from the centres OF business The upper
parts of Manhattan and the outlying portions Of
Brooklyn were unimproved and thousands of
merchants and manufacturers Of moderate
means. clerks and working people whose wages
enabled them to i've outside Of the tenement
districts. resided in The llages along the lines
NJ railroad the mainland. Long Island or
NewJersey The idea Of an elevated railroad
had a practical demonstration in 1876 in the
construction OF an experimental track along
Hreenwich-st. from Cortlandt to Fourteenth st.
The feasibility Of the plan was soon evident
and system was projected along Sixth and
Third ayes, the roads being put in operation in
1913. Other roads were built later along Second
MINI ana columbus ayes. and at the
time the construction of elevated roads was be-
gun In Brooklyn.
From this time unusual activity becama an
parent in building operations on both the upper
East ana West sides. and with the extension OF
une elevated roads this activity moved north
ward gradually crossing the Harlem River
Brooklyn witnessed similar development as an
accompaniment of her elevated railroads
EFFECT ON TAX VALUATIONS.
Property enhanced in value rapidly, and land
'hat mad once been waste suddenly became valu-
able and brought good prices in the real estate
market The figures compiled from the annual
reports Of the Tax Commissioners show that
While the average annual increase in the value
OF real estate in NewYork City was only s.
Oooo0 FOR the four years preceding the compile
uon or the first two lines OF elevated roads the
was over S33,OOO,OOO The first two roads com.
pleted were put in operation in 1873 for which
year the increase Of assessed values was 81 7gI
IG9. Next year US19D the increase was ST 21S-
'oo ana here are the figures OF the increase in
assessed values for each of the succeeding three
years: 1851, y24 1873 1891 $34 1Gi OO9: 1852
%I9 total increase for the four years.
SiJf'JfS.6l0. But that is not all. During the
TOUR years preceding the opening cf the elevated
ROADS mere was an actual decrease in values in
nine or the twenty-four wards into which the
city was divided and the aggregate of the items
was more than $4,O00000. Thus more than
two-thirds of the city property was falling in
Tour years only one ward the Fourth, showed a
decrease in values. and the item was compare
lively unimDortant.
VAST NUMBERS OF PASSENGERS
At the present time there are 64Is miles of
elevated railroad in New-York City. operated
by three companies. The Manhattan Railway
Company which owns the lines on Manhattan
Island and the extension beyond the Harlem
operates 30 miles, and the remaining 2SH miles
are divided between the two Brooklyn COM
panies. The Manhattan Railway carries more
passengers than any other system in the world
and since the opening OF the road the number
exceeds several times the entire population OF
the globe.
The mana cement Of the Manhattan Elevated
Railroad has resulted in a system without which
the question of transportation would present
dlfilcultes which would be unsurnountable
From its inception careful study has been
mace or the requirements necessary for the
transportation Of the city's population, with the
least inconvenience and the greatest degree OF
speed and comfort The Manhattan Elevated
Railroad is conducted by trained corps OF men,
and it is an institution which is n cause for
wonder to foreign visitors to the city. Ii is Of
supreme importance TO the CONNIE rcial world.
In the carly morning hours its trains are filed
with business men. clerks and working people
who find in it the means for reaching their
business promptly, and with the least possible
delay In fact, delay Of any kind is a thing
almost unknown, and the infrequency of acct
dents even Of trivial nature is a cause for
cOnSratulatiOn.
MANAGEMENT OF THE ROAD
The general efficiency of the road may be at
tributed directly to the superiority Of its man
agement and the fact that it's employees are at
all times impressed with their responsibilities
Discourtesy to passengers the Manhattan
Elevated road is not tolerated by the officials
and the result is a corps of employees who at
all times look out for the welfare Of the roads
patrons Similar care is given to the rolling
stock. There is no occasion for complaint in
winter. as the cars are comfortably heated and
at all times strict attention is paid To their
cleanliness The Introduction Of express trains
has facilitated traffic to remarkable degree.