New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-26
THE MANHATTAN AND THE COMMISSION

The latest Interchange OF letters between the
president Of the Manhattan Railway Company
and the Rapid Transit Commission might pos
sibly arouse cheerful expectations if this were
the first stage in al effort to provide New-York
with necessary transportation facilities. After
ten years of fruiless negotiation 1t has the con-
trary effect for it is seen to bear close resem-
blance to all previous correspondence and seems
destined to find It's proper place among musty
archives 1t affords, so far as we can see, no
encouragement whatever. 1t leaves as clear as
ever, and no clearer, the fact that the Manhat-
tan company is willing to make such additions
to It's system as the community cannot afford
10 tolerate on conditions which, because nothing
Is said about them, are presumably identical
with those which have heretofore been rejected.
II IS a curious circumstance that neither Mr..
Goulds letter nor Mr.. Orr's reply makes any al
lus!on to this important consideration, which in
the past has caused irreconcilable differences.
Obviously II furnishes a convenient topic for
future discussion, and almost imparts an anus
ing flavor to Mr.. Goulds suave expression OF a
desire TO avoid unnecessary controversy and get
down to business Altogether 1t is impossible
to escape the conviction that the Manhattan
managers are regarding with complacency the
prospect Of proonging indefinitely a negotia-
ton from which they expect no practical result
except continuation Of their control Of the
situation.
There is some negative satisfaction in the
sensible refusal to consider Mr.. Goulds pro-
posals without more definite knowledge OF their
meaning but the one thing positively gained Is
the Boards instruction to proceed at once with
the endeavor to secure from the Appellate Di-
vision a modification Of the bonding condition
which It imposed. 1t seems virtually certain
that the only possibility Of progress lies In that
direction. The Board has officially announced
that capitalists could not be expected to bid for
an underground franchise so long as the nten-
tons Of the Manhattan company remained I'M
known. 1t is at least as probable that the Man
haitian managers will not expose their hand
until they know whether or not the project for
which the people voted in 1894 is hOpelessy
blocked; while Il is conceivable that an i'm
provement in the prospect for underground
roads by the removal Of fatal obstacl. might
induce Mr.. Gould to make himself thoroughly
understood. In any case 1t is Difficult; to see
any advantage In hesltating to bring the point
at issue promptly into court and learn the best
or worst as soon as possible.
Doubtless the elevated railroad service -
capable of being improved through the acqulsl-
ton Of new privileges which II would be short
sighted to refuse, and we believe that the pub
lie shares the disposition Of the Rapid Transit
Commission to encourage such development
within reasonable limits. But there Is no
ground for believing that the Manhattan COM
pany can ever supply the transportation re-
qulrements of the city without either such a
gift Of great thoroughfares. like the Boulevard.
as the people will not sanction or else such an
enormous expenditure and incurrence Of liabil!-
ties upon It's existing routes as common-sense
forbids IL TO make. That Is the fundamental
fact in the case and 1t demonstrates as It al
ways has demonstrated the imperative neces-
s!ty for underground roads.