New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-30
RAPID TRANSIT SUGGESTIONS.

Co,siderobIe attention is descrvedly paid 10
an article in the current number OF Inc Eli
rincering News proposing such Il chahge III
the Rapid Transit act and the plans OF the ooih
mission as would permit two-tracR uhuei
ground road for express trains only, 10 DC CON
structed with private capital ana operated III
conjunction with existing surface lines. his
propositon is interesting in itself, ana sun more
so for the reason that ii has the appearance
of conforming pretty closely to the probapie
views Of the Metropolitan Street Railway Com
pany. The belief undoubtedly prevails mat
there would be no difficulty in selling a rapiu
transit franchise 10 that corporation on sone
terms and we suppose. the general eXpec'a
ton is that il will come forward before long
as an omen and successful bidder. The Com
mission confesses that the original pan Oh
muncipal construction cannot be carried out
now or in the near future. 1t is. or has been
hopefrl of procuring legislation permitting III
issue of New-York County bonds for rapid iran
sit purposes. but will consent TO the alterna-
tive. which it considers less desirable. OF an out
right sale of the franchise 20 private capital
isis In the way of the former plan there are
sarious difficulties one of which relates; TO lis
corstitutOnality But il that were overcome
there would remain the well-pigh insuperaDle
obstacle of avowed and determined municlpai
hostility 1t is conceivable that the metropolitan
managers might render Tammany acIuiescent
If they desired to do SO, but, inasmuch as they
would presumably prefer ownership to a lease
they are not likely to take that course.
Turning to the argument in The Engineer
ing News" in support of a twOtrack express iihe'
we do not find it conclusive on first considera-
ton. The contention is that the development OF
surface lines has solved the problem OF snort
distance traffic. and that local trains uhder
ground are not needed and would not be proht-
able II seems to us that this is an unsafe as
sumption. Transportation facilities have GER
ta,nlv been greatly increased and improved Dut
instcod of affording a margin for the future
tbav ara already oyertaXed, and we see no g00d
reason to believe that the substitution or the
trolley for the cable on various existing routes
will meet n demand which grows necessarily.
Everv now convenience breeds new traf1c, ana
q oreot many persons now walk for longer or
ohorter distances who would ride II riding were
comfortable Our impression is that Local trains
on underground roads would secure Il proh'aple
patronage from the start and still leave surface
cars as full as they ought to be-
Hitherto the discussion of all these matters
has been speculative rather than practical ior
rapid transit prospects have been dark 1or
long time, in spite of earnest and intelligent ell
forts on the part of the Commission to carry
ont the instructions Of the Legislature ana Tie
people 1t now begins 10 look as II by some
means the urgent necessities Of the community
might soon be supplied. and it is therefore l'h-
portant that no mistaken opinion or policy
should gain support. If negotiations OF nope
ful kind are about to result from present con-
ditions, they ought to proceed from the broad.
est possible knowledge Of the situation, ana
therefore they ought to be conducted in behalf
of the city by the able and honest men VINO
have made profound study OF the subject
Tammany undoubtedly wants to have the
Rapd Transit Commission legislated out of ex-
istence, and perhaps the Metropolitan managers
are of the same mind. but this Is reason fot
retaining rather than dsmissing it, The city
has imperative requirements TO be satisfied but
II also has great interests to be protected