New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-19
METROPOLITAN AND RAPID TRANSIT.

The withdrawal by Mr.. Whitney and his
associates in the Metropolitan company of their
offer to construct underground roads in gen.
eral accordance with the plans of the Rapid
! Transit Commission Is TO some extent dlsap-
pointment, though if they are really resolved
not to undertake the business except upon their
original terms the fact might as well be under
stood now as later. We observe that Governor
Roosevelt to whose frankly declared opposi-
ton to the rapld-translt amendments the retire
ment Of the Metropolitan capitalists from the
field at this time is presumably due, Is credited
with saying that their announcement Is "a
bluff" We have no means Of knowing
whether or not the Governor has diagnosed the
case accurately, but his conclusion is not I'M
natural and the amusing letter In which the
counsel employed in the affair inform the Com
mission Of their clients decision rather tends
TO support ii. The Metropolitan managers will
scarcely at this late day succeed in convincing
the community that its welfare has always
been their first consideration and its affection
ate regard the dearest reward that they have
hoped to gain. The contrary opinion is we
fear, too firmly planted In the public mind to
be so easily uprooted.
II public observation Is not singularly at
fault, the Metropolitan company from its earli-
est appearance in the transportation field. has
pursued It's objects with extraordinary audacity
and shrewdness, and nobody connected with its
management has ever suffered from an appre-
hension that the people Of New-York might not
be devotedly fond of 1t. To all appearances the
attitude of the public has been a matter Of
total Indifference to the company. 1t has ex-
tended its lines changed its motive power, laid
its conduits and fought its rivals for the pos
session Of the streets without ever asking or
+ seeming to care what the inhabitants Of New
York thought about its proceedings If it Is
now convinced that the underground franchise
is not worth having except on its own terms, no
tenderness for the dear people will induce 1t
to renew its proposition on any other terms.
If, on the other hand. its withdrawal Is a
strategical operation, as the Governor surmises,
1t will be heard from again in the near future.
The expectation that it will be heard from
again is supported by consideration of the
character and magnitude of the opportunity
which IL now processes TO reject. All expert
ence shows that the number Of persons who
desire to be carried over the projected rapid
transit routes. enormous as II is now. must in
evitably increase indefinitely from the mere
growth Of the city, while there is no better
established rule Of transportation than that
new and improved facilities multiply traffic. 1t
is the universal opinion. outside Of Metropolitan
circles at least, that the franchise for under
ground rapid.transit roads is incomparably the
most valuable franchise at the disposal Of tho
city. Political influences and conflicting cor
porate interests have hitherto prevented the
construction Of such roads. and by the same
means their construction may be postponed for
Z time longer. But we consider 1t inevitable
that the franchise will not only be salable. but
become the object of eager competition In the
comparatively near future, and for this reason.
great 40 are the loss and discomfort due TO
present transportation deficiencies, we think
fha city can better afford to wait than to grant