New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-02
A USEFUL DISCUSSION.

In a letter TO Mr. Orr chairman of the Rapid
Transit Commission. Mr.. Stuyvesant Fish cites
the experience of the Illinois Central Railroad
Company (of which he is PRESIDENT In handling
its local and suburban traffic as an indication OF
various possibilities and requirements of under
ground transportation ia New-York Mr. Fish
makes several interesting suggestions which the
Commission may he expected to consider atten-
lively and at least two of which are likely to
find favor with the public. 1t has already been
noted that the Metropolitan managers, while
ready TO agree that express trains in the pro-
jected tunnels shall run over the entire route
below Ninety-siXth-st. at the rate Of twenty
miles an hour and for at least two miles below
Forty second-st. at the rate of thirty miles an
hour offers no guarantee as to the speed of local
trains. Mr. Fish considers this serious defect
in the programme and one which the Commits
sion should rnqur, the company to cure. An
/ other recommendation. which has certain de-
lghtful air Of novelty about It as coming from
high railroad official. is put as follows by Mr..
/ Fish:
Let me also suggest that the tunnel company
/ be required to find a seat for each passenger
This can be done. II was done, with few and
rare exceptions all throughout the summer OF
1898 in our Worlds Fair trains 1t Is done daily
on the LONDON Underground raiIWaNS-indead
on all English rail" ays with rare exceptions.
The use of sde-cading cars makes this posi-
BILE and II largely from my experience while
travelling abroad that | insisted on the use OF
that form Of car for that special service. 1t also
| has the merit Of economy OF space by giving a
much greater seating capacity in proportion TO
length OF train. and consequently OF platform.
The latter will prove IL vital consideration to the
Tunnel Company.
1t has always been contcnded by transporta-
tion rnonoQerS I'm Now Yorl, md nrnt., oonor,lIv
conceded by the travelling public that, in the
first place II was practically impossible to fur
nish seat to every passenger, and that. in the
second place the people would rebel at such a
restriction of their freedom SO far as surface
and elevated roads are concerned under present
conditions, there may be some warrant for both
hypothesis; but if an underground service can
be operated on the opposite principle with great
advantage to the company we are willing to
run the risk of rs proving offensive to the pub
lie. and we carr estly commend Mr. Flsh's sug-
gestion to the careful consideration Of the Com
mission.
1t has been rather superclously represented
IN some quarters that the Metropolitan people
having made a specific proposition which, in
the unwise words OF Mr.. Vrecland can be
either taken or left" and the Commission hay
lDR dhkeu IOT pOWerb, WITHOUT winch
1: can do nothing. there Is no present advantage
IL general discussion Of the subject. We are
wholly unable to adopt that view Interesting
and pertinent opinions which the company can
not afford TO dlsdain and which we have no
idea the Commission considers valueless have
already been expressed by many intelligent cit-
zons besides Controller Cole. and Mr. Fish Let
the debate proceed freely 1t is great advan-
IN IN ba 70 "A cd "a
spOnsibe source in such form as 10 command
general interest and stimulate criticism. And II
is great satisfaction to feel that the Commits
sion is composed Of alert, sagacious and pru-
dent men, Of large practical experience and In