The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-10-04
MEDAL or HONOR POR HEWITT
Ex-MAY0FS WORK FOR RAPID
TRANSIT REWARDED.

About me C~cnstruco0n o. tho subway
Mr.. Hewitt In Accepting u No
revs the History % the MsvemenI
he gold medal which the Chamber Of
Commerce. resolved on April 8. 1900. 70 give
OF his services In procuring rapid transit
for the city was presented TO that distin-
uIshed citizen yesterday afternoon before
one OF the largest gatherings OF members
OF the Chamber which has attended . reg
ular meeting OF the body for . long time.
No finer proof Of the esteem In which Mr..
Hewitt Ia held by his a-sociater In the world
Of commerce could have been given than
the enthusiastic applause OF. all present
A. President Morris X. Jesup presented
the handsome medal, and Il wa with the
greatest attention hat those present listened
:, Mr.. Hewitt's spcech Of thanks. In which
was included an interesting history Of the
Efforts TO obtain rapid transit for New
York.
The medal was made by the famous
neialist. q. Roty Of Paris. at the order
Of IN. Committee OF Five Of the Chamber
William y. Dodge. Alexander T.. Orr. Charles
Stewart Smith, Seth Low and President
J.-up. IN one side II the anne Abram
Stevens Hewitt. aged ~. and the inscription:
BY his genius benefactor OF the city and
cnnsrrvator 81 the common wealth On
the other side IL the inscription: The
Chamber of Commerce Of the State Of New
York. Rapid Transit.
AZ ~ ~ o'clock President Jesup called
the Chamber 90 order. lie told how on
April 8. 1000. at a meeting Of the Chamber.
a a. -
the contract for the underground railroad.
and attributed much OF the credit for this
Ia the genius and foresight Of Mr.. Hewitt.
He told Of the resolution proposed by Mr..
Orr Tor the presentation Of the medal to
Mr. Hewitt. and then. turning TO the latter.
said.
Mr. Hewitt. IN conformity with the reso-
lltions which | have nov read before this
chamber, II IL a great pleasure TO me. cir. a.
duty. 10 present 10 You this medal II s
Of pure gold. sir, without alloy like your
own ehstSc,c. h%pplag.e. Att1r the slo,
Newt. BY your friends M orr Mf' smith
medal should be presented 10 you. Il Is OBJ
yiogs that nothing that | can say will add
20 the effectiveness OF what has already been
but cannot sir. as President and as life
long frlend of yours, refrain from expressing
10 fOl the EratltnnN tlht We All feel TOT WHAT
by your distinguished character, but what
you have don" for this city and what you
medal TO you. sir. cafryins vith'i the love-
affection. esteem and reverence Of every
member Of ri; Ghsmesr WIN The hop:
and 20 the nation which you adorn. And.
r. closing. sir. would say. In the language
prepared old age. j. Is not The decline that
L reveals. but Che FIRST days Of immortality :
lApplAusel.
When tho applause had subsidized Mr..
Hewitt. who appear cd o. be deeply owed
by the honor lone him. said.
In the course Of a long lie. devoted lar sely
10 the public service. | have been moro accus-
toned TO criticism than 20 COMMUNICATION,
have never lacked the cordial approval.
which IL 80 grateful 10 public servants. The
present honor WOULD: perhaps have been
Transit system. with which this occasion
viii imperishably link my name Time,
when a man reaches his eishticth year II
may he well supposed, a. doubtless II was
h.y the Chambet thai whatever recosnition
be quickly done regard u, and my family
will slways look upon u. a. the seal Of your
sRHrSof"S ~ mann m %y . PSSIS SfsssT ,o aAg-
Tor the Chamber Of Commerce represents
IN . unique degree the solid Judgment Of the
leaders OF and industry In this
am pot tho author o' the idea Of Rapid
Transit In this city. II II an old story. but
the circumstances probably ought L. he
fehesrsed on the present occasion. even AZ
the risk of being somewhat tedious. in order
that our records may show how Il has come
20 pass that the chamber Of Commerce IL 20
thoroughly identified with this great enter.
For many years prior 20 my election ~
Msyor Ia isss. had given careful study to
60 the means OF communication in the city
81 New York. and had been connected Ia
various ways with the changes required FROM
year Co year since ESQ, when was concerned
\ the Manufacture 81 ,he first tram rails
tune the demand for Increased movement
ot Messengers was met by the construction
~ the city The growth Of business. how
eyer. made Il spparcut thrt some better mode
~ trsnsi, should be devised In the near III
made for building railways overhead and
underneath tho surface Of the streets
In i.s' The Legislature gTantsi a chaTter 70
sgd '%sciNties Tor construction Under this
TO raise the money required for the ccnstruc-
stature Incorporates tho New York city
relius vanerbilt ard is assoclatr- 90 construct
snd ,9perate a. ur. efstound niiway which
you'd hsvs connected ID" TTity Hal with The
"a. duly orsanized and the necessary sur
veys and plans were made for the construc-
lIoN 81 tNf ThliINhus I IlhTNNihIflNs INV
ever, the criticism. which this srant produced
10 the newspaper. and elsewhere. brought
Cornelius Vanderbilt 20 the conclusion that
he would not construct tho proposed under
srourd railway. and 60 his decision the mem
hers " his family. who suCcoeded IN the man
HRewsnt 81 the New York Central Railway,
uniformly adhered, although they. A. well
a. he, always insisted that the extension at
that time ought 20 have beer made. and would
probably he profitable at least 10 the New
York Central Railroad.
Various other grants were made by tho
'sgislAture. among which the most con-
sn'cuous was what was known ~ the Arcade
Railroad originally PROPOSE n 10 built
~ the Reach Pneumatic Railroad Company.
y vas tten found. however. that capital
could not he secured 10y any ~ these com-
ranies. and hence the undertaking.. were
tiat wear what - known a. the Rapid Transit
at was adopted. under which the elevated
railroads were constructed. Tho comple-
uon n these railroads relieved the congestion
OF travel 70 such an cNicrt that no substantial
complaint existed until about tho wear 1881.
when The pressure for an ground rail-
road svstsm resppeHred and tho subject
occupied uurn public attention and very
general discu-sion. which | followed With
rr"I' interest u was evident To me Q at
underground rqrid transit could not 10 so
r1fed Dow ~" invrs'weut II private capital.
~ il .'ur way ur other IT, construction
vs. dependent upon the u-e Of ~" credit
r' '" rtv Of New York II vas also Hp-
80 property uust belong 70 tho city In
ts'"u'h De would not he safe Tor the city
" undertake tie construction tell. the
tFffFF rff.HU Of a pUufFHFfAuA TRWfInuN III. I