New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-31
THE EAST SIDE ELEVATED ROADS.


The bitter hostility which the people Of the
East Side manifest to the proposition to add
more tracks to the elevated roads in I'd and 80
ayes. is perfectly Ineligible. Whether the ex-
listing structures be widened heightened, the
streets through which they run would be dark
ened, and any increase in service would aggra-
vate the noise there. The value of property for
purposes of residence and trade has been af-
fected to q great extent already; but the sltua-
ton can easily be made worse than 1t is now.
Those who would suffer in consequence are
alive to the possibility and naturally incensed
over the prospect Of further injury to be sus-
tanned merely for the sake Of a lot of people
living up in the Borough of The Bronx. Charity
begins at home, they say, and they are right to
the extent that nothing but the absolute neces-
sity Of a larger community can put upon them
the obligation to endure this evil
The projects which are to come up for discus
sion before the Rapid Transit Commission to-
morrow are unnecessary. Their execution would
needlessly sacrifice interests which the city Is
bound to respect Other means and better
means, can be found for the accommodation OF
passengers whose homes are north Of the Har-
lem River. In their day the elevated roads were
a good thing. They have performed splendid
work. So daring was the idea of operating a
street railway fifteen or twenty feet above the
looked at the achievement with wonder. In the
last thirty years, however the world has moved.
Elevated roads are now rapidly becoming back
numbers. Underground roads are infinitely pref
cradle. because whatever harm may be done to
adjacent buildings while q subway is being
built It need not remain q continuing nuisance
So long as steam was the motive power en-
ployed for the operation of underground roads
the Metropolitan. of London for instance-a
journey below the surface of the street could
not be made as pleasant one above 1t. The
adoption of electricity in place of steam re-
moves the only objection, and allows the natural
superiority Of the subway to assert itself. For
the last seven months the residents of NewYork
have had a chance to appreciate the charms Of
underground transportation. After such an ex-
perience they may tolerate the retention of the
old surface and elevated roads, but for all new
transportation lines they demand subways.
The only reason which is offered for sanction
ing the marlborough company's plans in regard
to the East Side is that perhaps the facilities for
travel which would thus be created might be-
come available before underground roads could
be built, SO high an authority as Mr.. Parsons
is quoted in advocacy of the pending proposition
on that account. Mr.. Parsons may be right, if
nothing needs consideration except the mere
work Of construction, and such a question
the judgment of an expert engineer is not to be
ignored. This however, is not the only aspect
of the matter which the Rapid Transit Commits
sion must face If the property owners of the
East Side should organize in self-defence they
might greatly delay by legal proceedings the
contamination Of the marlborough company's
schemes. 1t is not in the power Of that corpora
ton to give to the city definite assurance that
the changes which it wants to make would be
complete q day earlier than the subways which
have been authorized on the East Side. In fact,
the people of The Bronx might be kept waiting
longer if the desired permission were granted
than if II were denied; and when those third
tracks were finally in operation the city might
be worse off than if the other policy had been
pursued. To sanction their construction would
certainly be a step backward.
Some regard must also be paid to the probable
effect Of the decision of the Rapid Transit Com
mission relative to an enlargement of the ele-
waited roads upon bids for the construction and
operation Of subways in Sd and Lexington ayes
1t has been intimated that no express service
will be undertaken in the latter if the compe-
This would be unfortunate, for express trains
are really needed more than local trains on the
East Side. Four tracks should be provided on
all new lines running north and south. The
subways will belong to the city, whereas the ele-
waited roads are the property of a business cor
pOration. Would 1t not be suicidal to impair
the value of the city property in order to en-
nance the usefulness of the lines owned by a
private corporation?