New-York tribune., 1908-08-10
TRADE AND LINES OF TRAVEL.

From the earliest times cities nave Deen maue
and marred by lines of travel. In the days
when the Mediterranean was the seat OF the
worlds traffic, when Venice, Florence and
Genoa were in their prime and the caravans
laden with the wealth of the Indies toiled
across the desert to unload their cargoes at the
wharves on the eastern end of the great Roman
lake. rich and populoUs cities grew up in the
midst of the desert along the way. and by tax
ing honest toll from the travellers who passed
many men amassed large fortunes. But when
the tide of travel changed, when the all-water
route proved practicable, the blood of traffic
was drained from these arteries Of trade, and
in place of great cities one can now nnd only
ruin.
The same rule has proved true in the con-
struction and operation of railroads. In this
country before the present network of track
for the iron horse had been highly developed,
ffourishing villages grew up and promised to
take rank among the cities of the country. But
when the exigencies of railroad construction
made it necessary or desirable TO pass by to
the north or the south of these places or when
superior inducements led builders TO put their
stations on one side or the other of the al
ready established towns, the places withered
as if some blighting hand had been laid upon
them, so great is the dependence of modern
business upon the facilities afforded by trans
portatiOn lines.
To trace an analogy between the ancient tides
of travel and our modern highways which ex-
tend from coast to coast and one of the minor
streets of a metropolis may seem far-fetched,
YET on second thought 1t will be clear that the
business of any portion of a city is no less de-
pepdent on the facilities for reaching it than
is the prosperity of some section OF the country
upon its railroad cOmmunicatiOn-in fact, the
dependence is even greater in the more cir
crmScribed area. because of the ease with which
those who have been in the habit OF trading
in one part of the city can 60 TO some other
part when their accustomed pathway is closed
to them.
The contention of the merchants in 59th
street. therefore that the abolition of transfers
from the north and south lines to this crosstown
system will ruin their business is not surprs-
ing Hundreds of thousands of dollars have
been invested in this vicinity on the strength
of the assumption that the transfer system was
an established fact and that places of business
would be accessible from all parts of the city
for one fare 1t may be argued that if a shop
per is going out 10 trade extensively, or even
TO spend only few dollars, the item of two
extra carfares is insignificant; but the fact re-
mains that to n considerable extent shoppers
move along the line of least resistance. and
in any event a vast amount of casual trade
crowded thoroughfare is lost.
One store in 59th street furnishes case in
point 1t has heretofore advertised q draw
ing card that all cars transfer to its doors. 1t
is still possible, of course. TO reach the store
by the old route, but at a greater expense.
This will naturally divert some trade although
the store is undoubtedly correct in its assertion
that it will stop more that would go to the
West Side than il loses en- account of the new
arrangement, and it is, therefore, the gamer if
anything. But other places of business are not
so fortunate, and in consequence of this shift
ing of the current of humanity il is not i'm
possible that many growing business may
find itself dwindling at an alarming rate
While the question of the convenience of
travellers is unGuestiOnably of the first i'm
portance in connection with the transfer lrob-
lem it is a much broader problem than it might
at first thought have appeared. 1t is earn ,stly
10 be hoped therefore. in the interests OF busi-
ness as well as of the convenience of thou
sands of people, that some way will be found
to restore the old system Of free transfers. not