New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-12
ITS SPIRIT ILLUSTRATED.

The merits Of the rival subway plans are be-
ing holly debated. Mr.. Shonts, by his proposed
additions TO the present subway. would build
up a larger single system than any other plan
contemplated. Persons who were fortunate
enough TO live along its lines could ride far
for five cents, but it would not afford facilities
TO so many persons who have not rapid transit
now as would the Bradley affney Steers pro-
gramme. The latter proposes to build more miles
of subway than. the Interborough and TO serve
more new neghborhoods. But beyond these
physical differences between the two pro-
grammes an important question of policy is in
volved. Will the city be better of with
monopoly or with competition: The advocates
of Mr.. Shonts's plan urge that monopoly will
be TO the advantage of the public. The advo-
Gates of the Bradley -Gaffney Steers proposal
urge that competition is 10 be desired
1t seems TO us in this juncture that a COM
petitor TO the Interborough system is much
needed. We have had in the last few years an
ample illustration of the attitude of the Inter
borough monopoly toward the problem of keep
ing the supply of subways In this city up 10 the
needs OF its population. Until competition
threatened, until Mr.. McAdoo showed DISPOSE
tion 10 enter the field and until the Bradley
Gaffney- Steers Company became interested it
would do nothing TO extend its system. When
competition threatened ii made an offer SO per
fectly preposterous that after a few weeks ad-
vertsing campaign IL was withdrawn and modi-
fed. Its first proposal was full of the spirit OF
benefcent monopOly-two tracks. half a subway,
up Lexington avenue from 42d street. and two
tracks, half n subway. downtown from Seventh
avenue and 42d street; enough in both in
stances 10 bar competitors ont of the best routes
in the city. but not enough 10 serve the needs
of the public; enough TO insure overcrowding
from the outset and 10 keep the supply OF transit
facilities permanently short
Not a few persons will perceive the same
spirit illustrated in the terms OF the InterbOrough
company's present proposal. There are a limited
number of good north and south routes avail
able for subway construction on Manhattan
Island. The best OF these is the Broadway
Lexington avenue route a practically straight
line from south TO north. The Interborough will
not build IT, but it will have its northern extern
sion nowhere but on Lexington avenue, thus
spelling that avenue for use In the future by a
competitor. Nor is IT content 10 block competi-
ton on only one East Side avenue. Its present
plan kills two birds with one stone, two possible
competitors at one shot. Another good East
Side north and south route laid out by the old
Rapid Transit Commission ran down Third
nue. and then under the Bowery. The INTERIOR
ough now wants TO build two tracks OF its
northern branch In Lexington avenue and the
other two in Third avenue, thus blocking all
the practicable East Side routes. as Second
avenue is admittedly too far over to be profit
able The company appears TO be aiming 10
make its monopoly complete as possible with
the least possible construction. That is not the
kind Of monopoly 10 result in anything but an
overcrowded and inadequate service