The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-06
Abram 8. Hewitt Wanted Van
derbiIt to Build IT.
MISSED CHANCE
Seth Low Failed to Realize Am
bitiOn With Defeat.
New System VIII Cost More
Than Railroads.

has been quoted as having said that if
he were offered his choice between the
presidential nomination and the begin
ming and partial completion of an ade-
quate subway rapid transit system for
the enlarged city of New York during
his administration he would hesitate
not one minute about his choice, for
he would rather be identified with a
permanent and all-comprehensive suo-
way system of New York than to go
into history as the man who was ar
one time voted for for president.
Every one of Mayor Gaynor's pre-
decessors who have taken interest in
the subway, from Abram S. Hewitt in
the mid eighties to the present time,
has found himself fascinated by the
subway proposition. Even prior to Mr..
AeWltt's agitation when mayor for
great rapid transit system in New
York, William R. Grace, in his second
term as mayor, became deeply absorbed
in the rapid transit proposition. Mayor
Grace'S attention was called to rapid
transit by Russell Sage. AS the mayor
and Mr.. Sage were walking down
Broadway one afternoon Sage pointed
with his cane to Broadway and SAID,
There is the greatest gold mine IN
the United States because an adequate
system of rapid transit on that street.
will yield millions of profits while rapid
transit for the entire city of New
York will make those who promote it
very rich and would, at the same time.
vastly increase the assessable values OF
properties of the city,"
Mr.. Hewitt thought that the ideal
rapid transit system would be furnish
ed by the construction of a viaduct
built through the heart of the city from
F'orty-second street to City hall. paral
Icing Broadway upon the east. AT
Forty-SecOnd street it would be brought
in physical connection with the Van
derbilt system by means of tun-
mel and viaduct, running from For
ty-second street to Harlem river q
distance of nearly five miles. Mr.. Hew-
lit succeeded in interesting William H
Vanderbilt in the plan and so greatly
interesting him that Mr.. Vanderbilt
was ready to furnish the capital pro-
vided the city gave the franchise and
allowed the condemnation of land, thus
making the viaduct a part of the NeN
York Central system. But in a portion |
of the press an attack was made upon |
this plan which so greatly ineensed |
Mr. Vanderbilt that he refused to have |
to do with it. 1t was Mr. |
Hewitt's hope that he could persuade |
Mr.. Vanderbilt to change his mind but |
in that hope he was disappointed be- /
cause of the sudden death of MIR. Van |
de-bilt
A Vanderbilt Tradition.
Mr.. Vanderbllt'S decision became a
tradition in the family 1t was for that |
reason that the generation of Wander
bilts who succeeded him declined to |
take the slightest interest in the sub
way proposition at the time the Van
derbilts were asked to bid upon the |
city's offer. What they declined Mr..
Belmont afterwards took There were
from the Grand Central
station that some who were in author
lily there looked upon the subway as
an absurd dream. Yet if the Wander
bits had accepted the opportunity
they, instead of Mr.. Belmont, would
have built and operated the subway
bringing into actual physical touch
with their line at the Grand Central
station and using the east and west
side lines above Central park to supple
ment their Hudson river and Harlem
railroad steam lines.
Mr.. Hewitt's Triumph.
If Mr.. Hewitt was not able to inI-
late in his administration the rapid
transit system which we have today
he was able to point the way by which
he system could be adequately
financed. 1t was he who demonstra-
ed that if the city lent its credit so
building of the present subway it could
protect its securities through
contract with Mr.. Belmont which !
provides that in addition to other pay {
nent the Belmont company should turn
'ver to the city a sum sufficient to pay {
he yearly interest upon the bonds ana {
n addition sufficient to provide a sink ]
ng fund which would extinguish the
lebt when it became due.
When Seth Low was mayor of New 7
York from 1901 to 1903 it was his am
,ition not only to see the subway ;
became mayor, completed during his
but the new bridges ,
ver the East river, all of which were !
o have important relations to the rapid I
ransit of the Greater New York, conf :
,leted during his term of office. Mr. !
Low was disappointed. He was de- /
Gated for reelection, and the ambi- I
ion which he had became also the
.mbition of George B. Mcclellan.
McCleIlan's Opportunity.
Many OF McClellan's friends believe
hat he let slip as great an opportun-I
ty as ever came to the hands of a
mayor of New York since Dewitt
{ possible, by sheer aggressive force
{ necessary, initiate the additional
ubways which are vital unless New
Fork city is to become paralyzed by
'eople at least, additional subways
re the vital issue. The real workers
f New York were more concerned
bout rapid transit facilities than they
we're about any kind of politics and it
yas for this reason that many persons
we're convinced that If George b. Nc
'lellan, while mayor, had used his
fficial authority and his personal in
luenee in such way as to initiate the
nlarged and comprehensive system
f subways nothing would have pre-
ented his nomination for governor
nd he would have received an over
majority in the city of New
'ork at least.
Possibly MauOy- Gaunor has bfa no.