The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-07
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION: A
WARNING.
II the People Won't Pay More the
System Must Stand StlII-or Worse.

System Must Stand Stlll-or Worse.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-str: Next
to the high cost OF living the most
serious problem facing the people of
New York city to-day J that OF trans
portation. A similar problem on
larger scale faces the United States (;
the two are much alike, and conditions
bringing the country and the city face
to face with disaster have been created
by the same agencies, the same mis-
takes and the same supernal ignorance,
conceit. selhshness and incompetence. 1
confine my reflections In this letter TO
the city's situation.
II takes two or three years to get
the design and route Of any new con-
struction ready for bids: no part Of that
| time is ever used In preparing the drafts
OF the contracts. SO they would take
from three TO six months more and
then construction would take several
years. II the work were now under
way We could not hope for any bene-
| ficial enjoyment before about 1925 or
1925. 1t Is not even discussed or con-
| templated.
But the pressure Is here here now.
and not threatened at some distant time.
The overcrowding on the present lines
Of all kinds is already at the danger
point. and urgent and immediate steps
should be taken to lessen It. Yet how
shall that be done?
| The Comptroller OF the city tells
Staten Islanders that there is no hope
of building the Narrows tunnel at least
with city money, practically for another
generation. He Is probably right. ~On
any fair balance, according to the prac-
tices of merchants, the city 10 bankrupt
to-day. 1t was subway drunk ten or
twelve years ago, and It must sleep II
Off, suppose. for years yet
| The alternative is financing by private
| capital: but who will lend the money
The great Brooklyn system Is in a re-
ceiver's hands the New York Railways
are In a receivers hands; and it is a
question of time only. and perhaps a
short time. when the 1nterborough sys-
tenn must follow them. That is tenn
porary palliative; receivers. no matter
how capable, cannot raise the dead, and
the time must come soon when they can
not raise the wind"
But though acknowledging its utter
helplessness to make any provision for
the future. now knocking at the door,
the city through its executive heads not
only refuses TO try TO relieve the sltua.
ton but announces in advance that 1t
will oppose any attempt at relief by the
State. Though dependent, by the Comp
troller's statement. on investors for re-
lief. It announces that they must expect
no return on, or perhaps or. their
money!
Apparently the local tramways need
from twelve to fifteen million dollars a
year more income than they receive II
operating expenses are to be paid. The
only source OF any substantial income
is passenger fares. II We are to have
service the fare must be raised. II pro-
vision for the future is to be made the
securities" so called. and the stocks OF
the local roads must be made readily
marketable, to do which they must be
made safe and also profitable. II this
Is not done. then Gas was said by a wise
Federal Judge IN a parallel case in Ohio)
il the people are unwilling to pay fol-
the service they want they must put ur
with the service they pay for. Reduc
ton in service in New York or Brooklyn
\ would be appalling. and no doubt the
other boroughs feel the same way.
Our city fathers are mistaken II the,
think New Workers. as a class want &c
be carried to and from work Gas thu
city fathers too often are) at others
expense. Most of US want the best ser
vice we can get and are willing to pa!
for it. To be sure the handling Of thu
odd cents Is a nuisance, and the foul
cents q day makes quarter week
which to some is considerable. But
do not believe that the average works.
wants TO be helped out by Matchmaking
the stockholders of the tramways; anC
I do believe he Cor she) holds his vot'
a little higher than two cents, II that II
to be considered
The situation requires immediate at
tention. Important as the new Nortl
River tunnel is, its plans should walt
It Is like planning a trip to the gol
links for a man who Is stranglinG
Tunnel plans are more spectacular, blu
not so necessary as some comprehensive
plan to relieve and extend intraurbal
: transportation. T. j. JOHNSTON.
NEW York, July s.