Year: 1879

Rights OF the People I'm Rapid Transit.
1t is mistake to suppose that the main
and paramount objection to tho use of three
classes of cars on the Third avenue "L'
railroad (by which title we shall hereafter
designate the elevated roads), is that such
system is undemocratic. This is free
country. and ii people choose to pay for
luxuries they have right to enjoy them.
On ordinary railroads we have emigrant
trains which travel slowly, and express
trains which make faster time, and passen-
gers are at liberty to take their choice be-
tween them. On express trains drawing
room cars and sleeping cars are provided,
and passengers who wish to enjoy comfort
able chairs and,sofns during the day, or the
luxury Of bed at night, can do so by
paying a small additional fee-from
in excess Of the regular fare of, say, from
three to twenty dollars. No one looks upon
this as undemocratic, because it is simply
affording people an opportunity to travel as
they please without interfering with any
body's rights or facilities. But if the New
York Central and Erie railways were TO run
on each train three classes of cars-one at
two cents, another at four cents and another
at six cents mile charging to Albany, for
example, three dollars in one description of
car, six dollars in another and nine
dollars in third at the same
time failing to provide on any train
sufficient number Of s'third class
la bo 1Ol1
travellers, it would not only be undemo-
cratic classification but an imposition
which the people would properly resent. II
the Third avenue IL" road could run on
certain trains in addition to three ordinary
passenger cars special drawing room car,
and charge small fee to those who might
desire to ride in it, the distinction would
excite no feeling in the reddest of red-rag
minds. Our people are by no means sensi-
tive on such a point as this. But the propo-
sition Of the 81" railroad managers to run
three cars on each train--one at five cents
fare, one at double and another at three times
that amounts quite another matter. 1t is
principally Objectionable because it would
incommode the bulk of the 81" railroad
passengers and aggravate the evils of insuf-
ficient accommodation, delay and over
crowding.


The '.L" railroads enjoy valuable fran
chises, which were bestowed upon them,
not alone to enable the companies to make
large fortunes, but as q means Of accommo-
dating and benefting the people. The
roads should be open to all on equal terms
and at equal rates Of fare. They are essen
tally public works although in private
hands, and their managers would not be
justified in crippling the facilities which
the great mass Of the travelling public has
right to enjoy by filing up two-thirds of
the space on each train with cars from
which four-fi1ths of the passengers would
be virtually excluded. We must not lose
sight of the fact that the 81" railroads were
demanded by the people principally because
of the persistent disregard Of the public
rights manifested by the horse car COM
panies Those corporations could easily
have given their passengers comfort
able accommodations. They could have
run more cars and at greater speed;
could have studied cleanliness and
civility; could have provided heat in the
winter and proper ventilation in the sum
mer. But such concessions would have
lessened their profits, and the corporations,
having the people at their mercy, chose to
abuse their privileges and to make money
at the expense of the public. Their greed
excited popular indignation, and the 'L'
railroads were chartered in order that the
people might get rid of the horse car
nuisance. 1t is especially incumbent on
the '.L" companies to give the working
classes the full use and benefit of rapid
transit at low rate of fare, since the 81"
railroads will necessarily cripple if not
wholly remove the accommodation, such as it
is, of the cheap horse car lines


Both the "L" companies have thus far
done splendid work and shown DISPOSE
ton to serve the public we'll. We have no
right to expect perfection at the start, but
we desire to prevent the trial of any unpop-
ular or Objectionable experiments sug-
gested under the natural desire to make
enormous profits. The people are now ac-
customed to five and ten cent fares. While
they look eagerly for the boon OF q uniform
five cent rate they are met by Mr.. Fields
proposition to make a. charge of fifteen
cents and for that purpose to abstract one
third OF the accommodation now enjoyed
by five and ten cent passengers. Rapid
transit for the million ought not to
be crippled for the qualification of
the few. Young men who, in the Ian
guage of Mr.. Field, ''desire to take
their girls to the opera" and who be-
grudge the price Of carriage, should not
be accommodated ut the expense OF the
rapid transit passongers Gallantry should
60 hand in hand with liberality. II the
III" companies resolve to exact q fifteen
cent fare no one will believe that it is done
for the benefit of nice young gentlemen