Year: 1876

pay with commendable promptness their licenses and
fulfil their obligations keeping the streets, far
they are required, in repair, but use heat boxes
during winter in the cars to keep passengers comfort
able In fact II only in the city of New York that
tue conditions OF the grants and charters of street rail
road companies are hagrany aud continually violated
resulting in the gross oppression of its Inhabitants


PROBABLE POLICY or rHa COMPANIES


Al the Grand Central depot, Forty second street. a
gentleman connected with the Fourth avenue line
stated 10 HERALD reporter that members apt TO
Jay before the senate or Assembly Albany measures
having IN view the relief OF the people from manifest
unmeasurable burdens imposed on them, particularly
oy corporations, so as 10 acquire certain degree oil
popularity Tor the time being, but II very frequently
happened that after these same measures were re-
ierred nothing learned thereafter OF their ultimate
fate In the present instance however, when II
evident that Killian's bill relative TO ovorcrowdng
would be closely watched he thought there was sono
reason 70 fear that would be pushed through IN some
FORM The Fourth avenue line he insisted, was well
conducted, and he believed also there was no Just
Cause Of complaint as 10 the manner ln-whlch II
carried on It's tfatic. To deny passengers the
means OF reaching the depot when the
all occupied to catch train leaving on time
for the West some other distant locality would not
be right, nor would IL give general satisiaction but
further inquiry IL turned out that several city routes
are quite close by and that ready communication with
the depot is by no means confined TO the Fourth
nue. vehicles. IL had to be admitted that the addition
OF a few 10 the usual number IN service, that
they might arrive before the trains were TO take their
departure, would obvate the dlcuy and prevent the
shameful packing to which thousands are subjected.
ana which Is now the general rule There was much





osilion TO restrict the companies to carrying only those
who could be furnished with seats II might be cars
could he constructed that would afford hfiy per cent
more accommodation than at present Passengers
might be seated on tho roof but 10 bring this result
about would be the work of some time and considerable
expense. The companies would certainly demand
n nearing before the Legislature and u was question
how lar that body could alter amend the charters
already granted. Matters involving disputed rights
and privileges bad been often before the courts, and
the stockholders did not come out second best or
course large sums of money were expended Ior legal



cur again. Ono thing was certain, that ii law were
enacted embracing the rule Of mo seat no iare"
smaller dividends would be declared and there
denying the public generally would be benefited,
though in some instances portion OF the dear public
that now complain Qt might be large or smaD would
have reason to experience resentment when cars would
pass them by hecdless of their wish Tor conveyance up
or down town.


VIEWS OF A srocKnoLDER


Tho cross town line (Forty second street and Grand
street ferry) does fair business, and owing to the
route II goes over there Is not the pressure its
accommodation as is found IN other quarters stock
holder in conversation repudiatcd the idea that su
hcent number of cars could be put to accommo-
date the public during certain hours OF the morning
and evening. The reason gwen simply that 1t
would rot pay. The highest fare they collected was
five cents while other companies got six, eight and
ten cents The Legislature the public either he
sad could not expect them TO their at loss but
the gentleman seemed TO be oblivous the fact that
dividends OF ten, eleven and TIVE I've per cent per
annum have been regularly declared for years past be-
sides paying out of the profits per cent interest
on what must be considered in many cases fictitious
funded debts, and that they still able TO hold
heavy cash surpuses In these figures is not included
continual large investments in real estate and buildings
To all this, however, II was answered that the
inconvenience suffered by the public trihng
comparison with the convenience of being conveyed
rapidly through the city at a low charge and at all
hours. In Europe labor aud supplies were much
cheaper than in the United States and tramway
panes could afford to do there what If attempted in
America, would be ruinous TO stockholders Last
years b--the bill introduced last session in the AS
somby, similar TO Mr. Kilan's--was sent TO a
mittee consisting OF democrats and repubi-
cans. Two oi lis members were from New York and
from Kings county, and they saw no necessity OF taxi
ing any action the subject They consequently
never reported II back 10 the House. This year tny
measure OF tho kind VIII go TO the Railroad Committee
OF which Mr.. West, OF Saratoga, chairman The ma
jority is, OF course republican; but there IT,
in 1875, two members IRON this city and one from
Brooklyn. IL will be their business to consider whether
mo seat no fare" is necessary REFORM and
II win be our business to ask at their
hands lair treatment. 'You may say opposed
To its passage because II will public inconveni-
ence and interfere with legitimate business operations
conducted under the sancty OF chartered rights"
There further conversation to the duty i'm
posed by law on horse companies to furnish proper
their liabilities damages injuries suffered by pas
while standing the platforms There could be
doubt that proper accommodation meant seat and
suitable room, bun there positive obligation
furnish them. The companies satisfied TO take
the risk and the public seemed TO be OF the way
OF thinking so lar as they were concerned That
about ALL Very well should he let alone. The cross
town men evidently considered street TO be
instituted for one purpose ony-nameiy the obtain
ing by stockholders in them of heavy dividends He
felt unwilling to allow complaints OF ovcrcrowdng to
digturb his thoughts