Mixed Blessing

Despite its loud gloom, its indecent crowding, its filth and uriniferous odors, New York City's swift, nickel-fare, 244-mile municipal subway system is the envy of other U.S. cities. This week, as every week, New Yorkers wondered why.

The C.I.O. Transport Workers Union, led by Communist-line Mike Quill, had threatened to strike (TIME, March 4). When Mayor William O'Dwyer and public opinion stood firm, Mike Quill finally backed down. But the city's victory was only partial--it had just gained a calm opportunity to ponder the subway's physical and financial fix.

Nickels were not paying the subway's keep: by July 1, the city's transit system would be $54 million in debt. Its power stations were just about gone (repair cost, over $100 million), its rolling stock worn and rattly, its tracks older than the Ancient Mariner, its stations full of old newspapers and old vomit.

Mayor O'Dwyer took a deep breath, crossed his fingers and asked Governor Thomas E. Dewey to authorize an extra $142 million for the city's tax bill--almost one-third of it for subway rehabilitation. The city's annual budget was already second only to the Federal Government's. A few appalled city councilmen suggested raising the subway fare to 8-c- instead. But the council majority, long sold on the vote appeal of the nickel fare, vetoed the suggestion.

The subway's only counterpart, for measuring purposes, was London's vast and profitable Underground--a public utility with private stockholders, run by a transport board responsible to the county government. The Underground had to show a profit every year, without benefit of subsidies, or go into receivership. How did it manage?

The answer was simple: Londoners paid 2-c- a mile for short trips, 4-c- for long ones (the 40-mile run from Aylesbury to Upminster costs $1.60). For their money, they got clean stations and trains, smoking cars, daily inspection of tracks and equipment, up & down escalators or lifts at all stations--and smoother, if slower, rides.

New Yorkers, for their fares, got the world's longest and most uncomfortable 5-c- ride, and the world's highest city tax. The blessing was mixed indeed.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.