The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-27
The Proposed Broadway Railway.

The Proposed Broadway Railway.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Ny attention has been called to article published
IN several Of city papers under the above cap
ton, signed ''Pro Bono Publico;' and noticing in
the argument much false reasoning, would like to
call attention to the more prominent defects, and
ascertain if the signature be not rank misnomer.
To prevent confusion, we will consider the article
in the order as arranged Beginning with the first
assertion of moment it is distinctly said, that the
Russ pavement is lot to be disturbed, but that the
rails to be laid into grooves cut in the surfaces
Of the blocks Of course they must be boted fast to
the blocks. Now we all know the effect of putting
row Of wedges into granite block, and hammering
on their heaos; the result is inevitably to split the
blocks and that result cannot be avoided in quarry
ing or working granite. The course adopted is
analogous to the proposed plan Of laying the rails
on the blocks, and it seems to me very plain that
that part OF the scheme is chimerica Even if this
difficulty could be obviated by some plan known
only to this body Of the Fright sort Of men," the
writer contrsdicts himself in the course Of his arti
Gle. for in The fifteenth paragraph, in speaking Of
the smoothrepe of the Russ pavement, he says the
slippery smootlness, which ghtens the friction to
the waeel is fatal mischief 70 the hoof" and that
"grooving is but a temporary preventive" conse-
quently, we must have the railway with rough, in
tervening spaces for the horses" clearly shadowng
out al entire alteration in the character of the pave
Hlsnt through the middle of Broadway, and destroy
ing entirely the completeness Of the job Of which
al the citizens Of New York are SO justly proud.
From ny own experience Of the laying of pipe,
and other operations disturbing the centre Of the
street, safely assert that the street cannot DO
repaired as good at first after the crown has been
taken up 1t is like taking the keystone from an
arch-it cannot retain its proper curve. The argu-
mont that We should use rails for traction because
cheaper il the proportion Of eight to one would if
carried out, to substitute steam for horse
power; and what guarantee have we that these pro-
jectors will not wish that motive power after their
track ia once down?
The next consideration is the size Of the vehicles.
1t is claimed that the will be smaller than the
onnibuses. We will submit this specous claim to
the test Of figures 1t is proposed to arrange the
cars 20 as 70 seat tho passengers IN pairs each two
pairs with au exist on me soe Of the Seated
thus, four passengers viii occupy five feet Allow
two feet 1T eacn end Of the chr, for platforms for
drivers ard conductors and twenty.four passenger
car would be thir.y-fye feet long. In the space
allowed IN the plan, II will be mp6ssble for pair
Of horses ID .Tavei. Two horses haruessed abreast
require space q seven feet IN width: the plan
gives them but four ard haf therefore the horses
must BE hitched tandem. The car cannot be drawn
by less .haa Two hersas--even two would b, Insult
fcent at The hill, frUIa Canal to Walker street,
or at he Bowling Greep; but suppose two to
be sufficient, these in tandem viii occupy. with the
necessary gearing, twenty Two teet from the end OF
four passengers. In regard 70 the width required,
an made slight to be sure in itself. but of
some moment When distances are small. The writer
claims ssover Is feet on each side Of the track"
three tracks, each q feet, ard two spaces, each
feet, make liz feet; then inches projection of car
on each side, makes ID feet as the total width re-
quired fer the cars, which being deducted from AZ
feet, tho width Of the street. leaves % feet-4a on
each side-not room enough for cart to be backed
in although enough to allow it to stand after it is
backed Then the question arises, how are other
vehicles to Iass On that side Of the street, while this
cart is being loaded or unloaded The cars passing
up ard down inevitably take their course the stream
OF private yehic the other side of the track is
moving in . contrary direction, consequently all
on one side must stop until the carmaR has COM
petsd his operations or run she risk of being
jammed by the cars-a much verse result than the
stages can produce. as those familiar with the
B)wery can testify. In connection with this part
OF the subject allow ne to call your attention to
another consideration. New YORK i Is =, growing
ahead DISPOSITION Of the inhabitants leads them con-
tinually 20 tear down buildings. that more splendid
offices may be erected. This is more particularly
che case in Broadway, and as it is absolutely ne
G sssTy tiat portion Of the street should be oc-
cipicd by building materials (one-hrd is allowed)
/ would osk What would be the consequence then,
If the mialle OF the street were monopozed by tho
propostd tTackl Most undoubtedly. greater jam
fcan We h5v suffer. At the present time, tn7re are
at least twenty new buildings or alterations going
on in B1oodw ay, enough to stop the cars entirely
from the constant turning Oh to the track, which
would lie necessary for vehicles passing the builders
piles Of brick, timber, &c.
Then how is il proposed to arrange matters in the
event cf heavy snow For some hours the cars
could at all but after Iauch shoyclling, the
track I'D - cleared. ard the cars be run in Gu
nal, between two banks Of snow. Even nov the
street asmos. impa sable, when tie snow Il piled
high Al tic sides from the walks How much worse
vii. il b. Wien in addition, we have the SNOW from
the tracks piled sll on top Of that. Then, there
would v ~ end ct al passing, except Tor The ears
or FOR 81 Giles on ,beis tracks. an alternative not
much TO be dceited, but our only choice until he
snow was llawed The great pont Of all. aud the
one uos aDSiously pressed, is that Broadway is TO
be relieved o. 50 many heavy stages, that
otber vehicles will have more room, that Carriages
will lot be alarmed for their panels &c Remove
the omnibuses, and what would be the result
Carts and heavy wagons that now 60 up and down
side streets, because Of the number OF omnibuses
would crowd IN to gain the great advantages
presented BY the russ pavement, and that, too
in numbers sufficient TO more than counter
balance the omnibuses withdrawn without afford.
ing. single advantage te the occupant o. rasser-
by Ia Broadway.
deny that the proposed cars will afford the relief
if they carry al the passengers that the omnibuses
now do, and will endeayor to demonstrate my de-
NAL satisfactorily.
The omnibuscs, starting from tho Battery ard
going up TO Canal street, ard further, carry over
10000 persons daily--say 1000 each way. The
cars running to Forty. second street, would make
eight trips per day, and to carry that number Of
passengers would require one hundred aud five GAYS;
tho cars, 10 meet one Of the assertions Pro Bono
PublicO would be compelled 10 make the trio In
one hour and half, which would cause the cars to
follow each other every fifty seconds; If ono he
stopped &c Jet out passenger. OF FOX on OF trction
right away The others are piling or and wall of
cars il formed through the middle Of Broadway, ut
terly impasaable by man or horse: the cars having
no opportunity to turn CT to go around an obstruc
ton, they wait and the passengers have tho pros
pect before them Of neglected business, If it be in
tie morning, or anxious families, ifeyening
IL FIRE occur in or near Broadway, and II be-
comes necessary TO stretch hose the track as
would frequently be the case, then again must tho
cars be kept back-sl Of them-untl the fire DO
exingushed, let tho time be longer or sbortor the