New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-24
Meeting Of the Poiyfech3ir Board OF thc
American Iusfifuie - suo;er=aEran
Railway nrd Gtser Topics.

The Polytechnic hTancl OF the American III
stltute met las. evening in Room No 81 Cooper Insti-
tute Mr. Tiilman In the Chair. Many members Of the
Society and large Numbered strangers weTe present.
Or the subject Of New Inventions ard Discoveries
discussion was bed IN relation to the use OF eiec-
tricity for producing gniton OF gas gunpovder or
other substances.
Mr. NORMAN WARD made some remarks On the sub
iect OF the explosion Of steam boilers. Alding 10 a
Communication recently published by gentleman IN
this city. taking the ground that the owners and en-.
Cneers Of steam boilers which explode should be held
orimnaly responsible for damage o. loss Of life result
inc from such explosions. Mr. Wizard thought that 1t
would be unjust TO hold either the owners or engineers
orimaaly responsible. no amount of previous care
precautions could absolutely guard agans' such oc-
curfences
NJ fIsurR thOrght that those VINO control railroads
aud steamboats, doing business Gs common carriers
sLoai 10 compelled To insure the lives Of tner passen
gers and to pay or such lives rs were lost This would
induce those persons to take all proper precsutior to
avoid the possibility OF accidents They would OF course
charge rates OF fare commensurate Win Tue lLCleaseu
expense danger Of accident.
! Sir. GREAyKs exhibited new style OF pump barrel
made OF Ordinary glazed stoneware. He stated That
these barrels were turned the inside before The gll
ing pat on snd we're sufficiently true to be quite
| tight with leather piunger.
Nr If-HER stated IN reference to the suhect OF pro
pusion OF vessels by Jet Of water driven by pump.
previously discussed by the Society that small ferry
boat employed in Glasgow harDor propelled IN
this manner and its performance was so Satisfactory
| "'
Tie subject Of the best mode of transit through
! Broadway was then taken up.
a paper prepared by Mr.. Henry u W Hson, was felu
| in absence By Mrs. Wilson.
Some sites given IN reference 20 the amount
Of travel now existing between the upper ana lower
port Of the city and demonstrating what II pr0O'
/ any will be within \ few years. Thus IN lSIi,
with a population Of about 100000. the number
of passengers between the upper aud lower parts
! Of the city was H.. rs 600. Ia leo. with =
population Of $4,000 the number OF -.san sers was
~ d990o3 III I2oi tAe ras,ebeers had increased to
s.V'"VOV - .efv re may reasonably expect them to
70 lCO 0C0O0O and in 1850 probably 10 not less
thsn 200 100000 To supply the demand OF this i'm.
goods whichfIe now transported through Tue cry oy
cumbTous and ineffective vehicles MIR. Wilson pro;
poses a system Of steam communication which shh
enable both passengers and goods 10 be conveyed from
end 10 end OF the island without delay aud without IN
terferng with existing business. His plan Is hrstIy
subteIraneal railway Of four tracks longludihaiy
through tie middle Of the city. the two outer
tracks for passenger trains the other two
for freight. In addition to this, a sunken fail-
way along each side OF the city, taken from
the edge OF each river bed These roads TO be sunsen
below the level of the adjacent streets, aud oomunlca-
ton established from the piers to the street by bridges
These shore lines 10 have firm traces IKE the centfai
one and connect with IL the Battery and az Harlem
River These sHnken lines might at first extend, say
from Thrtiethst and East River 10 the Battery ana
remainder Of their course be upon the surface OF he
ground until became necessary to use ne SHORES OF na'
portion OF the island for the OF Shipping
These roads should be provided WITH two classes OF pas
senger cars good any Of the cars now IN use
on any ordinary railroad the other much better The
fare in the frst.nan,ed class should be i've cents. In
the other eight or ten. The time should not exceed
half on hour from end to end Of the route.
The estimated OF this system Of roads. with the
necessary stations rolling stock and contingent ex'
penses is $50 10000 They should run trains IS often
q, one in every five minutes during II hours OF the day
and as often every Is minutes during the night
This wonld give 1872 trains daily, which could anu
woud carry 10000 passengers daily at an average
fare of eight cents They would also carry 1000 tHna OF
freight daily at 80 cents per tun.
THIS scheme not an uutried one. There - now IN
operation IN London the Metropolitan Underground
Railway, nearly fire miles in length. which has
been in operation three years. and whose stceS
now stands at - per cent premium. Their
traffic has increased from 81 500 in the first year
70 80 93S in the third IL Is now proposed TO
extend this road To all parts of the city Applications
for charters for similar roads estimated 70 cost sOO
GOO 600 are now before Parliament aud the greater
part of the necessary funds are already subscribed
Ii Is fair to estimate that the proposed system OF
roads in this city would II completed, pay clear pion
Of a per cent aside from the almost ncacula6le adj
yantages Of comfort convenience, health economy OF
time and increased value OF property conferred not
only the inhabitants Of this city but OF al Tie ad
jacent country.
A the conclusion Of the paper spirited discussion
took place on the general subject by Messrs Parmeiee
Fisher Ste.on snd Others and II finally voted to
continue the consideration Of the subject at the next
meeting.