New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-01
CITY RAILWAYS.

liect of vital importance to every citizen OF New
York, was presented to day III the Senate
ALBANY, January 1867.
To he Sen ate ofhe state OF Necf York;
AT the last session of the Senate the following reSo
aon P wi That select Committee of three be a
tity of New-York the state Engineer and tie Saeer
of The Croton Board to ascertain ana report 10 1e En-
ate The most adyana aud proper route OF routes Io
railway or railways suited to the rapid transportation
Of from the upper TO y the aaes practical
benefit and safety to the pubic, ana tne iTso U t
Wessrs Andrews, Low, and Cornell were appointed as
This Joint commission met in the City OF New-Y9Tk on
| tho Isf of lime and organized by eectng Geo. H. An
drews as Chairman and James +. Ruggles rs secretary
pusie notice was given, bY means OF advertisements,
that parties DESTROYS Of submitting plans would nave an
opportunity TO do prior TO the LIST OF august a t
held in August the time was extended 10 OctoDer
I'm November the Commission again met and proceeded
TO the examination of the several communications winch
| had been addressed 70 them , A., ,,
IL proper here briefly to recite some OF the circnm
which demand the appointment OF inns e"n hn
SION the part of the Senate since 1850 mere hau pee
no legislation which tended TO afford additional acluGs
for me TRANSFORMATION OF passengers the direction ndi
dated in the resolution; that s lines running length
largely Increased and the memorable demands OF bust
ness had continued TO appropriate Tor us neGeses es
ricts thus separating and more widely the resi-
dence from the store and Workshop The Central Park
| boundcd ON the south aud north by Fntyninth
| and Observation-Disclosures, on the east ny
tine n between ' SEVENTY GG eve and
| nv Inc Ninth-avcJ an area OF more than half mile
broad by more than and half miles long containing
some sl acres not only excluded from liz boundaries an
tenements, but all property within the area on eet sc
above and below the Park has advanced III yalme 40
enormously within the past six years as pfacucay 10
exclude the labOrng classes from residence III district
more than three miles long, and extending henry o
whole width Of the city For large population, lnGi,
this area either side OF the Park unayallaple Ior It's
greater portion for domiclcs for The workng slacs re-
duircs IN effect TO be taycrscd by some method aoLg
rapid mems Of transit from the extreme upper o"'
portions OF the city. . o., .,t. ,o.,o
That magnificent park, the Central Is correctly detis
mated occupying rs 1t does me eehtlal poruon VI '
island. In Inc form Of a parallclogram ornctIy So
substantially divides the city engthwse into two dls
trcts, and considered in connection WIN inc Mo NO
the Island north Of Ggandst, cIt the Nv
ece 10 single central line. such lire, even ~ tn1
Park did not present mn inSupeabe obstacle, Woulu sun
fail to afford the accommodation deihahdtu y c 80
siiic- of the population The requirements OF traye can
only be properly met by two lines when ssil run, ~
nrdrlv as may be-. through central portions Of two lohg
tudnnl sections of the city on the eastah ana western
The especial fitness Of routes recommended aside
from physical considerations, is demonstrated 10y the
iact ta the official reports to the state Engineer snow
Inn thc Thrdavc Railroad carried 2ooooOo, and the
Eightavc Railroad 100000 of passengers last year,
The physical formation ~ the island Is such tat cen
trl line would encounter difficulties whether construct
ed under or above the surface requiring vast OUTLAY
and involving the question of practical grades INC DC &c,
factincn and destruction OF private ana puDDc PiptS
would be far greater upon a central than upon Eei"
The traction OF freight and passenger trains , by S'd dn
evil which has endured too long and must specify DC
| abatcd. IA, ,t., .ho
necessary and most direct OF inges and cgrcss to
the traffic now conducted upon the steam roads upon the
After protraced and careful consideration Of all the
plans submitted, the Commission unanimously adopted
| tbt following resolutions: .
Rfsoir.d that. in the opinion OF this Commission the
hest method Of speedily attaining ihe asslsn ,op' i
plated the Senate resolution, passed az It's last reoh
/ Is hy the construction of underground railway IL,
should ono Of such railway from the Battery to the
city Hl Park under Iiroadway, connecting WIN rms
railways each with double tracks, east ana west OF he
luc 81 broadway. ....
That accommodate the largest passenger ttanSporta-
ton the following roads recommended, each conc'
ing win the said aforementioned track at the CITY Han
one under Chathaust TO the Bowery aud Thiriaye to
TIC other under Park place Cor Murray warren sts,
or by the feasible IUutcl to Hudson ST. Thence uhutl
Broadway thence under broadway 10 Nnlhave' thence
under Nnthayo. 10 Harlem River. No. 49, ,
city Hall fuk, 10 hc conStruccd only a. part 81 one 81
II IL proper briefly TO state The which brought
the Committee to the forc going tonclu- in.,
The term, of the resolution under which they were act
Ing demanded that the plan adopted should possess the
element, of speed, .aty chrlpncs- aud mwdty n CON
u w.. Obvious tha' % high rate u speed vas imprac,
i.,.'r rVlu r. laid upun Tie surface 81 streets, and
tn, ct ~ Roads N' Al once di, SEA rom 'oi-iu'Id
ton There g,r.iutd the elevated and cAcayatcd sys-
TEN. 10 na considered OF the former there were two
cla,s.-th"c p.ccd upon support. ~ ne stit'is; ana
those running. fitler wholly partially through blocks
S Sn for a @ltsd p rW g in The streets HAT pre-
sontcd by Mr. g. T. Harvey. G. T.. appeared 10 nave been
ng difficulties Involving the question OF safety. and the
least Objectionable 20 the application Of The motive
The promoters Of this plan ash for tho privilege Of con
sirucng one half mile IN the southern portion 81 nlee
wicl-st, Illustrative experiment; and the Coinn,s-
sion recommend that permission he granted 10y thc Legs
IL is not 90 he denied that any system which demands
the propulsion ~ ears AT rapid rate, at an elevation OF
feet T. not entirely consistent In nbhc rstihh-
ton, with the greatest atanable Immunity "m The dan
of Interpretations
The elevated road or vaduct Of masonry devised by
Mr. Gouverneur NJ wilkins, In 1865, u magnificent con-
ccpton aud worthy Of All imperial city
The plan for this imposing architectural structure en-
braces the creation of new avenues I'm certain portions or
The Ciiy aLd the use on Othor avenues Mlcy tNuhs'
passing through blocks Tor Only porto OI hc route
II with reluctance that the Commission, after due
present moment, The time necessary Tor eXtnguishieh
of title Of property 20 be taken for procuring tho right 81
way, and for construction, removed IT beyond the limit
rs To rapidly ~ construction imposed by the practical
terms OF the resolution under which they we're acting
OF the eNcavated plans proposed that Nbmittedby MT
John schuyler e. E. possesses great merits, as may bc
seen by examination ~ the synopsis OF it appende
! hereto This plan devised IN 1852, with especial
reference TO afiOrdns facilities for the movement 81
! freight trains through the city.
In plan submitted ~ Gen. James u. Swnin In behalf
~ the Metropolitan Transit Company the anal ea "f
Mr. schuyler has been enlarged 50 AZ 20 include an eNc
yacd elevated and surface road This plan, beautifully
illustrated 10y models the subject OF careful scrutiny
In the, Judgment Of the commission however the same
objections TO time required for extneulshment OF title
aud for procuring the right OF way the expense of result
Ing damages to adjacent property aud Of the necessary
this plan unavailable for the prompt realization OF the
| objects now sought TO be secured -, D.,
The under lTOnnd system of transit presented in
varous.ors. In London this method hus been resoited
TO- but 10 appears from valuable communication made
TO his commission by that eminent engineer Mr. James
i. kiTkwOOd that In no Instance dOes any underground
! railway now In operation have an uninterrupted line OF
tunnel equal m rngth 10 line the battery Four
/ teenth St. distance Of two aud q half mules.
The subways IN London have the advantage OF ntl-
merous open cuts which afford facilities for ventilation.
without which openings, IN the Judgment OF engineers,
! ties hardly 10 he overcome.
Denomination Of some elaborate drawings, ropOsNc re-
atng to the metropolitan tndergronnd) Railway of Lon
\. j