New-York tribune., 1867-02-18
THE PROTECTED TUNNEL RAILWAYS.

10 N, ydi,or Of Tlr y v Trtbn>.
Su: Yon have set forth editorially what seem to
vo the advantages OF the "Tranit road, which con
templates The purchase OF line Of buildings from the
Battery To Central Park and the construction OF three
story railroad within them; and now, wah your usual
foiruess YOU offer to give hearing to the Tunnel road
which commends itself 10 many as superior plan
will he brief
IN referring 10 the projected tunnel road you describe
IT, rather carrlcsy only tunnel road from Brook
lyn to jersey City. passing under the East ana North
Rivers" think your readers understand thai the main
lines (of the Metropolitan Tunnel Road, OF which j. BoOr
man Johnston Joel Wolfe the Hon John Thompson aud
others are named as decOrs) 80 nOrihWaid nom
the Battery passing beneath the surface Of Broadway TO
the CITY Hail. and thence and under the Third ana
Eighthaves Harlem River This Brpok{h dhd JcrttF
CITY conunct ION however is an important branch nl me
eDterprse and H. regarded entirely practicable by the
I viii nssiiInc ~ yon have done that the of
Ordinary street railways are about exhausted ana tGat
spccdicr means Of longitudinal travel Tor me c\
are absolutely demanded Then believe that the tunnel
/ plan has certain positive advantages q. follows , ,
l. Spted-Eaeh line u equipped WIN loUr lracks lhe
two inside trains at the rate of 20 miles an hour
and convey passengers from central f4lA 10 Jhe ''F
| = SGfig-Iuilke every other plan will cross no
track. streets. ana collision viii be impossible II "uI
be never the way while near enough 10 he always con
Vcnieut n viii not only not interfere WIN ordinary
travel or traffic, bat viii actually stimulate the latter
| and give greater freedom 10 the former -
g. Protection iiunnlns m wacrtieht tunnels u Willie
out Of the reach OF disturbing "cmrn,S wntieas tne
"tiaIsit road would be imper.lcd every wcok by fires
4 icressbiiitp The accommodation trains will be ap
/ preached by lobby stnirwnysnt every corner.
3. COifOTf.-SpaciOuN cars Will De provided, ana Tie
whole viii he abundantly lighted with gas-lcs, agree
able Of course than daylight bu preferable, perhaps. 10
the Transit effect where the passengers would he ~
"tunncl" half The inic. thorough me- hOd of ycniDi
ton has been devised, keeping the tunnel cd "thie'h
air.
Eeonornl- II viii require ~ The present real
tate OF he city The Transit" plan ha, been approved
for it, economy in ths respect, but u VIII not seriously
be contcudcd That 10 purchase right OF way through the
entire length Of the city, crossing 10 streets aud occupy
ing 800 expensive buildings within block OF broadway
at cost OF six 60 Ten luOu dollars, is economy, when
compared with the utilizing Of suhieIiuncan space.
where the whole right ot way may be had without dol
lars Iy the tunnel plan room would actually
bc added &" the oy"rTowdcd cty: by ilc "1ranNii
mcthod more man ~ Huuhf" acres :" Vhu9Dic nuudhS'
would I've lost tO commerce, ard practically destroyed .
bindings need not remind YOU, belonging DOT only 10
lhcr roNiciS bu' 'ooEciy Ou,'rS man OI tIc h'lpPp
M say they world DE- practically destroyed tOr what
wonld they he worth di,cmbOwelcd by tlree,tOy rail
road. ana haunted nghi ana DAY by hundred loconq
movesq rhero only the small number Of 81 build
ing lots. occupied ana vacant ~ the total aggregate on
our Nahd Snai me IAlse itlcloh OF ~ acres pn'laI
covered with buidng- bc drv0urcd for The benefit of the
remainder n there ~ any aeruatNcf Would that he
T. TeosiJailg The Tunnel Road a. your readers arc
aware is not experiment. Such road mas for some
years been running ~ London ana now describes a c
hpc under The pOpulous crncrof the metropolis whore
it cOust ruced IN the most eNtrayagnnt manner with
every disauNaIIagr ana I'D tlr i'c 3i every opr'aclc
Vet IL pays and gains rapidly ~ popularity, carrying
many passengers per year as the Ihirddye Road in TINS
g. Concentrations According 10 the 'chcme Of the Me
under the City Hall Park, aud the tracks or all the
vcrgng roads be- OF the ordinary guage, that the
mail from every direction through the tun
nelS 10 the basement OF the POstOfCe without
minutes delay additional handling This feature has
l believe, been already earnestly commented In TnE
TRIBUNE.
.. The Metropolitan Tunnel bill Is the only one that
stands any chance Of passing The Senate Special Com
mfoc has already reported this plan, the Senate will
stand by is Committees deliberate decision and the As
sembly shows uunistakabc indications OF cOncuITing
Anybody who has been In Albany during the last fort
night Will tell you that II this franchise shall be denied
the great work of relief will go 20 another year,
without beginning. You are not probably aware
that the Joint Railroad Committees, at ther recent
sion, passed by vote Of 10 TO resolution declaring
themselves decided ia favor Of tuel rOada fact which
all the reporters have failed 10 chronicle.
This project of tunncng crowded mBrts, and
whislng the weary thousands underground and away TO
tcT homes at the rate Of 20 miles hour 10 he
the ultimate science ~ metropolitan trayel-the fiual
solution of thc problem how 70 relieve the packed and
stifcd cenerS of population Better and cleaner dormi
tories In BhXtest and the Five Points required less
than sale. cheap and rapid transit 90 the upper part Of
this island. The city does not need Ventilation much
IL need, diffusion And believe that careful and de-
berae study Of the projects will result In the
inevitable conclusion that the tunnel road IL adapted 10
secure il with the maximum OF speed. economy, safety
and comfort, ". A. &
Ncic- YOrL, Feb. 10. 1867.