The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-05-01
From the New York World, April "a
Elevated Railroad in New York City.

The legislature did not adjourn without
passing bill for the erection OF an elevated |
road. The bill has received the governors
signature, and is likely to go into immediate
operation. Of the multifarious projects
brought before the legislature during It's last
session, this was thought the most feasible.
Whether it is capable of being successfully
| worked, time and it may be, future gener-
| alton, will tell.
The bill provides for the incorporation OF
| three companies, respectively named the
| West Side and Yonkers, Broadway and
Yonkers, and East Side and New Rochelle.
| The route of the frst-named company is to
| commence at the corner of Greenwich street
| and the battery, and, running north on that
| street to Ninth street to a convenient point,
and thence to diverge by the most eligible
route to Kings Bridge. and to the village OF
| Yonkers. In the upper portion OF the city
| it NAV run through the centre of blocks OF
| vacant lots, by purchase of the right OF
| way in the usual manner. The second
| named company is formed to construct
single track railway on similar plan on
| Broadway commencing at the Battery ana
extending to Sixty-fourth street, and thence
| TO Yonkers parallel to the West Side line
| The route of the third-named company to
| commence, as the others, at the Battery, and
| to proceed thence through Pearl street. the
| New Bowerv, and the Bowery to Third Av-
! enue. and thence on or between third ana
| Second Avenues to the Harlem bridge, ana
thence to the village of New Rochelle.
| The structure, when erected IN the streets,
| is to be placed over the curb stone Oh e"0
/ side and supported by wrought iron columns
nine inches in diameter, with spaces VI
| about TWENTY-FIVE feet between the same
Cars are to move in opposite directions upon
the two sides of the streets, each sloe nav
inc a single elevated track. The columns
are to be attached in a patent methed 70 s -,
id foundation piers, or masonry placed Ne
low the surfce, in such manner that the
: structure can be placed in line and adjusted
| | without disturbing the foundation. ne
:, track is to be composed of steel, and calcu
r lated to bear five times the utmost weight o.
loaded passenger cars placed upon it. Tht
d supporting columns are to be kept from os
e eillating by secondary row of smaller col
n umns placed next to the buildings, or by
system of ornamental awning frames con
Meeting the track with the buildings; spring
l. of rubber and steel are to be introduced be
G. meath the track to counteract conclusion, ant
,e it is claimed that cars will be comparatlvel
, / neiseless in moving upon it. Stations TO
" the reception and delivery of passengers ar
TO to be placed at regular intervals of from |
E. 500 to $500 feet apart, and rooms in tn
a. second story buildings are are to be hire
nc for that purpose. The stairways to be with
'' in the buildings, and all conveniences fo
In waiting-rooms furnished. The depot is I
er be connected with the track by thick glas
platform, as is now used in ground floors.
The cars are to be moved by a series !
wire ropes, each performing its office for
distance of about 800 feet, and by pa
ented method the cars pass from one of th
I'M series to the next without change of speed {
tie, loss of power. By this means the size
40. the motive rope or cable is reduced to
much smaller size than ever before deems
TO- practicable for the purpose. Steel wire rol
q one half inch in diameter is deemed sui
es, cient.
"a An estimate of cost of construction cam
=: at this stage be accurately made. The sty
'oo of structure, whether plain for Greenwit
en-, street or ornamental for Broadway, will va
he the cost from $25O,000 to $500,000 per mil
NV When beyond the city limits, or when co
structed through vacant lots in the inter-
- lines of blocks, timber can be substituted f
oa-' iron and large reduction in cost effected
ere When the railway is constructed along Il
nst line of b-stones, no unusual obstruction
:. the ordinary use of the streets or pavemen
q is presented, and the payment of FIVE p
u.s. cent. of the gross receipts (equal to ten p
I'M cent on nett earnings into the city treasur
nv is to be considered full equivalent for rig
,as of way. Whenever private property is tak'
ae or injured, full compensation is to be ma
OF according to provision at present existing
the the general railroad law. Eight depots W
be required in each mile, and the cost
100 rental of such buildings will, on Broadwa
be from $500 to $4,000, each, or fro
es' $4,000 to $4,000 per mile, annually.
zen i Where suitable rooms cannot be obtaine
II. I spiral iron stairways are to be used to rea
Iod the platform, under suitable municipal reg
W lations, as to space occupied, &c.
.lne1 The promoters of this road claim for it
he number of advantages over any before su
to gested amongst these are non-interferen
ar with ordinary traffic, safety, beauty, rapidit
: and the capacity for its being speedily co
sa structed. 1t is intended to construct a pr
!. of the road and thoroughly test it befo
yht bringing it into use. sAhs'