The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-05
THE ELEVATED AND UNDERGROUND RAIL-
ROADS.

ROADS,
The frghtful condition of the streets and the con-
sequent lmpediment to travel for the last week ma
turay suggests the inq airy what progress has been
made by the two companies organized last year for
the purpose Of constructing railroads, one over
ground and the other-in the true spirit Of oppost
ton-under ground, for the purpose Of relieving our
streets Of the heavy tranic BY which they are now
INSTRUCTED and providing for up town and Westches-
ter residents Of speedy to their homes
from the centre OF business in the city.
1t Is neither dattering to our pride as go-ahead
people nor encouraging to those who suier most BY
the absence Of any means OF exit from the city, like
the underground railway in London, constructed
years ago and now In full operation, through tho
spirit and enterprise Of people we sometimes stig-
matlze as eee, to have 10 confess that one or the
schemes for which charter was granted by the
Legislature Of last year has been abandoned,
and that the other Is making but slow
progress. Perhaps this unsatsiactor condition Of
affairs in both companies may be soon altered; but
perusal Of the following brief account OF the
present condition Of the elevated railroad and the
underground railroad will establish the facts above
stated
THE ELEVATED RAILROAD.
the commencement. construction and plan OF which
were fully described in the HERALD when tho COM
pany commenced operations last summer has been
Isl.
to the corner OF Greenwich and Csrtlandt streets.
owing, however, to tins haste with which the COM
pany were compelled 70 build this section Of the road
Tor the inspection Of the authorities appointed by the
work (which was held with the most favoraDis
in machinery which suggested themselves to
the engineers OF the road during the progress of
since the Trial Of the cars on the trace. bent al
their energies to the Improvement and completion
OF the section, In order that another trial may b
before a a
tts entire length ALI the stock issued yet has
been for the building OF the half mile section.
placed under srouna a. the corner ' Of 6orsancs
street. In Greenwich street. and several alterations
very important alteration taken place m the po
sitlon and dircctonOf the CHAINS BY which the cars
the chain was under ground ana moved only in one
direction but now 1t 10 placed on top OF the elevated
road and runs IN both directions few other eltera-
wheels, on which the safety OF the cars depends,
which are thought to be improvements OF an tmpor-
tant character 1t Is expected that all the altera-
lions and improvements which the engineers deem
advisable to make VIII be completed in few days,
when the car. which Is now lying on the track, WIN
be run again on the halfmile section and better
test OF the scheme viii be afforded the pubic a. well
as the inspectors appointed 10 examine the road
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
10 FOR all present purposes failure. The company
decided last Wednesday to abandon the attempt and
and setting forth all the difficulties they encoun
tered and what obstacles they overcame since they
pany say that all the engineering difficulties which
seemed so formidable have been successfully
met and that the only OBSTACLE which could not be
surmounted was financial one. The gentlemen
who composed the Board VI Directors OF the COM
pany protest that In suggesting the scheme, In
turc winch authorized It, and IN endeay0ring TO IN
duce capitalists 10 subscribe to the stock they were
actuated solely with desire 10 benefit the city.
They each willing to So 900 or 1000 IN tho
undertaking. provided other capitalists would give
them proper support. Collectively they were ready
tn an nj ~
Legislature to be subscribed before the undertaking
was commenced II the other million was subscribed
by outside CAPITALISTS They further say that they
could easily raise the sum required for the Ast de-
post with tine Comptroller of the state q prescrbe0
IN the act, from the general public but that, In vloW
Of the extraordinary conditions imposed ON them b.
the Legislature they did not feel justified In riHkfn9
the money Of people VINO could, perhaps, not snord
ing the company waich was passed on the nth OF
April 1885, II VIII be seen that IA view OF the facts
mentioned by the directors, no other result than
suash up could be anticipated. section twelve Of
the act SAWS
hereby made condition Of this gran. that said
pry shs 0efore tho LIST day deposit with
ne gomrtreler O this state The SUM Of IN bonds Of
r. ey VIII the the %
rsly aua senps.s the .rni was The he time Limited
TINE and manner herein provided, the sa,d COmp.rollef
IONS Of nssr. iserson % s,s said company; but upoa
failure either g eo.msncs or eSmp ,.a tunnel sns
sc saa sm q ssSS5o bonds a, Aforesaid shs s. Tor
Ssw YORK 'Sa % NE .aies
tlnd thereof ~ " further provided that before Aafd
shall commence the construction said tun-
mel AMI railway, and o. ar before the LIST day OF
January ncrt, said company shall procure valid sub
scrplions their STOCK male by responsible parties
10 the anQvnt of S3NUUol and sns establish the fact
tho ~ OF s, subscriptions and % The responsibility
,as ar.es making ss sG ,Sa esc , q ,ac
Nv sad Ga1anIo.lpr ani Ned b nip win wy sevn IL
arv OF state snd said cnllneats when hak shA,s
vibrant company Tor oolnmeaclng sasd rsK u.
ns failure OK sid 10 deposit The snd
ann s0lo procure the iins Of said certinnte III
ssi COMPTROLLER before the t day OF January next -
provided 10 his hea aci IN either Of said events this act
shall cease, determine aud become void
Tim company found OH applying to the dlfYevent
corporations aud BANKS for support tnat the cond-
tons contained 10 the foregoing were rather loo.
much for men of capital 10 atom cn, AMI the result
Is failure. They viii. however memorabilia the Leg
stature 10 give them saoEhet chance by extending
TIE time for tue commencement of the work
months AMI Ia striking cut taa e3Do,oo1 clause. In
the meantime nothing can pe done 70 forward the
interest OF The upderi akIny The Lllps and surveys
taken OF tue proposed route OF tho under ground rad
road have been very carefully maie and all cng-
neefs 10 whom tue ANS nave been submitted unite
IA the opinion thai toe pra toahi ~ Of the scheme h.
fully proved The rrsb estimate Of the cost oi con-
EfGcuon was 81, 10000 per nile. Dut tl0 directors
now beieyc Bnce AL the maps and plans have been
4.s. NItAA u -. -.