The New York herald., 1869-12-29

AL About the Broadway cneu-
matte Tunnel.
The Law and the PrOilts-What Is Doing
and What Will BE DOne-A New Way
OF 'sPufIing'' Merchandise
Relief to Broadway.

IHc CRUSH anu upTOdI WHICH CHaI1ClcIlLeo tHht
splendid thoroughfare is soon to be abated. Mer-
chants are to enjoy the pleasure OF seeing their
goods, II not themselves, extensively pufred. The
Pneumatic transit Company is to do 1t all. Organ
lied under acts OF the Legislature, the company
went TO work quietly but effectively, to show the
Iaith that was IN them and demonstrate the sound
ness OF the theories their agents presented at
Albany by actual results. They took for their pro-
gramIne the transmission OF merchandise, mails
and parcels under the surface OF the city
by the system OF pneumatic tubes, and
unostentatiousy 10 carry II out. Certain papers OF
slow reputation were considerably exercised
the fact that something-they did not know what-
was being done beneath their feet Of which they
could learn nothing. In their case, ignorance was
the reverse of bliss. Business without blowing had
the aspect Of treachery. Tie Pneumatic Company
rummagng under ground seemed to them a vast as
sociation for the wholesale robbing OF banks and
counting houses. In some countries wild ducks are
pulled beneath the surface by clever dargy swim
mers gliding beneath them. Might 1T not be
the case argued these journalistic solons that tue
mysterious pneumatics harbored fell designs against
the safes In Wall streetS There was no proof that
the pneumatics were guilty bur, then, no proof OF
innocence was offered. The company worked and
said nothing
The facts concerning the formation organization
and intentions OF the Pneumatic Company have not
yet been published; but as an attempt has been
made to surround The doings OF the company With
mystery by those who lacked the enterprise TO OBJ
tain the facts, we give below sketch OF what has
already been done ana what is proposed 10 be done
for the expeditions delivery OF goods and parcels by
the Pneumatic Transit Corporation.
HISTORY OF THE PNEUMATIC CoNrASr.
In 1868 tie Legislature authorized and empowered
and MAINTAIN one or moie pneumatic tuLes in the
soil beneath the Streets squares and Of New
YORK and Brooklyn. The act OF 1858 amended
IN 1869. According to Mhese acts the excavations
were to be made and the tubes were to be ad under
the supervision and direction Of The Croton Aque-
duct department, so Us not 10 interfere with the
sewers water pipes or gas pipes. They were not,
by the act to disturb vaults OF sidewalks fronting
on private property without the consent ol the
owners OF such property. Under these acts the
associates or corporators several months ago
menceu their excavations in Broadway, opposite to
Devns store corner Of Warren street. They have
come do wn Broadway considerable distance, under
the SUPERINTENDENT OF the CHEF Engineer OF the
CrotOn Department, who has constantly visited aud
given directions as to good work, to the end that no
injury should he done TO the street or To the sewers
or water or gas pipes. Thus far no such injury nus
been done, and the company are pushing their work
vigorously aud successfully down Broadway.
THE RESULT EXPECTED
IT. az the success OF the operators thus far would
Indicate, the company succeed i'll their undertaking,
the effect will be TO head or the schemes for under
ground railroad communication in Broadway, one Of
which, called the Arcade scneme purposes to dig up
the Whole width OF Broadway tear up the sidewalks
stone and iron stoOps; Dig down twenty feet more
along the side OF the buildings each side Of
the street, scoop out the whole OF Broadway to the
same depth drive the tenants our OF the stores ana
offices whiie tins work OF vandalism Is going on:
fill the street with dirt and debris, SO rs 70 soil and
damage all goods aud fill all the basement stores
with smoke and the Odor OF engine grease II this
pneumatic tube project shall have the effect TO avert
such calamity 1t VIII do nnnIe service TO the city
and the property holders on broadway.
The following Is the act OF the Legislature alluded
to, which was passed June l, 1865. ana the aInenda
tory net OF last session. passed May 1863 author
King the company TO proceed aud de6.itng their
powers. Tle resolutions or the Croton Aqueduct
mitigation OF tue law OF 1865, inserted between tue
acts. 1t would have been better, perhaps, II the
Croton Department had control OF the work OF tun-
nelllng; Tut as no damage has been done to the
streets thus far 1t IS reasonable to expect that the
company VIII exercise the same caution IN their
more extended operations. When the success OF
the first section has been secured the company
intend to bore the city in every direction and tunnel
under ihe rivers to Brooklyn ana Jersey II they
succeed the RELIEF to overcrowded Broadway and
Church street Will be immense and the citizens Will
nave reasons TO thank the pneumatic Transit com.
pany:-
CHAPTER s42. LAWS 1855.
Ar AGr for M the cs. m s q r
and across the North and East rivers by OF
public places in said
sreros Alfred E. Bs"es aoser Hatfield Horace
Ca,wcl, Nathan kellogg Moses s. Beach Sasnst Wales
4. Mem, Thomas Graham, = Q. Ford John I; Ashe,
so ana J. r. n e and ..ssn Gs %
thorzed and empowered 70 lay down. conr9c! and
New York and Br9SSkyn and under sa the bed bed
cities, and also under the bed OF the waters Of the North
but at such depth not to interfere with navigation add
to convey letters pacxages parcels mails nerchandss and
means Of vehicles be operated therein by the
eoSvense o @ paoe 10 a opec Of ss e
said vehicles, the said and their also
the said Streets and pubic places suitable
M or :s % S
the dspos, Of Letters P.ess and properly 70 ne Transmitted
vault nor under any sidewalk, fronting private
properly without the consent OF and to me
and determined in the parties cannot agree the
entitled Ha aSi to authorize the roraan Of Of @ r
road corporations and TO regulate the same and the
soil beneath the surface thereof herein authorized and
o the Corporate thereof rec xod is s
that Saoe iii. ss
said tubes from the Post oes Nassau r SIRE =
between Cedar and Liberty streets in the city OF New YORK.
shall be pui In ' "'''
and continue for the period of months
tincate that effect be by Postmaster Tor tie
~
Comptroller of said city orfy Of tbe shall ne MED
in the of the secretary proceeding lay
down and construct other lines OF pnuematc
hereinbefore authorized.
THE REMAINING SECTIONS
of this act explanatory OF the power or the com
pany 10 form themselves into q corpOration aud
prescribe penalty for nJuring the machinery used
III the WORK. &c.
ACTION or THE CRoroS BOARD.
At meeting Of the Crot0n Aqueduct Boari ON tile
goth Of November, 1865, the following resolutions
were adopted Tor the purpose OF defining The bowers
Of the Pneumatic Company IN relation to the Board
under the act owing to the fact. however, that the
explanatory law OF lsd9 took away the powers con-
ierred thc Board IN relation To the company the
license was not issued and no INSPECTOR was
Resolved, That the said Pneumatic Transit Company
the permission OF this Board locate and construct
tube or tunnel from point on Nassau street. In front Of the
lost Ohce and between Liberty Cedar through
Nassau and IN the middle OF said
thence oy curve to the middle OF Cedar and
along the middle of Cedar street to Brcad-