The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-08
TRAVELLING In THE AIR.

The Elevated Observation-Disclosures Exhi-
bition Of the First Section-lIow the Road
Is Operated-The style Of Cars Used.
The first section OF the Elevated Railway on Green
wich street. between the Battery and Cortlandt
street, Is now completed and in running order. BY
invitation the members OF the press Witnessed the
operation thereof yesterday afternoon and gave the
road q thorough inspection. The plan Of
the Elevated Railway has been explained
in these columns at length; but since
then a great many improvements have been
made in the track. the machinery and
the propelling power. The company having control
OF this road have had great obstacles to contend
with. Suits at law innumerabe had TO be defended,
and in some cases bitterly contested, until finally
the courts decided in favor Of the company. Fur.
thermore the iron for the road not furnished by
the founders as fast as it was wanted hence the
work Jagged. Recently, however, the decisions Of
the courts in favor OF the company and vast i'm
provements In the machinery gave an impetus to
the construction and there is every prospect that
the road Will be open for traffic about the LIST or
next November.
The first section is run by stationary engine
located in the cellar the southeast side OF Green
witch and Cortlandt streets, which pr0pels an end
less steel rope supported trucks OF four wheels
also running inside Of rails at an interval OF 100
feet. The frame Of the trucks form a triangle on
catches dip" attached to lever, worked from the
platform OF The car, which, when lifted allows the
truck and rope to pass by and the remains
stationary. In order TO start the car again turn OF
the lever Is necessary, when the truck catches
the lip and the carriage In motion.
The car itself is ingeniousy constructed. is about
thirty feet in length aud fitted up plain and neat 1t
Will accommodate forty passengers. 10 runs on
eight wheels, three feet In diameter made OF wood
Steel nanges one and threequarers OF an inch wide
hold the wheels on to the track. On either side OF
the car are iron bars ten inches WIDE running the
full length OF the car within about two inches of the
track, on which heavy elliptic springs support the
body OF the carriage. Should, by some extraordi-
nary accident the wheels or the car leave the track
the bars on each side would prevent the same
from being preclpita,sd Ito to q, the ground:
or the car are arranged six elliptic springs
OF two feet span, moving on wheels, which break
tire shock OF the truck carrying the rope when the
car is started. While under way there IL scarcely
any vibration felt. The track Is apparently very
solid and the motion Of the car very easy.
The speed is regulated by the brakes, and the
noise the car makes by running Is scarcely percep
BILE. Horses view the moving mass over head with
indifference, and people underneath the track
scarcely look up.
The time made between the Battery and Cortlandt
street, over half mile. was one minute ano quar-
rte. The company intends to put on cars enough
TO accommodate all the trafc; and, in order TO give
working people every show possible they will run
cars for their exclusive dement, morning and eveh
ing at about half fare.
The depots, as arranged at present. will be located
at the Battery, COrtlandt street, Franklin Bethune
and Twenty second streets. In q snort time the
company also propose to erect steam elevators to
lit persons and baggage to the platform from which
way will be grand institution when finished, es-
pecially when the double track Is built AT the ex-
hibitiOns yesterday thousands OF people Witnessed
the operation with considerable interest,"