The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-03
THE CENTRAL UNDERGROUND

pure Amercanism, the former modification of the
London plan. bill providing fol-. the construction
THE CENTRAL UNDERGROUND --"
was passed In 1865 with the condition that certain
amount OF work should be done during the year, in
default OF which the grant to be null and void.
Nothing was done, however, Notwithstanding which
certain notifications of the route, which, it was
alleged, had been found necessary to the uiti-
mate Of the The renewal
and 1t was announced last spring that
work would be Immediately commenced. since
n0uncing that something Is abOlt to be done though
the work has made no progress beyond da p6i6dical
engineer rns the Of the
marks tie date Of tic asl tns sort
but the spade has not yet been put to work, the
in the tunnel theory, and that consequently subscrip
tions were not easily obtained. Attempts were made
IN 1858 TO enlist European capitalists in the work,
that English capital was forthcoming to construct
the road and that the engineer was on his way TO
New York. Thls was in the spring Of 1883. but in
1869 the company again appeared before the Legis.
lature asking Tor renewal with modltcations their
proclamatons from time to time having enabled
OF the fluctuations OF values In Harlem and
vicinity In fact. in the fall OF 1868 the company
virtually ate It's own proclamatiOnS and admitted
that no fixed plan had seen settled upon for the con
structA OF the road, ana tnat the was not at
all satisfactory. The company Will come before the
Legislature thus winter with request similar to
that preferred last winter; and the petition Will be
this time for the route OF the Old Manhattan project
so lar as Broadway is concerned In q word it ls
proposed to take upthe route now mapped out for
the Arcade. The list or corp0ratofs includes the
names OF a large number OF eminent and innueatal
business men; but, unfortunately, there Is consider
able dlsailection In various quarters. Members OF
the corporation IN some instances. allcge that the
AFFAIRS OF the company are badly managed Others
maintain that the route is impracucabie winch ~
true in thls-that right Of way, costing In some
quarters the city through which 1t passes at the
rate OF S40Oo,0O0 per mile, with an additional
ST. 800 QUO Tor construction. constitutes rather ex
pensive undertaking.
The company has with Broadway in view, sub.
stantalIy abandoned the plan Of the London tunnel
as 10 ventllation-that Is, by open cuts-and pro-
poses to ventiate by forcing the gases front
atmospheric pressure. The success OF this method
Is even more probematical than that involved IN the
original plan, and Is condemned by eminent en-
gneers quite generally. In short with no better
method OF ventlatlon than the proposed one. II will
be dihcut to convince the Legislature Of any serious
Intention 10 construct the tunnel especially as no
serious intention to comply with the conditions has
been manifested for the past year and hail. during
which promises have been substituted for perform
ance. Inc expenses OF the company thus lar have
been:-
Cash In manipulating Legislature. =. ...... 900
STOCK pledged Tor similar purpose..... 100000
Estimated expenses for 1865 and 1859. ..... 10000
The managing directors Of the road, at the head
OF wn0m stands William b. Ogden have, neverthc-
less, concluded to appear before the Legislature
Win modincatlons oil the plan and OF the route. but
attempt TO effect compromise with the Arcade In
terest, which Is now strong to insist upon having
It's own way and should they succeed In getting a
renewal viii perhaps, II the money can be procured,
endeaVor to build the road; though OF this latter.
having so often announced great deal and done
nothing, 1t will be dincuit 10 give adequate assur.
aDce.
The objection to the Arcade, supported as II has
been by the engineering talent OF the whoe coun-
try, has been tnat IT Is experimental. lille the argu
ment IN favor OF the tunnel has been that " mas
been proved practicable by European expert.
ence. This objection, however, may be urged
with double force against q tunnel ventilated
as proposed. 1t Is IN the opinion OF COM
petent engineers not only experimental, but
experimental In the worst and most absurd sense OF
that adjective, and VIII not bear analysts. "A tun
mel remarks one OF the most eminent engineers In
THIS country, rs always the last resort OF All en-
gineer, and Is nuisance exactly In proportion TO It's
length;' aud, II the tunnel per Sc be dernie, re.
Sort only TO he used at tho last extremity, what shan
be said OF tunnel upon the plan recently pro-
poundedf The steam transit idea has already
cost New York capitalists, all expenses counted, not
less than 00O and yet the solution OF the pro-
bem seem TO be as far on M ever and there remain
to be exhibited only an imposing string Of names OF
companies and half mile OF foOlishy experimental
engineering on the west SIDE OF town. The reai pur-
pose OF the directors OF the Central Underground,
however, Is only thinly yelled by their apparent pur
pose There is doubt but an attempt wal be
made to get possession Of the Arcade plan and route