The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-06
CENTRAL UNDERGROUND RAILWAY.

ing Statement Regarding Underground
Railways Of London.
meeting OF the Board OF Directors Of the Gen.
trail Underground Railway Company was hold ut
their once In Wall street yesterday, the proceedings
Of which were OF an snmates and apparently salts
factory nature particularly to those most interested
IN the project The session lasted about
i've hours. during which the results OF similar
enterprises elsewhere were SO inteligently dis
cussed and deliberately delineated that at It's
close the directors were heard to express
their readiness to at once undertake the scheme,
conndent IN their ability to prosecute the same to q
successful ISSUE Among the documents submitted
for the action OF the meeting the reports Of the
several engineers, who have spent considerable time
In surveying the proposed route. These were
referred to the next meeting, at which they WILL
without doubt, receive duo consideration, the
most interesting matter, however presented to the
board was report embracing the personal observa-
tions OF William A. Whtbeck. one OF the directors,
who has recently returned rom Europe embodying
minute statement regarding the underground rail.
ways IN London, and which g as rollows:-
The aggregate length of underground railways In
operation in London is about ten miles. One hun
dred and ten thousand passengers ride daily on
these roads Trains ran every three minutes during
the busy hours OF the day. Notwithstanding the
trains run In such quick succession the signal sys-
tenn is so perfect that no accident from collision has
yet occurred tram IS not allowed to leave sta
ton until IL Is signaled .'clear to the next. The
increasing number of trains however, VIII soon
require adjustment OF the signals that trains
may start on sQuGls clcarn TO points between the
stations, and thus The capacity OF the roads may be
nearly doubled.
The stations are about half mile apart AMI pas
senpers pay taer iare on entering these az do at
ferry houses and descend by broad and spacious
stalrWays 10 the platforms These are about go
feet III length, OF ample breadth and level with
the doors OF the The doors the sides OF
the cars and TO step on or OIL 10 not attended
the least excrtion or dinicuty. The Cars being wel
| lighted with Gas, are bright and cheerful Every
during certain hours morning and evening; the fare
on these Is penny for the whole length OF the road.
| The road bed IL most perfect, and, not being ex-
posed to the action OF the elements or other dis
turbnR causes 10 always in the best condition. The
rails are OF steel, and very heavy. The brakes ana
running gear are more perfect than Can be used on
surface roads. The locomotives consume their own
smoke and gas, and, being very powerful, are able
to get IN motion qnickly and run at any rate o.
the trains dash into the station, and now quickly
stop and start again, coming to stand or attaining
| least NOISE from squeaklng, rafting and grind
ing OF brakes and wheels Tnis absence OF
the TACT that the rails and wheels are '.deadened >
There Is no perceptble difference between the at
mosphere Of the tunnel and that above it, the ven
tllalion is good. AMI. considering that the tunnel IS
Tree from dust, smoke and cinders to ride " 1t Is
less annoying and quite as healthy as travelling on
| however, recently received practical solution,
which will remove the doubts and fears OF many per-
on that subec and. at the same time silence
! the objections OF those who have SO persstentiy
urged She adoption OF various impractible schemes
OF transportation at the expense OF the tunnel pan
| The single track branch road lately opened to ST.
| Johns Wood, runs through q tunnel about half as
| large az that or the nam line. 1t has been
found in operating this small tunnel that the aims
net like the piston and follower IN the cylinder that
great portion OF tue air IN the tunnel 10 forced out
OF 1t ahead OF the they move on ana fresh air
behind
| formed. and thus by the simple movement OF the
trains air may be forced out and IN the tunnel to any
extent required This PROCESS, OF course, goes to
some extent in running trains through the large
tunnels suitable for two tracks and IL would take
place n a still less degree In the "Arcade'i subway:
but in neither OF these - this atmospheric action
complete, and It may now be considered settled in
two or more tracks are required, that each should
run In separate tunnel Another important fact
seems also determined by tnis-yk., that the
tunnel is the only subway that be properly
tllated. separate construction requires less depth
OF excavation and IS not so expensive generally as
the man tunel pian-that 10 10 say. q compartment
tunnel with arches resting on dividing walls, sut
bic for two or more tracks, will cost less than SIN
| gle tunnel vide enough to accommodate the same
| Tnis principle OF ventilation Is not new. 1t has
ways III New York Tor several years past; It's correct
ness Is now proved by the operations in London.
tlnneway may now DO operated with ventilation
complete nom the Battery to the Harlem river with
out open cuts. except side ones at the stations.
Most OF the city travel by rail IN London IL on tho
as many suppose The latter are for the most rart
combinations within the city OF the great lines COM
Ing from the country. They are massive structures
OF masonry, running high the surface, like the
Harlem railroad where 1t runs along Fourth avenue.
London IL is not allowed TO run locomotives on q
level with the streets. The experiment was tried q
few years ago OF building an elevated road on
framework or supports OF iron; 1t was failure,
however, and had 10 be abandoned. No more
elevated railways WIN probably be built in
London at best they are indadequata to
public wants, and their construction involves sd
much injury and damage 10 property adjacent that
the practlcabity OF The Underground Road IS estab.
lsned. The latter causes no injury TO adjoining
property, and IN reality utizes what was before
unused-vlZ the ground ana space beneath the sur
face OF the streets. In short public opinion In Lon
don has settled down to the conclusion that ele
waited road Is nuisance, ana that an underground
railway y the grandest pubic Improvement In that
city.
Difficulties OF construction were, OF course en-.
countered in the London tunnel. Sewers had 10
be changed, gas and water pipes protected;
position; but all the obstacles anu mishaps that in
eyitaby occur In earring on work OF this Kind in the
heart OF great city were from time to time met and
successfully overcome. For ms ance, the tunnel
from Westminster bridge to Bacafriars bridge, q
distance OF ABOUT one mule, Is located In the en-
bankment OF the Thames, about midway between
the Old bulkhead line and the new einbanklnent
line. below tue water level and where until recently
boats lay ana the tide ebbed and flowed. The work
OF construction Is now actually going on and being
successfully completed On this portion OF the line.
Ihs ana another smaller section remain to be done
| 20 complete the elmer circe,n when nc Is est.
mated) the daily rate OF transportation Will 20 UP
| once TO 100000.
| A large and rapidly increasing business OF the
Underground railway has enabled the company Ia
| pay the interest on o large bonded Indebtedness
| aso dlyidends OF Ave and six per cent upon It's
| Stock which IS now selling above par. Bat few
railroads In Great Britain can show better results
| than these. THIS income Will be largely increased
by the sale rental OF lands and buildings over the
| tunnel Where the right OF was purchased aud
which, until recently produced no revenue. Again,
the road is projected in circle about one quarter
oil which, the most important section, remains TO be
completed aud until thai Is done at least Cne-third
OF the line, arendy finished and In operation does
not pay, and 49, In reality, an circumference the
| company. II the company can pay dividends now,
| how much more may be expected or II wnen the en-.
dosbled aud ali its property and resources maze
iuiy ayaiablel
heavy a0DD 1RE IN pCRCaEs TER, MSS.