The New York herald., 1869-11-04


The great problem OF such universally OF interest
70 our uptown residents who, rs is well known. en-
brace the bulk OF our business population, as to
moro speedy transit between their residences and
places or business, has been promised for long
time TO DO partially settled at last by'the Elevated
Railway. There have been talks OF underground
railways. and companies have been formed
and charters granted, but nothing has been
done towards bringing about the end sought
to be accomplished and the accomplishment
OF which IS such an indisputable desideratum to
fully threefourths OF our population. The pioneer
In taking hold OF this matter 10 substantial earnest
Is the Elevated Railway Company. Having formed
company and obtained charter they went to
work with q hearty Will. In view or the interest
attaching to the subject and general desire to know
the causes OF tho delays in the progress Of the work.
and when it will be completed. we give below an
epitomtsed history Of this elevated railway enter
prise, the character OF the men who have got hold
OF and the dificuties in the way OF Its pletion
what they have already done, what still remains to
DO done and when the work will be competed.
BEGINNING or THE WORK.
The rapidly increasing exodus OF our business
population to the upper part OF the city within the
past few years, aud the slow and tedious means OF
communication between the upper ana lower parts
OF the island, has set many TO thinking If there was
any possibility OF remedying existing evils In this
regard. IL Is unnecessary to go I'll the plans
that have been proposed TO this end. The great
point sought to be achieved has been the economy
OF time In getting down town and back. Everybody
knows how annoying and uresome is riding In our
crowded city cars and 0mnibuses and then tho time
lost Is consideration OF great Importance to large
numbers 1t requires shrewdness to soc that such
a scheme successfully carried out Is sure to bring
fortune to Its projectors With this In view-tha is
to effect rapid transit between the upper and
lower portions OF the city, and OF course TO make
fortune also-the Elevated Railway Company was
organized. This was nearly three years ago. Its
plan appeared to be the least Objectionable OF all the
others. the least expensive in carrying out and
quiring the least time in its accomplishment. 1t
would not interfere with the streets through which
1t passed only very slightly; 1t would not,
like Underground railways. interfere with the
foundations of buidngs 1t could be built so as to
be perfectly safe to passengers and the motive
power would be the swift compelling power OF
steam. The best practical engineers were consulted
In advance of anything being done as the entire
feasibility OF the plan and they reported 1t not only
practicable. but an almost absolute immunity from
danger to passengers. Fortunately, men OF the
most reliable character took hold OF It, Their plans
perfected they applied to the state Legislature for
charter. and, having obtained it, went 10 WORK.
This charter, as is wen known. was preliminary in
Its character being granted only to run from the
Battery, through Greenwich street, to Cortlandt
street, and II proving successful, the grant to
tend 1t TO i0nkerS TO be gven The first charter
granted In 1867, and . supplementary charter the
year following. One condition OF the charter Is
the net prots The conditions OF the charter as to
the experimental portions OF the line, between the
Battery and Cortandt street. having been complied
wlth Governor HOFFMAN on the first OF last month,
on bonds for $500 900 being filed for the completion
OF the work as required, gave permission for the
continuance or the road TO Thirtieth street.
PLANS OF THE ROAD.
The plan adopted Tor the construction OF the Eie-
the columns OF the HERALD as to render detailed
description ut present unnecessary; The iron
columns supporting the rails extend fourteen feet
above the pavement, reaching the second story win
dows or the buildings on the street. and are ono
foot In diameter, are made Of wrought iron
masonry seven feet deep and seven feet square,
They are made In two sections each, firmly fastened
umns have been thoroughly tested and are each
capable OF supporting $50 tons weight, which far ex-
ceeds the weight Of any possible number OF passen
gers that the most ambitious conductor can crowd
into car. The weight OF full car load OF passen.
gers win not in fact exceed two tons Each beam
also been subjected to hydraulic pressure twenty
tons before being placed on the columns. The princ
pie Of running It is by stationary engines halt mile
apart which prope an endless steel rope, supported
trucks OF four wheels also running inside rails
at an interval OF 1o0 feet The frame OF the trucks
form triangle on top, The cone OF which is called
from platform OF the car which. when lifted,
allows the truck aud rope to pass
start the again the lever is turned
when the truck catches the lip, setting the car in
feet long and seven eet wide and neatly fitted In
side with OAK and black walnut. They give seats to
ee IL amee and made Oh Of wood w ,afss stee
nanges one and three e-guarter inches wide, which
hold the wheels on the track. Iron bars ten inches
wide are on either side of the car, running the full
length OF the car within about two inches OF the
track on which y is supported by heavy elliptic
springs. Should the wheels or the car, by any Jolt,
impediment or any accident, be thrown from the
track, the bars on each side Will prevent its being
propelled TO the ground. Underneath the floor OF
the car, between the bars are arranged six elliptic
springs OF two feet span each, moving on wheels
which break the shock OF the truck carrying the
the side from stationary platforms at intervals along
the route The speed ID regulated by brakes like cars
detail as to the construction OF the road il ia ony
necessary to gay In general terms that Its mode OF
construction Is evidently the most perfect that could
be desired 1t ID the result OF careful and elaborate
study, and VIII unquesti0nably prove perfectly sue
cessful when In complete operation. The estimated
expense OF the road is about $780, 900, which is only
fractional part OF the expense OF building an unuer.
ground railway OF the length this Will be when
finished.
DIFFICUITIEs IN THB WAY.
Serious obstacles presented themselves at the out
set against going on with the building OF the road
ttudlnous legal controversies arose, which took
tune to htgate and SETTLE After getting out OF the
courts which , Of course; & IKE 1 all suits suits at law
fculty In getting the necessary iron. The contract
ors did not furnish the iron as fast as 1t was re-
uured or as fast stipulated in their agreement.
This was u source OF preliminary delay the worst
trouble or all was the money giving ont Parties
living along the upper section OF the route not
as prompt IN paying over money promised rs they
were in making their original promises. Again, the
company had ne misfortune to have selected Lock
wood Il Co.. VINO recently failed, the deposftaries
OF their funds Fortunately they have not been pecu
MARY losers, the money due them having all been
paid. The work, however was temporarily delayed
on account Of II.
THE WORK STILL 70 BIZ DONE.
We have alluded above to lack of capital pre-
venting the completion OF the road. Within the past
few weeks all the capital necessary, however, TO
finish II 10 Thrteth street. has been paid In. The
result that The WORK Is now DeiDg prosecuted with
the utmost possible vigor. it ID now promised and
confidently expected that by the lst OF January the
road will be completed TO the point namedthat Is,
that tho building OF single track VIII pc finished