New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-11-18
QUICK Transit FROM HARLEM
OPINION OF WIN. II. VANDERBILT.


A Committee of the Twelfth and Nineteenth
Ward Citizens Association yesterday waited upon VIM
H. Vanderbilt, Vice President OF the Harlem Railroad
Company u urge the placing OF two moro tracks upon
Fourthave., from Harlem TO Thirty-second-st for
the accommodation Of local travel John Foley I'm ad-
dressing Mr. Vanderbilt said that these tracks should he
sunk eight ten feet deep, and the streetcrossings
brdged over 10 avoid interruption OF business Mr. Van
derbit had it in his power give the required relief as
he now using avenue 40 feet widc without any
adequate benefit TO the residents Of the city. Tho
ment the vacant lots built upon, the Third-aye.
Railroad would do business above Forty seoOndst
than they now do below it.
There doubt that the increase OF the population
In the upper part OF the city would pay profit TO the
Company. The citizens asked favors, but only just
accommodation, for which they would do anything that
was proper. The only way TO get immediate relief
would be over the FOurth-ayc.
Mr. Townsend another member OF the Committee, said
that seamcars onght to stop at points the route
for the accommodation OF the local passengers and that
the widening of the upper tunnel would permit the lay
ing Of two additional tracks. The residents OF Wesehes
ter and Connecticut should not be accommodated with
stopping trains and not the residents OF the east side
The influence of the Association would be cast in the
Legislature for any proper plan that should be devised
Mr.. Vanderbilt thought from the statement OF engi
neers that it would be impossible to widen the tunnel
spoken Of its arches in position and would have
to remain II would be necessary TO build two add
tiona tunnels Mr. Foley had declared that Mr. Wander
bit could do what he pleased but to do what
posed would cost large amounts Of money, and egsla
tive enactments required. FOuTth-ave. had been
laid out for railroad enterprises and he believed it was
best adapted for the proposed movement II would he
impossible to give steam accommodation this side Of
Harlem, for there not patronage enough. The
steam accommodations had not been Withdrawn for that
reason, however. but from fear of collision and e6cl,
dents to passengers. Railroad companies would favor
any project that would quicken transit, In early
Spring the Forty-second-st. depot would be COM
pleted and 1t would ccI,ll1-S be then, what
he believed y 10 ne H6w, The best railroad line in
the city He was not prepared to make any suggestions
IN The proposed steam transit matter IL would have TO
go before meeting of the Board and receive great
deal OF considerations Onethird OF the community ia
Yored underground onc-third OycrgrOund and the
ms.ning third arcade railroads. He had been in under
.T0uld rairoaas abroad aud except from CURIOSITY,
would not care TO 90 agali Tue citiZ.ns Of NewYork
had q slight taste OF an underground railroad in the
F0rthaye. tunnel before il lighted and ventilated
and they did not like II. His idea OF underground
railroad was the FOuIth-ave tunnel. He would com
muHicatc the ideas of the Committee to the Company
and would see about the running OF the MadI51n-aye
cars until midnight.