The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-10
EDITION
Barring THE BORE.
QAn Urlergrouvd Passenger Railway in New
Yoak-DetstIs and Progress of the Work.

Y@ESbessiis and Progress OF the Work.
4 The New York Herald Of yesterday had long
article on this subject, from which we condense
. the lollowing:-
/ All statements and articles lately printed about
! the purposes for wbich the Broadway tunnei
was beiHg constructed have been erroneous, and
I have been written on the assumption that the
tube was not for the transmission OF passengers,
but for packages and merchandise, as authorized
+by law. Such an assumption, II appears, was
&wrong as may be judged from the statements
1given below. Pneumatic tunnels have been In
3operation in London and other European cities
flor some years, and their triumphant success
early engaged the attention of some scientific
xEentlemen, who convinced number OF wealthy
Xtapitalists that the construction OF
Strong, mason-lined horizontal TUBE
Running from the Battery to the
Harlem river, and branching off under the East
0hnd North rivers, would he a remunerative en-
terprisiug, and public spirited project as well as
relief to the one hundred thousand citizens
Ihgho, doing business in New York, reside in the
xsuburbs TO escape high rents and ruinous taxa
|tion. Moved by such lofty purpose company
was organized, with Mr.. Alfred K. Beach as
xPresident. Mr. Joseph Dixon was made Super
HSntendent: Mr. Moses s Beach, Treasurer with
Mr &. X. Graham as Constructing Engineer
who has had much experience in the building OF
Xtunnels in London. In June, 1865 an act
H of the Legislature was passed empowering
the corporation to commence operations
BIZ accordance with the plan rs stated above.
ISeveral millions of dollars in stock was almoss
immedjatoly subscribed, and backed by an
cnormous capital and the best foreign and
Enative skill, the work was inaugurated at the
corner of Broadway and Warren streets, on the
B1st of June, 1868. At that time the entire base
ment of Mr.. Devlin's store was leased,
and the company began to dig tunnel
Not above fifteen men have been employed in
connection with the tunnel at any one time, but
fthey have been skilled In their several depart
ments, and have worked diligently and faith
Hfuhy. Secrecy was enjoined upon all hands, but
1for what reason cannot be understood. Surely
the enterprise is vast, important and is one in
81 which the general public has deep and abiding
~ interests. IL shows one thing-that the very
object which was sought to be accomplished has
been defeated by the singular mode adopted;
and what odium surrounds the undertaking has
come from a suspicion that all is not right in q
work which it is necessary to conceal. Perhaps
the company was afraid of jealous capital, of
grasping politicians or local interference In
either case the action has been I'M judicious.
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE TUNNEL.
The tunnel has now advanced to Barclay street,
opposite the corner of the Astor House. The
mason worl; follows the shield and keeps it
pace, and the masonry is never six inches be-
hind the shield. The latter is the faithful watch.
dog of the former-always at its heels. There
is no chance for any earth to fall from the inter-
vening distance, and thus everything is rendered
secure. The mason work is perfect circle, ex-
ecuted by skilled masons, of thickness of nine
inches, of bricks on end, closely cemented and
accurately fitted
The tunnel is of course circular In order to
get base for the transmission of passengers a
substantial floor, eighteen inches from the lowest
point of the bottom ARCH will be laid. On this
floor is to be railroad track of iron of guage
of about three feet. The car traverses this
! track and is to be made of wood and light iron.
1t will seat eight persons, and the fare, though
not fixed, will be nominal, probably ten cents.
The car, it should be understood will be closely
fitted to the tube, so that no air can escape.
The car resembles a box made in the shape of
an old-fashioned wagon top, and has attach
Tnap nd of tha Iiorhfa auf
ton. As many cars as the public demand calls
for will be provided Besides the car small
tube of diameter of two feet, made of iron,
will run the entire length of the tunnel for the
transportation of small packages in the centre
OF the tube, between the tracks, on the bottom
of the tunnel.
HOW PASSENGERS WILL BE PROPELLED.
The engine is manufactured by prominent
engineer, of eighty horse power, model Of
eompactness and symmetry. The engines will
be situated in the cellar of Devlin's store
together with the boilers.
The blower is the main feature of the whole
affair. and will be the lungs of the travelling
public. Root is the inventor. 1t is pressure
blower, which forces the air behind the car into
the tunnel by two sectional FANS and supplies
s0,OO0 cubic feet minute, and is one of the
most powerful in the world. 1t does not work
Oh the vacuum principle Such force will
prOpel the car 100 miles an hour. No sound
viii take place in the tube, as there will be no
resistance in front of the car of any moment.
cause of free outlet.
The line will be broken into sections and
there will be opportune stations at convenient
points. Each blower will have its own stated
work to do, and rs two cars going in opposite
directions cannot be placed upon the track, the
timetables will be computations of extreme
nicely. NO danger can be apprehended from
the application of the pressure principle, which
is superior to its antipode, both in safety and
Ppower. The blower is now being placed in
{position, but the engines are not vet COM
pleted. The boilers, of new design. are being
made at Boston There will be no conductors on
the cars bat at the stations.
The cars, which are to be noiseless, elegantly
FURNISHED, and lighted by gas, will be well ven
tilated, and delightful nook wherein to travel
i with velocity second only to lightning When
finished il viii constitute safe and permanent
mode of travel that has no counterpart in the
country. IT is great and iattcring work. The
opinions of scientific men are unanimous in its
favor. They pronounce with one accord that
the best thing for the relief of this island is now
being burrowed underground.
GLANCE AT THE FUTURE.
The injurious effects of the shiftless pace OF
street railroad cars and stages have been fire.
quently condemned. 1t is, beyond measure, the
worst evil of the 100000 inhabitants of New
York and the surrounding country, to whom
time Is even more than money. Therefore any
4 mode that facilitates city locomotion, that pro-
kdures an important reduction in time consumed
I'm going from one distant point to another, that
Is safe, without exorbitant fares and noiseess,
4 adds millions to the future wealth of the
metropolis. This the Pneumatic Transit Com
pany promise TO establish and their energy thus
far points to gratifying success. In
five minutes citizen residing at Harlem can be
deposited at the City Hall and ten miles stand
on the correlatlve side of the equation euual to
tam mir a W. hall ha ,tz1