New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-08
ORR oUJCK TRANSIT ENTERPRISE.


A great deal of ignorance prevails even
among intelligent people interested and in
voved in the prosperity of the city as to the
plan of the Viaduct Railway, and not little
skepticism regarding its feasibility and the
real disposition of those at its head to COM
plete it. The ignorance and doubt seem to us
alike inexcusable, in view of all that has been
published descriptive of the enterprise and the
well-knOwn character of the gentlemen who
have assumed its direction.
We published, month ago, map showing
the route of the line as determined upon by
the Directors, though not then formally
adopted Nor, indeed, has the line as there
laid down been as yet decided upon. But the
route there indicated is the one now surveying,
and practically the one over which the road
will run. Ii was determined Demonstrations to
which those yet to be presented by the engineers
must be secondary. The Treasurer, not the
Engineer, is the chief authority in this road,
for the great difficulties to be overcome are
those of the cost of right of way, rather than
those of grades and bridges. The route
was chosen through localities where few i'm
portant and costly buildings exist; and the
work of demolshing the buildings, which must
precede that of constructing the viaduct, will
be as inexpensive by this as it could possibly
have been by any other route selected From
the City Hall Park to HoustOn-st it will strike
hardly half dozen really respectable build
ings, and only at the street crossings above
that dividing point will valuable property have
to be demolished. This consideration of right
of way decided the location of the line Origi-
nally; the engineers who are now surveying it
may change the line slightly at the street cross
ings, but property owners involved may rest
confident in the correctness of the line as laid
down in THE TRIBUNE a month ago. The
site of the depot has been changed, advan-
tageously, we believe, in respect of cost and
public convenience, though at some sacrifice
of appearance. We further give this morning
as of general interest to the public and of
special value to prOperty-owners having i'm
proved real estate along the proposed line, q
diagram showing the appearance, when COM
pleted, Of the bridge by which Broadway is
to be spanned. 1t will be seen that it will be
substantial structure, avoiding danger by its
elevation above the street, and ornamental in
its proportions and architecture. Each of the
three hundred and forty streets to be crossed
will have bridges of similar form, though not
as costly and splendid.
OF the feasibility of this route there ought
to be no question, and indeed there is none
among those who understand the principle on
which the viaduct is to be built. Many imag-
| inc that it is to be two solid walls of masonry,
filed in to a level with the roofs of the houses,
the road-bed, ballasted like that of an ord-
nary railroad, to be on the summit. On the
| contrary, the structure will be unusually light,
borne upon arches, under which stOre-r0Oms
| and warehouses will be built. The upper walls
| will be by no means repulsivc in appearance,
while the lower part will not want for light
and ventilation.
There unquestionably prevails very general
fear that it will be found more profitable not
to build than it can ever be to complete this
road. This doubt has undoubtedly been sug-
gested by the prominence of Tammany officials
in the management of the enterprise, and the
supposition that it is the City which is to
build it. But it must not be forgotten that
the regulations of some of the first merchants
and fnanciers of the City are pledged to the
completion of the work within reasonable
time; and it is these, not Tammany politicians,
who are to direct the enterprise, with their
own and not the public funds. The Company
is private not public corporation, and con-
ducts its business as a private company. 1t
was urged in the first place and is now di-
rected by citizens having immense interests
on Broadway and Fifth-ave., and who have
been fighting Broadway Railroads for years.
Recognizing the absolute necessity of a route
for quck transit, and aware Of the numerous
projects t. undermine or roof Broadway, they
have resorted to the building Of this road as