The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-27
SINK THE TRACK. 1"
The Harlem Railroad Company
Seriously Objects.
Meeting Of the East Side Citizens Commit
tee at the Grand Union Depot-PIans
Submitted-What the Railway
Officials Think Well OF.
Commodore Vanderbilt's views-'Don't Try and
Drive the Harlem Railroad To Do What
It Don't Want To Do"

The Sub committee OF the General Committee of
the East Side Citizens Association delegated TO
confer with Commodore Vanderbilt and the officials
| OF the Harlem Railroad in relation to the improve
| ment OF Fourth avenue and the doing away with
the dangers now attending the running Of steam
cars over that avenue and hence to Harlem River,
met again yesterday morning at the offices Of the
company in the Grand Union depot. This commit
tee number many prominent gentlemen, and, as
heretofore Commodore Vanderbilt met them with a
kindly greeting, and without loss Of time the meet
ing was called to order by Mr.. heller A. Peckhan,.
the Chairman VINO explained the object for which
they had assembled.
Commodore Vanderbilt rcplied-Taktng the
whole matter into consideration, q plan mas been
got up by the engineers without regard to any par
ticular part OF the road it being left with them
to get up the most practical and feasible plan pos
sible.
The committee then proceeded to the adjoining
room, where they were invited to examine two
plans to remedy the evils proposed-one submitted
by Mr.. Prague In behalf OF the Nineteenth Ward
Association, and the other by the Harlem Railroad
Company, through Mr.. !. C. Buckhout, and the con-
sulting engineers, Mr.. A. w. Campbell and Mr.. F.
Craven, the latter having been called upon by the
officers OF the road to advise upon the most pracc-
able way taking all interests into consideration. to
remeuy the evils now existing on This line OF travel.
THE PLANS.
Mr.. CAMPBELL, In proceeding to explain the first
named plan, that OF Mr.. Prague, said that neither
he nor Mr.. Craven appeared as advocate Of any
party; they not interested in the matter in an
way, only appearing as engineers. Mr.. Pragu
proposes. he continued, TO sink the tracks about
the depot eight feet, descending gradually to
FOrty.eghth street. where 1t would be twelve feet
below the level OF Fourth avenue. This Is to be
arched over ana the road to be covered one to the
tunnels OF the company. which, with the present
bridges, shall he used. Hence the vaduct road on to
the river. In regard TO the question OF sinking the
track in the nelghborhood of the depot Mr.. Craven
and myself do not think IL practicable. Once
commence this work and the engine houses, build
ings, everything in this tract OF acres must be
subjected to the same operation.
Mr.. PECKHAM-YOu say 1t is not practicable, Why
nOtS
Mr.. CAMPBELL-Here are immense and valuable
buildings erected, combining depot, engine houses
offices, signal stations, &c. Now, TO require all these
to be sunk don't think right, just nor equitable.
Judge VAN voRsT-In this view. then, it ceases to
be an engineering question:
Mr. CAMPBELL-Physicay, don't say that 1t is
impracticabe; but let me go on. In this place
after leaving Fortyeghh street, the grade descends
to thirteen or fourteen feet. and all this is to be
covered way, with iron beams across parapet
walls, with brick arches and DIRT road. like Park
avenue Is now. Then come the bridges or the
Harlem road with the river TO be crossed HIGH ana
the vladuct road in Harle m. There Is no estimate
Of cost accompanying Mr.. Prague's plan.
MEMBER OF COMMITTEE Mr.. Prague estimates
the cost OF the alterations. according TO his plan
at S.. 100000.
THE COMPANY's PLAN.
Here Mr.. BUCKHoUT, Engineer of the Harlem
Railroad submitted the plans for the object as
agreed upon by the officers OF the road. lie said
We propose to leave the same level OF the tracks as
now from Forty-second TO Forty ninth street: or In
other words MOTTO disturb thing up to the latter
point. A bridge over the tracks, elegantly con-
structed and made so that neither horses nor loot
passengers can see the passing trains, or foot
street. The tunnei VIII P0' be Lighted anu
part of the work viii be by bridge or tunnel, as
agreed upon hereafter From Forty ninth street
until Fliy-ninlh street is reached, Where the tracks
are sunk fifteen feet crossing the outlet OF the big
sewer. AT Forty-nlnth street 1t is crossed with q
1O0J bridge or Dy tunnel as may be determined upon
lighted at top and between the tracks. At FIFTY
and Flity-irst streets other bridges noted and
at Fiftv-second and Flity.thlrd streets parallel
BRIDGES novel in construction, will be built. Para
pet walls, with neat iron railing surrounding them,
will prevent the pedestrians or horses from seeing
the passing trains. Bridges or tunnels VIII be con-
structed MIR. Buckhout further explained, at other
tunnel at Eighty street Is proposed TO be ex
tended southerly to about midway between Eighty
fifth and Eighty-sxth streets, and also nortnerly
for distance deemed practicable. This open
line with parallel side walls and bridges or tunnels
will extend to Harlem River, that being crossed at
propose to open streets at certain points IN the up.
per section OF the island, aud improve the road In
every particular: The drawings were quite ex-
haustive In detail
THE PLANS DISCUSSED
When the committee had fully examined the above
plans they were invited to the large room OF the
Presidents suite. where an animated discussion en-
sued between the members, Commodore Vanderbilt
Judge VAN Worst arose and called upon Messrs.
Campbell and Craven to give their views as eng-
plans submitted, and the committee, IN accordance
with resolution passed by the association they re-
presented desired to know what they thought OF
the line or the Harlem road and those experiencing
the most Inconvenience personally, and suffering
condition OF AFFAIRS had said That In their opinions
the track should be sunk aud arcned over, the
unanimity. Mr.. Buckhout's pan does not contem-
plate covering the road, and only archlng 1t at
to hear the engineers views.
Mr.. CAMPBELL--There are many difficulties pre-.
sened IN the consideration OF arching entire line.
All travellers would certainly prefer open cutting.
They like The light or heaven and its pleasures,
rather than the darkness and smoke OF tunnels.
be shut up. In my experience Of years in railroad
matters had always thought here was fine oppor-
lem Of rapid transit. This question has long agi.
tated the people, and plan after plan has been SUBJ
mitted involving the expenditure or millions but
no money has ever been found with which to
accomplish the work. Here is steam line
running through the backbone OF the
Island, and why not build an underground rail-
road In connection with IL TO the Batteryp 1t would
not cost more than $6,00o0O0. l don't say the Har-
lem Railroad proposes TO undertake this expert
ment there Commodore Vanderbilt laughed) But
l suppose they would connect with sucD a road.
Here Is plan submitted to US that, with few mod-
ncations, may be feasible and should satisfy all.
we come here impartial. dlsinterested persons,
merely as Old citizens and engineers OF New YORK
and think that the people should now do something
TO enable the building OF road running through
the entire length OF the island.
Judge VAN VORsT-What effect would these difYe.
rent roads-covered ana open-nave upon the ad-
jacent property
Mr.. CAnrBELL-I am not a properly owner on
Fourth avenue.
Judge VAN voRsT-Then you can give disin-
terested opinion
Mr.. CAMPBEEL-So far as I have been able to un-