New-York tribune., 1872-03-28
RAILROAD IN FOURrH.Ave
PROPOSED ALTERATIONS AND IMPROVE
MENTS

CAMPBELL, RESPECTING TIE PROPOSED Ar
TERATI0NS AND IMPROVEMENTS or Tgv
RAILROAD UPON THE FOURTH-AvH., Arrow
FORTY -sECOND-ST., NEW YORK.
To the Pfesidsnt and Directors Of ne Eev YorL and H.
lem Raitroad Company
GENTLEMEN: On the 20tb Of Decombe, Ia.
you rcdested us TO examine the line Of your rallro,1
from P0rty-sccond-st. TO the Harlem River with -,
view OF 1certaiping whether could devise A n,r
which would meet the objections OF adjacent proos,,
holders and at tho same time afford accommodation n
the vast number of persons who daily enter ana den.,
by this route keeping always In view the great pte,
ests connected with the business and commerce o. a.
city, and the safety life aud limb of all We yere ~
quested also to examine all plans for alteration IN vm
roadway from whatever quarter they mi ght come a,a
after careful elaboration thereon to mako such ,r,.
and recommendation might seem just toward the eit,
tho travelling public, tho property and ths Raj
road Company.
CIrIZBSs REsoLUTfoSa
You aitcrwsrd laid before the following papers,
Frs Copy Of resolutions adopted at the conb,,..
meeting OF the different assocations OF the Twelfth ana
Nineteenth Wards, held at East Side Hal. corrs, 4,
Eightysixth-st. and Thirdave, convened on PrA.r
evening, January i82. which resolutions are 10 The fol-
loving words:
R,so,r,d That relation to .hs Popr ,ye ~, m os,,.
the railroads people s,
shall accomplish tso things s Provision for the b u. ,sa
rriosas and sso OF the portion forming ps eros. .srs
s same %,nnsr a. 1er ' I ooS are %. Ss
f the present n'e;erbe nuaae Of whistles bel s.s
H,'oive The. e people ,Pprse The p1rpO.s Of ii. r.ro. ,
nes to mite With The people e effort snd and IN.
Lahe solution OF existing dnears, aai thDk the oGcea o n
R,solrsd Ths. ID. general p, Of aducs r.v,y o, ys
River the h.t, ard ssnssn track ,rche4 s
the tracks IN the pr sen. depot premises n f. nelrb
occupied o The eopane and ts no,nS Of al tran, A aleoi .
e Opaon OF this meeting reasonable practicable slssa
Rs,olrsd That oont.. Of ..ocio- s.>
with Tie soiaton, be appointed by the s shs
mite rh them npcn s,tssctory plan srd no isrsnsSi s
hsd then committee Of be appointed By ea oea pt.si
York c1 sae b e r.ad to apply for ppfo,a. tss, ss,
upon the bas, Of the foregoing resouiOaA" -
Second Minutes OF meeting Of the citizens and railroad
companies held at the office Of the New York and Harlem
Railroad Company. January l2. as follows;
Joint Committee appointed 70 confer With Harlan
X. X. Co, on the Fourthaye. matter, mot on Friday
ent. Messrs. Wheeler II. Peckham, Chairman A&r
Burnett Secretary; Charles Crary, w. Martin. AtepA
HoSrst j. g. Aston A. G. Rchardson % Of the comS
Com Vanderbilt, wnn. n. Vanderbilt, Augustus sehcn
and Mr.. wetmore represented the Railroad Company
'Mr Crazy stated that DIR. W. Fl. Peckham would act
Mr. Peckham then stated what the Committee wanted
aud said some plan should be adopted and engineen
employed, and suggested Mcssrs. Craven and Allan
campbell q, COCA aa Sec wsTe a.o msss pm a.
Messrs Martin; orsry. Van yoor.t and Alsten Q, tho
COMMITTEE and 6y Com Va0der6 @ th rraaa ahS Ms'' .
explained Plague's plan. The Secretary, Mr. Burnett,
stated that the plan presented and known as Pragnss
and was merely presented by one OF the ASSOCIATIONS OF
which Mr. MeCooI President.
" Messrs. Urary, Martin, Peckhan, and Richardson
stated that they hat mover seen the drawlDgs ms
reading of the resolution adopted az he joint meeting
the resolution. Mr Richardson moved mat CODY of tns
resolution read be left win the Rliroad Sompany ana
the Railroad Company, and behalf ~ the joint Assc
eation together with the drawings and their views oe
.rtf saae ar
plan as mentioned in the resolutions and IN regard TO a
cost 30, and that the Railroad Company c0mml.,sst,
to the Commttee tho result as soon q Dassibie"
Adopted.
Copy OF minutes.
Attest ASHER BURsBTr.
Secretary Joint subcommittee
These papers accompanied by the plan and esti'
mats OF Mr. J. O. Prague reforred 10 therein.
plan Tor tho alterations and improvements intended
to away with all Of complaint and at the same
tmo TO promote the rapid transit of passengers from
wcstchester County aud the upper part of NewYork
Island at least to ortysecondst was slss submitted
by Mr. l. c. Bucknout tho Chief Engineer and General
Superintendent Of your road These two ara the only
plans which have been laid before us
TILE rEcULIAB DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED.
In accorlance with your request we have carefully
considered all points bearing upon the issues involved
have examined the plans Submitted, and have mad's
personal examination Of the line. These inyestsaaoos
in connection with acquaintance for many yessp"
with tho laws aud ordn relating 10 railroads enter
ing the City Of NewYork and with the arrangementof
sewers pipes &c. have led us TO the opinion heicn
after expressed In considering these questions we deem
due to our professional integrity not 10 uDderesh
mate the special aud peculiar ine9nvehences pecef
sariv connected with the eSiance and operation OF
rar9ad WITHIN large clty. Long trains Oh ; cS,s
whether worked by steam power or otherwise csnno:
b9 taken through into city or town upon the eVe vi
the streets, without occasional delay to the cross rs
and sOm6 annoyance TO those who 1--we Directly ON suo
line Of thcr passage Ie PROOF OF ins s'aac,Ied ,od nv
steam il not generally selsctGd for dwelling
for certain business purposes The disadvantages aDove
referred to are undeniable; and whether railroad
masses through city town. village, farm they arc the
same in character though different in degree. On tls
other ban,t would be equally uneandid not to admit
thar while these disadvantages are nseparablo frUm
railroads regards the few, they are inconyehences @
mrs enjoyed by the people LARGE In the RAPID anu eco
| nOmical transit OF persons and property
TIE LEGAL. EIGurs OK EITHER HAND.
In or view these general questions arc TO be con.
sdered with reference 10 the rights Of citizens on the
one hand and those Of the railroad company under tno
laws OF the state aud the ordinances of the city, on the
other To devise some plan which shall secure 70
| all parties their lust privileges, would seem 70
como within our province under the call OF the railroad
company and the citizens most immediately lneressa @
These interests in some measure antagohsuo; no
must therefore adj dustmCnt which, as a w9Do'
win the reasonable claims OF the prOietiy louo
On examnine the facts connected with the location OF
the Harlem Railroad within the city limits We ma tns
1t was established the present line o the toarlns
y authority Of the Legislature and Common Council
while the whole OF the upper part OF the city was nn
proved and long before the avenue Vas olNheat tSf
street The land for the railroad from TweDt! Gun
to Harlem River Was purchased ny xe hal"st1 city
pany and the widened on the map u w t IN
from lCO feet dhe width Of all the ayenues 10
legislative tnet expressly TO nee tl. M sysnue
Of the case and TO provide great raiir1ap VII,
through and along the central line 0i ie e3. \,
the avenue opened as street, tbe !aI =, ,h nni
fee Ia the Harlem Company was appraiser ~ ."o
nal price OF 81 per block that sum only Oens 1r,s
because the Company were 10 have thc use u & & ,sny
for railroad purposes All the rights Oh lne Oopd pds
Including that with steam from for9 tei by
noriherly over the Fourth-aye., have beth rnss
thc Legislature and the City Council I.9po' ~. n
along The avenue purchased with ful kh.M Miius,
these facts and could not have expected tla snI