The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-10
RAPID TRANSIT.
A Viaduct Along Each River FrOnt-A
Structure for All Time.


A Viaduct Along Each River Frontal
Structure for All Time.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Being aware of your cordial support and en-
enlargement to every scheme OF public improve
ment, rapid transit in particular, with your per-
mission shah take the liberty OF Offering few
remarks on that engrossing subject. Any plan
designed for the safe and rapid conveyance OF
passengers and merchandise from New Ork city
to the suburbs, and thence all over the country,
should be oil a comprehensive nature, sufficiently
ample for the future Increase OF population ana
commerce. Now Is the time to project and ma
ture such plan. It is unwise to defer it's con-
sideration to future day. Every days delay will
only add to its cost and create obstacles and
lmpcdiments to its speedy accomplishment. such
as the erection OF new buildings, which may in all
probability come within the limits OF the proposed
works. Having made these preliminary remarks
shall briefly describe the route, character and
style OF railroad required to fulfill the conditions
above sketched.
Ipropose the Battery as the most suitable loca.
ton for the main depot, and from that point belt
the whole island with four tracks, two for passen-
gers and two for merchandise, on the passenger
track depots to be about 800 feet apart; the four
tracks to be connected with the Harlem, Hudson
through Westchester county and Brooklyn, the
points OF connection to be determined by surveys
and examination OF the topography OF the ground.
1t appears to me to be q matter OF great import
ance, demanding the serious consideration OF the
commercial men OF New York as well as those OF
many Other cities Of the Union, for this Is an age
In which nations are eagerly contendlng for com
merclal supremacy. AS an important auxiliary TO
achleve the latter result, the proposed railway
should connect all the railways radlaling from
No Enr WI fhn Da1-n
from this outline sketch that my plan OF supplying
the present as wen as the future wants OF The city
proposed dock improvements Both works should
be carried on simultaneously, and, when finished,
would be great architectural ornament to the
city and incalculable in its beneficial results
the topography OF the island with Its under.
ground works sewers, gas pipes, &C., Is altogether
unavoraole 10 the tunnel plan. 1t iavors highly
the vladuct plan. l would, therefore, propose to
run the four tracks parallel with the bulkhead
line dlverging from 1t by easy curves where bends
occur in the docks. Such Tor example, as at Castle
Garden. The entire width required for the lOur
tracks would be fifty feet, the structure consisting
OF series OF arches, abutments and parapet walls,
each arch to be sixty feet span OF eiptcal form
to be built of Philadelphia brick stone The
superiority OF railroad built as above described
Is manifest. People, however. tmld when travel.
ling over it Will lee a sense Of security from its
the parapet walls are strong barrier against it, to
prevent disaster. 1t will last Tor centuries, re-
One engine running over 1t will perform as much
work as i've on roads that are designed with sharp
and irregular grades. Forty miles per hour OF
speed may easily be attained without fear OF
DANGER. The writer has been engaged as an en-
gineer in several European countries, and has
duct plan has been adopted by their respective
engineers, especially when approaching and pass
ing through large and populous cities on high
level. 1t Is the safest and best plan OF construc.
ton, whereas tunneling under houses Is dangerous
and attended with unknown cost.
The Dublin and Drogheda Railroad pene trates
into the centre OF Dublin, crosses over houses ana
streets, and Is built on the vtaduct plan OF splen-
w hn aYlnr ,n
eral roads coming into Liverpool, Birmingham,
London and Paris. No doubt many persons viii
OF its cost being greater than that OF an iron
structure or one composed OF iron and woou CON-
hned, but such objections ought to vanish when
they are squarely counteracted by the following
advantages of the viaduct:-rhe solid, compact
nature of the structure renders it almost indie
strucibe 1t will give sense of security to those
travelling over II, and require no repair for ages
yet to come. 1t will remain as monument OF
public utility, bearing testimony to the greatness
and enterprise OF its promoters It Will be a great
ornament to the city. Taken IN connection with
the new docks, 1t viii be no obstruction whatever
TO the traffic along the streets facing the docks
BUT on the contrary, lessen it to very great ex-
tent Trucks coming to and going from the docks
Win goods can pass under the arches Of the VIA
duct.
why rapidly growing city Of such commercial
importance as New York Is should up TO this
present day be lett without as good railroad ac-
commodation as European cities Of considerably
less Importance, Is to me incomprehensDle, unless
1t be owing 10 apathy or to want or public spirit
and enterprise Gifts capitalists and public men.
The growth OF the city, as wen the public re-
qulrements imperativeIy demands total aban-
Comment OF the old idea Of temporary shifts, OF
building railroads on trembling stilts requiring
constant repairs, attention and expense to keep
them In running order Why not begin to build on
plan That insures stability and permanency in its
results, such as the vaduct would unquestiOnably
accompishS Build u street about $50 or 200 feet
wide all around the dock frontage, graded to the
required evel suitable to the dock and the pro-
posed railroad ON this street, build vladuct fifty
feet wide. When this Is done the rapid transit
problem Is solved in simple manner.
p. NJ. DOWD,
Civil Engineer and City surveyor.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 1874. ~-