The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-01
RAPID TRANSIT.
An Elevated Road from Fulton Ferry
Up Second Avenue to Harlem Bridge.


Up second Avenue to Harlem Bridge.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The question whether an underground or an
elevated road Is most practicable mas been
ably discussed in the HERALD, and yet there
seems to be objections to all the plans
mentioned. / am of the opinion that, as
the streets Of the city are in some parts low,
water would prevent the building Of an under
ground road, and in other parts rock would inter-
fere seriously and the expense would be enor-
nous, and If covered over 1t would pe dark,
damp and dangerous road to travel upon, while,
ii left open on the top 1t would take the horse
track and the centre OF the street from the Of
the public and thereby injure the property along
the whole liue OF the street. Permit me to recon-
mend the construction of steam railroad, double
track built in the most substantial manner, SUI
hciently strong to carry full train OF cars and
powerful locomotive. j would commence the road
at the Harlem Bridge and build it along and over
Second avenue to Houston street; thence from
Houston street over Chrystie street to Division
street; thence from che Junction OF Division and
Chrystie stree s. as near straight line possible,
avoiding the most valuable property on the line,
to Fulton Jerry.
The track propose is to be forty feet high from
avenue to be constructed with ornamental iron
arches, sixty ieet apart, placed at the curbstone
on each side OF the avenue, which, being eighty
feet WIDE the arch OF true circle would be forty
feet high. Then from Houston street would place
curbstone each side OF the street. sixty feet apart
on said street from curb to curb; being about
forty ieet wide the arch from top of posts would
be twenty 1eet high, making true circle and be-
ing on level with the arcn IN the avenue. Then
would propose to continue the double track from
the Junction OF Chrystie and Division streets, in as
straight line as possible to Fulton ferry, having
the depot'over the roof OF the Fulton Market
The track would require to be about sixteen
feet wide over and through the houses to Chrystie
street. The right OF wav over and through the
buildings below Chrystie street could be obtained
at moderate outlay The rails could be laid as
firm as at any other part OF the road by posts
on the curbs at street corners The frame
work on Chrystie street and the arch work on the
avenue could be made, with slight additional
OF cars with perfect safety. The track should be
covered with thin boiler iron, curved at the bot
tom and extend up Oh each side five feet, and
painted a light color. The telegraph poles and
lampposts along the avenue and streets can be
taken down, and lamps and wires placed on
the columns and arches The track being placed
forty leet high can be made as safe as II built
lower, and Will not obstruct the view from the
houses on either side OF the street or avenue, nor
will 1t occupy any OF the roadway or interfere
with the horse railroads or frlghten horses, as
from the casing around the track, together with
the height, the cars would scarcely be heard while
passing along. Large easy stairs can he placed
at the most available places, connected on each
side OF the street by bridges TO insure easy access
to the cars. The sides OF the track could be so
arranged as to prevent the train from doing pas
sengers any harm were 1t to run OFF the track.
In view OF the new bridge to Brooklyn and the
projected Backwelrs Island Bridge, which will I'M
doubleday be completed in lew years, the citi-
tnued over the island, and, In time, over the Har-
lem Bridge, through Westchester county Yoprs
respectfully, JOSIAH M. WHITNEY, Astoria,
ASTORIA. N. w Jan. 80. 1874