The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-29

A Tuno with an Open Top
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
About year ago suggested by communities
ton through your columns the construction Of an
elevated railroad Of the common gauge, around
the entire water trout OF the CITY, along the East
Hudson and Harlem rivers and forming junction
with all the railroads leading from the city to the
East, North and West The said water front rail-
road to have q double track for rapid passenger
travel and as many tracks for freight the bust
ness shall require. This road would run along the
head OF the docks and convert them all into freight
depots, where cars from any road running into
the city can be discharged of or receive Its
freight I still believe this to be the
only location Of an ef1icient line or lines of
railroad in the city upon which steam power can
be used at very high speed without interfering
with or endangering the travel and truckage OF
the interior streets, and that it would relieve the
streets OF a large amount OF truckage that now has
to be carried from the several separate railroad
depots across the city for wan. OF railroad connec-
tions Every faculty Of this kind diminishes the
cost Of transportation and is an advantage to the
trade and commerce OF the city. No possible
motives upon an elevated railroad along the
docks, because none or very few horses or vehicles
railroads interfere with the drain Sc serage,
water s and gas pipes e,n unless the TRACES
see Ro aSeo tnaccessbIe BESIDES 'nsm is taee
that most people dislike the idea OF being placed
In underground vaults which are l<dly ventilated
while alive. These objections added to the great
cost OF the underground road, places 1t out OF
the question. The choice, then, for railroads
through the interior streets Of the city must lay
power can be used, and the ordinary street rail-
road upon which horses only can be used. II
streets OF the city should prefer curb line road
built upon single line OF columns OF iron, stand
ing about @ feet apart Of ample strength
stone foundations and surrounded by ma
sonry or concrete up to the surface surface Of
place. upon these columns, at fourteen teet
above the street, would support wrought iron,
open topped, tubular roadway. OF i've and q
structed after the manner OF the iron
tubular bridge, in which l would lay 9 track
continuous wooden stills, and packed between the
WOOD and iron with strips OF gutta percha, to
dsaden the sound Of passing trains. This road
cars and the street passengers below, and can be
built to any required strength at comparatively
small cost. This tubular railroad can be con-
structed as to present very neat architectural
appearance, without much extra cost rom
any point Of view, and II kept painted white would
aid, by rejection within adjacent buildings more
light than 1t would keep out, and think would
rather add to than detract from the beauty Of
many buildings in what are called respectable
streets. The passenger stations for these elevated
railroads can be constructed at all the cross
streets and EXTENDED entirely across them by iron
structures similar to the iron tube, and supported
upon similar iron columns. The passage between
these stations and the street pavements Will be
by stairs erected by the walls or the buildings on
the cross streets. The enclosing of the engine
and train within this tubular road would rem
der 1t next to impossible to throw train
from the track into the street below or to tnlure
passenger either in the cars or street. 1t would
also screen view Of the train from horses in the
street below as high up as the top OF the tubular
road or window sllls OF the cars. These tracks
could be curved upon radius 80 short as b be
turned around any OF the streets running at right
angles and OF ordinary width with entire safe ty
Trains can be run upon these roads at intervals Of
five minutes, II necessary, and my belief Is that
upon experiment they will soon become 30 p0pu-
lar, profitable and useful that they will be con-
structed In almost every principal interior street
OF the city. am respectfully yours,
Il X CAMPBELL, Civil Engineer.
PERTH AMBoY, N. j., Jan. 26 1874