The New York herald., 1874-11-13
RAPID TRANSIT.
Plans Submitted 60 the Committee ol
the American Society Of CIVIL Engi-
neera.
adIoining.


Plans Submitted 60 the Committee OF
the American Society Of Civil Engt-
neers.
The committee OF the above society, appointed
to investigate the necessary conditions Of success
and to recommend plans for the best means Of
rapid transit for passengers and OF delivering,
storing and distributing goods in and about thiS
CITY, held It's last public meeting at the once
OF the society, No. 63 William street,s yesterday
afternoon The distinguished scientific gentle
men composing the committee have held dve meet
ings In ALL at each OF which the inventors, design
ers and projectors or all manner OF schemes Tor
the promotion OF rapid transit have been IN
attendance. Many models, distinguished by in
genuity OF design, have been presented beautiful
and elaborate drawings OF the various
schemes submitted and nearly al OF the
promoters and projectors OF rapid transit
improvements heard the important
question. All OF them have received the patient
attention OF the engineers, who Will continue to re-
ceive plans and communications until tomorrow
Oath inst.) when their public investigations
sary close, in order that their report may be made
to the society, which, according to their resolu-
ton, must be done by December l.
At the meeting yesterday Richard P. Morgan,
Jr., civil engineer Of Bloomington, Ill, presented
and advocated plan OF rapid transit. in which the
main conditions insisted on were that the roads
should be elevated, light and air should be ex-
cluded from adjacent buildings In the least
possible degree, Light and perfectly en-
closed engines should be used, and as
locaton-lf but one road Is to be con-
structed-the line OF Broadway should be chosen,
from the Battery to Ninth avenue, With branch
from Union square to Third or Second avenue,
ana following those avenues as a natural line.
The Williams rapid transit viaduct was pre-
sented by Mr.. Q. Williams, civil engineer. Tnis IL
known as being suspended trackwsy, and COM
sucn way that towers and the usual grand
anchorage Of cables IS rendered unnecessary. The
general plan OF construction, estimated cost, &C.,
was illustrated and SET forth IN a handsome book
presented to the committee for their considera-
tion.
Judge II. G. Gardner spoke to the engineers OF
the great Importance OF their Forthcoming report
Wern nroabv Se aaonted thus 70 puna the
State in irons, 1t would require unanimous re-
port Or the committee 20 aeSide on any OF sne
II was agreed Judge Gardner should present his
views on the subject IN er1enso 70 the committee.
Mr. Albert E. Lozler presented report on the
question; Mr.. James b. Swain a report OF the
Metropolitan Transit Railway Company; Mr..
Francis c. Bartlett, OF Harlem, presented unique
model OF car and railway, in which the car fitted
over the rails ike saddle bags, and It was claimed
this could not be thrown from the track; Mr..
George b Taylor drawings of columns, winch, 1t
was asserted, could be applied equally wen to any
his well Known plan OF the travelling sidewalks
estimating The cost Of building the endless trains
contemplated at s2os 1850 per mile, Or the the. total
Sa,o56. $50 ne Claiming that, with daily running
expense OF s2,O77, the profits would sum up
Mr.. Durfee explained to the committee some
important points 10 hts plan OF road over the
crate plans in regard to tunnels, which not only
could be used in all cities having large navig-
, utilized for passenger travel Mr. Jerome
Wenmacker's system and apparatus was also
the for o ing o so
Meeting New York with Brooklyn ana Jersey City.
ana establishing system OF rapid railway ana
MI. Melville 9. smith spoke at length on the
subject Of the Arcade Underground Railway, and
stated, '.as the HERALD had thought in late re-
port that he had no figures or estimates TO give
the committee, that he had brought on thls oc-
upon showered on the secretary and reporters
| reports. statistics and tables, which certainly
transit data Among she interesting remarks Of
| Mr.. smith he Introduced the sworn statements or
y the hs Arcade Rs
way to measure vaults OF buildings on Broad
way and also 70 get the views Of prTTper,y
toms statement It appears there are So2 property
owners on Broadway from the Battery TO Four
Leenth street. OF these l10 favored the improve
| ment, IS opposed 1t ana l04 were noncominttal.
Oat Of 7e3 tenants ana lessees ss4 were favorable
Smith concluded by an earnest appeal to the COM
mttee to recommend the iour track arcade plan
and Broadway for the route.
Various gentlemen objected to the scope OF the
argument, and claimed that tr long speeches were
TO De maze Lnere SuOulu De al evening Seb apart
for debate among the competitors. Mr.. Church
said 1t was not surprising to him that the
Legislature could not agree upon rapid transit
plan, every man thinks MS own perfect and
every other not worth cent. He, however,
favored, in the main, the arcade pian
Mr.. Burton gave the committee some iuforna-
tton as TO lghterage. Mr. Harvey, OF the Green
wich Street Elevated road made some remarks,
and after long and patient session the commit
tee adjourned.
THE LECTURE SEASON.