The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-24

Opinions Of Engineers and Others - to the
Best Mode Of Uniting the Battery with
Our Newly Acquired Territory
In Westchester County.

"oevcnostoT VOuUty.
senator Tfemann's Bill introduced in
the senate In 1874.
NEW YORK, Jan. %, 1874
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALp-
Like yOu, deem the question OF ..ranid transt,,,
one of the most important that can engage and IN.
terest all owning property or living In this city,
and have for many years past endeavored to se.
cure II, and have always held that 1t should be DOM
without any Interference with the public streets
that could possibly be avoided Two years since
being satisfied that 1t could not be accomplished
without public aid, and that no plan had then
been presented which appeared satisfactory, "a
regards extent, location, construction and manner
OF raising the means. the enclosed draft OF an act
was prepared for and introduced in the Senate by
the Hon. ID. F. Tlemann, and referred to the Com
mittee on Railroads, the same day as Commodore
Vanderbt's bill for an underground railway
from Forty-second street to the City Hall was
presented. The fate OF the latter Is now
known. 1t became q law, and, like many other
projects, has been abandoned as an impractlcable
SCHEME as regards cost for the facilities IT would
aHofu Tnls Dill, 1t Will be noticed Is not for any
particular plan or route; but provides for the
selection OF the best by disinterested and compe-
tent persons, and IOr q full and detailed estimate
OF the cost Of construction and equipment OF ROADS
OF SUFFICIENT capacity to aord the facility OF transit
required for the next twenty years; and also pro-
vdes for paying for the land required and one
half part 0: the cost OF constructing and eGuppinn
the road by tax or assessment levied and col.
lected on the property benefited, and the re-
mainder Of the moneys necessary by the issue OF
bonds secured by mortgage on the road. 1t also
sttutes all persons who pay such tax or their as
signees shareholders in the road In the proportion
they pay or own, and gives them the right OF
afterwards, with the right OF fixing tolls and fares
on the road, 80 as TO produce to the shareholders
a1s also to ON ne
redeem them within fifty years from their issue;
and to facilitate operations 1t authorizes the bor
rowing OF money bv the city in anticipation Of the
collection OF the tax for benefit, and pledges such
collections for the payment Of the sums SO Dor.
for taking land, building, equipplng and operating
the road. The upper rart OF New York island and
be the most benefited parts Of the city and could
well afford to pay their tax, particularly as tho
owners would receive what should be, on the com
paying stock to an equal amount with their tax.
and Which, certainly. would at once have
verified into cash for the purpose OF
partly, 4 not wholly, paving the tax.
the City Hall into Westchester within three years
from the time the right OF way was acquired;
work fair prces NOT only 'G IN cone Nc
structing the road put IN developing the property
business, and the means (which mas always been
the dilncalty) to build and equip the road would be
assured.
The foregoing remarks and the draft of the pro-
posed bill are submitted Tor public consideration
through the widely circulated NEW YORK HERALD.
pe 1 a
themselves to the notice Of all classes of citizens
and were not designed for the benefit q any in
NoTE.-A synopsis of the bill referred to has al
ready appeared In the HERALD.
A Proposition from an Engineer OF the
Hoosic Tunnel.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Practically speaking there are four prominent
features to consider in forming conclusion as to
the best structure for the purpose required, viz.
Economy OF cost efficiency to perform the neces.
sary service with convenience and safety to the
public general effect uron the appearance OF the
city, and the minimum amount Of disturbance to,
street traffic and property in general during con-
struction.
Among the numerous plans already put fot.
ward fail to see one IN which more OF these
cardinal considerations is not violated in a great
degree, and did space permit should give q brief
review OF the various projects presented, from the
high level viaduct to the pneumatic complexity, all
OF which present some points for recommendation,
but generally are better In theory than in practice.
The plan have to propose to the people OF New
York Is Of all plans the most simple, RELIABLE con-
venient, and believe the cheapest as 10 first cost
as well as to future requirements in the way Of
maintenance. Assuming that the level or profile
line of location selected will be suitable, the first
operation Is to open trench just wide enough to
contain masonry wall-say five feet thick ana
about twenty ieet high. As fast this is con.
structed 1t may he covered up and that portion Of
the street restored TO its original condition. A
similar wall is to be built in the manner par-
alei to the first, leaving say twenty feet clear be-
tween them and the street restored as fast as il
travel on the street IS not intertered with more
than 1t would be in putting down common gas
or water main. Tue next step in the work "a to
take up the paving OF the street so TO expose
portion of the walls already constructed upon
which is TO be placed series OF 1at-topped Orders
OF suitable strength, each about TWO ieet wide on
top, so arranged as to be water-tight, thus forming
an iron ROOT or nOOTlng between the walls. AS
fast as the glriers are placed In position they can
be covered with sand or other material, aud the
permanent paving OF the street restored. me
covered way is now finished, ana all that remains
to do Is to excavate the enclosed material and put
down the tracks.
necessary to excavate side entrances both sides
OF the street, opening into some building where
waiting rooms and offices may be placed; but
wherever depOts can be located In open spaces or
parks an opening might he left with suitable stair
ways for ascent and descent.
This Is the plan propose, Invested of all its de-
tails, OF which necessarily there must be a great
many. Plans, estimates, &C., for every part OF the
work are determined upon, and am prepared TO
place all matter OF a scientific or financial charac-
ter before any interested parties who may wish TO
inyeSti cate them.
The total cost. including equipment OF rolling
STOCK &C., ana everything required Tor successful
working, wonld not exceed 81, $50 900 per mile
which is considerably lower than the estimates for
any first class project yet suggested | am. SIR,
yours truly, g. r. NASH Civil Engineer
NORTH ADAMS Mass, Jan. 21, 1874.
Church's Plan Endorsed,
JANUARY 20, 1874.