, 1874-04-11
TRANSIT IN CITIES.
Wanted Greater Facilities for Both
Rapid and Slow Transit.
A Proposed Elevated Railway
Along the Line of Alleys.

/ b: ve q few earnest words to say to the people
Of Chicago about q growing necessity for the
means OF transit and transportation in this city.
This is matter that concerns them deeply ut
the present time, and will concern them more
and more as population increases. It should be
remembered that the present is the, primary age
OF city improvement under modern civilization.
1t Is within the memory Of middle-aged men
that everything that marks the improvements Of
streets in cities better than the boulder-paving
OF olden time, has come into use, such as the
Dutch and Russ paving, the concrete and
asphalt paving, the wood paving, the rails for
horae-cars, and underground and elevated rail-
lads, and even the o1nnibuses. Yet
NONE OF THESE
arc the complete thing, aud it is certain that
many improvements are much needed still.
The commercial character Of the times has
drawn millions to cities, 60 that human inge-
nuity is taxed to its utmost to provide for their
convenient transit to and fro. This very great
rlHh to the city, the piling up OF society and
humanity in masses, Is what has given the rago
ne now ha7o for suburban residences. Said the
Chief Engineer Of the City Of London to me,
Is We do not wish to encourage any scheme Of
public improvement to bring people into the
city. Our greatest care ia to know what to do
with the people that are already come, and how
those who are here can best get shout, and how
get away" And ono OF these great means was
the underground railway Of London, with trains
coming al departing at all times, every two or
three ninuteB.
Nn. RICHARD T. MORGAN, IT,,
son OF the old engineer Of the Galena Railroad,
has recently written very interesting article for
T11.+ fhn r,fo frr AMID
traneit which have been thought OF, and expert
mented upon in the City of New York. The
projects principally specified are the under
ground way, in which comparisons are made with
the London, and the elevated track, on the ptin-
ciple of which is the Greenwich-street limo in
Now York. And he tells us OF q scheme OF his
VII, which be has patented, for line suspended
by Gothic arches over the centre Ct the street !;
nd also plan Of Vandorbilt's. which has been
recently broached, and which he well calls au-
dacious, for eleyatlng q track in Broadway on
columns erected in the centre Of the street,
These arc all interesting as samples and tests, or
projects for thought to those who want facts, or
are interested in such p1ans for city improve
filing the aeants Of tie City Of Chicogo' What
does Chicago need? These are questions which
the newspapers do well in discussing.
WHAT DOES CHICAGO SEED?.
She needs, first better and more convenient
MEANS Of trauei t, both for men and vehicles, on
and in tho streets than she now has. SO that the
pressure upon ler publ atreets, as population
shall increase shall be relieved and equalized-
The improvements may be extended to yahicles
yell as to the ways.
Secondly, she needs some practical scheme or
means for rapid transit; so that the time now
consumed by carriages and horse-cars can be
much shortened The city is 80 large, the ra-
dlus OF population 50 broad, that it Ii . burden
OF expense in time and money for man to
reach both home and business. Now, we all can
Improvement to meet this want. What becomes
q necessity in the way Of human improvement
is in the end sone Way achieved.
Now, it is wisdom to look the necessity in the
face; provide for it, while it can bo more cheapiy
done than when population Ia more dense and
property higher in va1ao.
THE CITY NEEDS
q track line, for rapid passage, from near
the Government building in tho South
Division, running midway between the
with the streets, to extend six or eight miles
south. Size needs q like doube-t1ack on the
North Side, extending to Lake View. and also Oh
the West Side, to extend three or four miles
west. Then these stems need to be connected
by a line on the circumference Of the city taking
the parallel lines OF the streets as far as prac-
ticablo; 80 that person on either one OF these
sections may reach any other portion OF the city
that is upon either OF these lines, and be con-
yeyed to any distant point.
It MAY bo said We have these, and can hnve
them still further extended in the street-car sys-
ten, But we hore not the speed. What is de-
mauded ia
nAp1p1rY OF passage.
The lines must be of that character that the or
linary speed OF the railway can be obtained
This cannot be done On the surface where tho
train would como in contact with man and beast
in tie public streets. The public will never al
low it's business or residence straets to be thus
And it ia certain that We cnn have no under
ground railway in Chicago. It is because the
ia too the W1ter-erel OF tho
lake and, a. No could have no cellars, even,
without the certainty OF being flooded, before the
ground railroad until We drain down the lake Is
feet more, or raise the grade again. Either OF
these would be enterprise that this generation
might boast loudly of- Therefore, the whole
system ...
MUST DE ABANDONED
without even discussion. It only remains to
buld on the surface, or build on an elevated
yrade made so for the purpose OF sustaining the
Track Building Oh the surface is confessed an
mpraoticabllty If We will have speed, because
people and vehicles will occupy all our great
streets in crowds, and will not and cannot be
put out Of the way Of the cars. 1s there any
way in which ne can have an elevated track, SO
that We can got from the city at such speed as it
will make 1t profitable TO 60 to and tro, OF live
out Of it, and do business hero7
HOW CAN WE HAVE TIP
Mr. Morgan's plan is probably better than any
ret devised, as mere working machiue. But it
aeelns to mo that its enormous expense will for
aver debar it from any city like Chicago. Then
.he rapid passage Of train OF cara over the
centre OF 3 throngcd street, the rumbling Of the
:ars overhead, the locomotive sending ont fire,
and smoke, and steam, will be nuisance un-
Deazablo to the population, aud will terrify
horses. It seems to mo the public would not
endure it until they are prepared to abandon the
street altogether to the road; and, when they
.1e ready for TINT, the road had better come to
the surface.
But it does seem to mo probable thet they
might endure the nuisance. for the cake OF tha
public good, II tho track were
PUT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
It cannot be put over the blocks, OF through tho
midst OF the lots and the ground condemned for
that purpose, because that would make the liae
90 expensive ever to be ramuns1atlye. And
:he public hare rights Of way in another place
,han through tho main streets. I suppose the
authority of the public over the alleys is concur
cent with the authority over the streets for all
cgitinate purposes, But AN no lawyer, and
,esha2s some barrister may come in and bar my
Say, and knock all my scheme to nought. But.
x1n 81. -.