, 1874-04-04
RAPID TRANSIT IN CITIES.
Tho Various Plans proposod---Undcr-
rr0und and Elevated
Railways.
A History Of Rapid Transit in New York
-.-vanderbitt's Audacious
Scheme.
Lotter from II. r. Morgan, Jr.,
Civil Engineer.

j. L
Civil Engincer.
Btoossrxo1oa. ILL.,, April 2, 1874.
10 the Editor Of Tho Chicago Tribune:
SIN: Tho subject Of rapid transit In tho City
Of New York, which has for many years past 30
largely occupied tho public attention, acoms now
about to entor upon now phase.
from my professional education was onrly
induced to consider tho ynriuuH methods pro-
aentod for tho rapid transportation of passengers
in large citios, and especially up and down Nun
hattan Island md hayo ondeayorod 10 koop ao-
ouratoly informed Of tho
VARIOUS rLANs PROPOSED
to accomplish this object, down to tho present
time.
As carly as 1906, tho nceoenlty for grcater
facllitics for paasongor-travol In Now York had
become 90 urgent that, during tho session OF tho
senato in That yoar, Selo6t Coannittoo Of three
was appointed, with tho 51nyor Of the City Of
Now York, tho Stato Enginoor, md tho Engineer
Of tho Croton Board to consider tho whole sub
ioct and report the boat plan to accomplish tho
object.
In January, 1867, tho Committee thus ap-
pointed-consisting Of George II. Andrews, II.
r. Low, Charles 6. Cornell, Committee Of tho
Sonata; Jolh T. Holman, 1[ayor Of New York;
and Alfred ". Craron, Engineer Of tho Croton
Bonrd-mado their report, Which will bo found
in Senate Document No. 28, jan. 81, 1867.
This report shows TINT tho Joint Committeo
was organized OH tho 1st Of Juno, 1866; mud, by
public notice, Invita- plans, which woro received
until October Of that yoar.
James P. Krlkwood, an eminent civil-engi-
noor WAS requested by tho Commission to OK
amino
THE.UNDERaRoUSD-RA1r.w
in London md visited that work in September,
1866, and devoted about three weeks to mn in
vestigation in regard to its working, tho ohnrac-
tor of its construction, etc. Ills report in re-
spect to that load will bo found In said docu-
meut No. %, Appendix D, commencing at
pago 23.
Tho elaborate report of Mr.. Kirkwool, chiefly
Of faota, with tho then supposed pocuniary suc-
ceBB Of TINT road, nud also tho absence OF BatiB-
factory plana for elevated roads, induced tho
Special Commission to adopt tho following 1880
luton:
tue bsss eo Il T. apee pee aanng nj 's n ssgn con-
session, is ~ he construction Il underground rail-
ways.
Tho Commission, in stating the roasons which
brought thon to that conclusion. say that "The
terms Of tho resolution under which they were
acting demanded TINT the plan adopted should
possess tho e1emonts elem Of speed, aafoty, cheap
InaBmucl rs 1t wag Obvious that high rate Of
speed was in1practicable upon rails aid OH tho
surface Of tho stroots, thero remained only the
ELEVATED AND ENCHANTED sYsTEMs
to be considered or tho fornur, thero wore t1To
olnascs: those placed upon supports in tho
stvoote, and those runninN eithet wholly or in
part through blocks, and sustained by structures
of wood, iron, or masonry. OF tho elevated
aB appearing "to have been tho most carefully
prepared, tho most free from engineering dill
cnlties involving tho question Of safoty, aud tho
1east Objectionable az to lho application Of tile
motive power" was that presented ly l1r. G. T.
Harvey, g. j.
It nlpy be guflcout to describe this plan by
saying that 1t Was the ono now 60 woll-knowu as
dnEENw1oH STREET ELEVATED RAILROAD,
as originally constructed, supported by a single
Inc Of posts nenr tho otlgo 81 tic sidewalk, On
which the cars wero to DO propelled by means Of
d sores Of endless wircropea, moved by sta
tionary engines placed at intervals Of about 600
feet.
The public now woll TINT this method Of pro-
pnlson proved ,uapracticablo, and the Company
which croctod tho road wero compelled to aba1t-
don the moa1ia Of propulsion originally contom-
p}nted and Which hnd been provided and At
comotiye-ongiues, for which their road was i'll
adapted and yet tho structure, employing q
motive power not originally intended, las mot, it
is said, u measurable degree Of SUCCESS.
Tho only other methods ct constructing e1e-
vnted tonds submitted to tho Commission pro-
posed to use tue space over tho sidewalks in tho
streets by plans greatiy more Objectionable than
tllnt of 1lr. Harvey, or to open now routes
through tho blocks, Oil which yialucts or othor
elevated structures should ho built. 1t ia not to
be wondered ut that saoh plans Of elevated roatlH
should have failod TO moot the appreciation Of
| thar Commission.
The construction Of the London Underground
Railway, aud its assumed SUCCESS, had induced
tho belief that 8frilnr road could be construct
cd in Now York with equal faci]ity.
10 those not acquainted with tho different
condition Of facts existing in the two cities such
| an Inference WAS natural.
stands on a bed of very compaot and tonaoious
clay, Of great depth, and Of ss,ch consistency aB
to afford tho greatest advantages for the oxccu-
| tion Of underground work. Now York, except at
| itH ]owos end. which rosts on Baud, stands Oil
rock, contortod in various directions, aul full Of
searna and Assuros. No tunnel, properly SO
called, can 10 built iu it, except ut deptl, below
the surFaco to secure roof, 30 great that access
to it becomes ncnrly imprncticnble, and light and
ventilation, by natural nseanB, impossible. Stcl.
works, therefore, In Tint city, must bo oseayAted
as an open cut nnd III artificial roof built iii the
place Of tho natural roof afforded III ordinary
| tunueling.
OF ali Tho plans that wore submitted to tho
| Senate Commission, aud reported upon, thirty
one III number, 1t is not surprising that, nndor
| the circumstances, thny should havo reached thu
| conclusion exprcsBod III ther resolution before
| quoted.
high standing, made atter 40 thorough an inycs-
tigatton Of tic subject, was to concentrate pub
| lie opinion mainly III favor Of plans for under
| ground structures. OF these, three were prlnol-
pally urged upon, aud for Bcyera! years absorbed,
1hcy Wera tia