The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-04
RAPID TRANSIT.


ELEVATED RoAD-MoRE PLANS DESCRIBED
THE PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY.
The Commissioners or Rapid Transit gave a
nearing yesterday to four projectors-Mr. Richard
p. Morgan, Jr., Mr.. Water J. Morris, Mr.. Kitchen.
! OF Kitchen 4 Hatfield, and Mr.. Gomez.
Mr.. Norris the protector of the Morris open
! Girder Depressed Road with three tracks, ap-
peared first before the Commission full de-
scripton OF his plan has already appeared in the
| HERALD. After Mr.. Morris mad explained his
| specifications Mr.. Seligman asked him If he was
backed by the capital necessary to build his road.
/ Mr.. Morris replied that he was. Mr.. Segnan then
! inquired If it would be necessary to build II
| Third avenue and on no other. MIR. Morris SAID
that 1t would not be, so far as the requirements OF
/ construction were concerned; but financially this
route would afford by far the best ind ucement for
capital, because it was only by carrying the
masses that fares could be put as low as i've and
six cents and that q rapid transit road could pay
at all. Mr. Morris also said that only by carrying
the masses could road offer great financial in
ducsments, and no avenue was better for that
purpose than the Third. On that thoroughlare,
by reason OF the immense traf1c, the fare would
be placed even below i've cents during certain
hours or the morning and evening.
MI Morris was then asked why more than two
tracks were necessary, and replied that two
tracks would only accommodate the present
tIa11c, while third track would enable the road
to carry sixty per cent more, which was necessary
for the contingencies OF future travel road
like the one he proposed to build would absorb all
the tralic OF the Third avenue horse cars, and
probably supplant them altogether, as being only
the same fare for three times faster transporta-
tion.
Mr.. Sehgman asked Mr.. Morris how soon he
would be enabled to lay before the Commission
proofs that his plan was backed by the necessary
capital and he said IN few days.
MoRGAN's ARCH ELEVATED ROAD
Mr.. Richard p. Morgan, Jr., the author OF the
highly ornamental Gothic arch elevated road also
had hearing. Mr.. Morgan stated that he had
given eight years OF his life to the study OF this
rapid transit problem, and had arrived al the con.
clusion that the underground plan and that which
proposed cutting through the blocks were prohlb-
TIED by their vast COST and that elevated plan
the lines OF existing streets was the only one
feasible. The following is his written proposal:-
Cost or the Gothic Arch Elevated Railroad, with
double track and stations at hamie distances on each
manSe manner drished with three coats Of painL
foundations ana equipment a not included; For road
and suitable cars i9r the G & o.
i, 20 per hneal loot on each trackj
Cost Per
For street 60 feet between curb lines SD
For street 50 ieet between curb nes..... 49, a9
For a street, 80 feet between curb lines SS5 26S
Mutual guarantees being given prepared to con-
rst class double track railroad, supported
streets for the foregoing prices IN the city OF
road Is Greeted EIc HARD M0Ra1N Jr sn'
THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION.
The law requires tne Commissioners to fix
route by the Stn OF september and adopt plan by
the sth of October. 1t VIII thus be seen that they
have little over month within which 10 decide
one OF the most important elements OF success
toned on this subject yesterday, said that the
route would propaoly be designated alter the Com
dc
was the most feasible. Many plans stipulated
certain definite routes, ana as IL would be neces-
sary to select some good plan backed by capital
the roue adopted for that plan would probably
be selected py the Commissioners. Hence 1t Is
evident that the work OF dxng the route will at
the same time embody the adoption OF a plan
that the whole question VIII nave TO be settled Oy
the Sth OF September. The work OF the Commits.
sion will, therefore, be pushed forward with the
utmost rapldlty.
received on MondaY-Which was the last day for
receiving plans-were opened yesterday They
swell the number oil schemes presented to the
commission 10 nearly one hundred. Nlne-tontns
or them are, OF course, elevated plans, Tor under
ground and depressed schemes seem 70 be alto
gether at discount The Commissioners are stlll
determined TO adhere TO their secret sessions. Mr.
Seligman says that the preliminary work OF exam
nation in which they were now engaged would
have no especial interest for the puohc and that
the sessions would remain secret for some Time to
Soce Of tb of Che prss or of
body Else would hamper the commissioners in
their deliberations
plans opened yesterday
NoRGENsTEIN's UNDERGROUND ROAD.
William horgensteln proposes an underground
road, OF a convenient depth below the street level
to allow the construction OF an up and down
track. The street banks are to be braced up by
solid stone walls, with proper foundations, rum
ming up TO the level OF Ihe street In the centre
30 be iron posts at proper distances, parallel
with the outer walls. in order to prevent the cars
from JuHping the track; the iron posts 10 be con-
nected by iron beams In the centre for the cross
ties to rest upon, the ends OF which will rest on
the outside beams, above the stone walls OF the
tunnel, leaving on both sides open space for the
admission OF air ana light, aud the tunnel after
being br1dged over, Will make, IL Is claimed,
SAFE road for city travel or lines OF horse cars
/ ABOVE.
COOKIES ELEVATED PLAN.
p. L. Cooke PROPOSES an iron structure, ele-
waited at least fifteen feet above the street, with
double track Its soutbery terminus is to be &C
the Battery, passing thence through Pearl street
with all the east SIDE ferries; thence along SAID
thence along Third avenue to Harlem RIVER. and
the river to the extreme eGd OF the city ON
the extension OF the Third avenue or sucn other
avenue as may be laid out Dy the commissioners
A branch OF the road is 10 be extended through
Fory-hfth street, connecting with the upper end
OF the Grand Central Depot. Tle columns sup
porting the structure shah be erected the line
OF the curo Ia Pear street ana FOrty-llJh street.
His estimate Of tue cost Is lste over 100000 per
, mile.
PNEUMATIC PLAN.
Mr. y. Poulson presented the plan or an inven-
ton to apply pneumatic power instead OF steam
for running cars or elevated or undergroud
roads The invention cousists IN placing hollow
cylinder between the tracks and sending a cur
rent OF air through it, thereby giving IL "A revolv-
ing motion. On tue car are placed friction wheels
winch run on the cylinder, and thereby
give motion 20 the car. When the fric-
ton wheels are placed dlagonaily one way
on the cy Under they give forward motion TO the
car, placed diagonally the other way SEND the
car In an opposite direction. TAe advantages
claimed are that no locomotives are needed. thus
reGucing the cost OF the road There will be no
noise OF steam, no engines and nreInen. Trains
can stop more frequently, as the conductor can
instantly stop and start the car.
KIRKUP's ELEVATED PLAN
ID either for two or three tracks-the third one for
express trains. The following Is the Inventors
description The foundations or columns Will bo
put 10 such depth as will insure a solid base,
with granite block stones, containing about
twenty seven cubic feet to each foundation, with
the best concrete as base. On tho
top Of she stone VIII be cast Iron
bed plate, planed the top side TO
/ give level surface for the column 20 stand upon
with four one and one balf inch bolts securely fas.
tened through the stone me columns, which