The New York herald., 1875-07-12
y Universal Interest in
the Subject
ELEVATED DESIGNS IN FAVOR
Underground Boree Out Of
the Question.
Sketch Of Plans, Past and Prestnt--What
the Engineers Say.


yesrs that very little OF O novel character re-
mains to be said about 1t. In the early stages OF
the agitation for rapid transit, some ten years
ago, the underground scheme was undoubtedly
| the popular one London had an underground
city railroad. ana why not New York; 10 was
quite long time before people could reconcile
themselves to the contemplation Of the abomina-
tion, as 1t was then considered, of an elevated
road with trains running on q line with bedroom
ana drawing room windows and over the heads
OF bipeds and quadrupeds in the streets below
Finally it was demonstrated that, however ad-
visabe and convenient an underground medium
OF communication between the ends of the island,
the time and expense involved put 1t beyond the
reach Of capital, and without that desirable motor
no plan OF railroad in new York city has much
chance Of becoming a realized fact. Later on, in
the palmy days OF the Ring, when the rngmasters
seemed to carry about with them the lamp OF
Aladdin, rapid transit was near being a reality,
but at a cost 80 appalling that one pauses In won
der at the daring OF the men who had the temerity
to attempt scheme OF such vast pecuniary ex-
pense. IL Is sare to estimate the cost or the Via
duct Railroad for that was It's name) had 1t ever
been put in construction, at $50o0,0 900 o mile.
The plan contemplated piercing the blocks on
level with the second story OF the houses ana
spanning the streets with stone bridges. The
damage to reaieState Would necessarily have been
very great The city, however, guaranteed the
sum OF S. 000,oo0 and as long as that lasted the
enterprise might have been sustained. Within
the past eighteen months great attention
has been given TO the rapid transit question
by all classes OF people Eighteen months ago the
only earnest EFFORT mads at Albanyin behalf Of
giving The people Of New YORK quick way of
travelling up and down the island was by srran-
ger-Mr. Eastman, of PougAkeepsie. That waa
defeated.
TIE ELEVATED IDEA
|. Distinguished engineers have taken the subject
In hand, and there seems q settled conclusion in
the minds OF practical men tnat the elevated rail-
road completely spanning the roadway OF the
street. is the only scheme that combines availa-
btity, strength. cheapness and the quality OF be-
ing rapidly constructed.
When Commodore Vanderbilt ana the Third
Avenue Street Gar Railroad Company combined
to defeat the Eastman bill at Albany they got
their engineers 10 draw up elaborate
plans on paper OF the style Of quick
transit roads they were prepared to give
the city. The Third avenue elevated plan was to
erect line Of pillars in the middle OF the street
on either side Of the present surface tracks,
unite them With cross beams, put down trestles
and rails, and there was the whole thing COM
petc. Vanderoilt's plan was precisely the same
Not alone would this design be q possible dis
1gurement to the theroughfare, but a source OF
the greatest danger Horses would be constantly
running away ana many obner accidents occur
ing.
In view OF these difficulties the choice was mar
rowed down to an elevated plan, crossing the
street from curb to curb, of ornamental con-
struction, and capable Of bearing at least two
tracks.
sPEER's TRAVELLING SIDEWALK
"a very ingenious design came up regularly
every year at Albany. and was passed several
times In tho Assembly, but 1t was invariably re.
jected In the Ssnate.
SWANS THREE TIER ELEVATED RAILROAD,
the top tier OF which could only be reached by an
elevator. was next 10 order. and like the attic
rooms in a hotel, was Tor class Of passengers OF
limited means. That design also is numbered
among tie thugs that we're. A hundred other
plans from time to time made their appearance,
all more or less defective.
THE GREENWICH ELEVATED ROAD
the first practical realization OF the elevated
idea, and though inadequate and for years the
aughirg stock OF the city, 1t has finally grown
be recognized as the best practical solution New
YORK has yet had OF rapid transit Another scheme
OF grand proportions went tue way of the rest at
Albany In the slaughter OF rapid transit de-
signs IN the winter OF ls7s4 and that was ths
four track elevated steam railroad around the
water front OF the island. 1t had two tracks for
freight and two Tor passengers, and II II could
only have attracted the capital it would have
THE RAPID TRANSIT COMMISSIONERS.
1he earnestneas which the. newly appointed
the rapid transit problem gives hope to the
friends Of the movement that at Lass the ques-
the time has passed When souless corporations
who run horse railroads can go to Albany and
de eat legislation looking TO tue renef OF the
masses tr0hi tne oppressions they have so long
submitted 10 at the hands OF these aspng pubic
carriers. The Commission seems to give general
satisfaction ana the leading advocates Of better
facintes OF reaching Westchester express the
belief that these gentlemen will, within the sixCy
days given them by the act adopt some feasible
scheme that wnl meet the approval OF capitalists
who stand ready 70 pledge their funds to the sue
The Commission will take possession OF the
new rooms assigned them In tue new Courb
House on Monday next, and on Tuesday tney win
be ready 70 grapp.e win the work before them.
mission, published In yesterdays hBRALD. show
that they are evidently men OF intelligence, who,
that t6e WSoIs people viii watch fSi the results Of
their Deliberations with great interest Will doubt.
less bend a,o az their energies toward sop!loa Of
Of one or the Commissioners, yesterday
stated nn to- neV reporter Snat be felt S9na
the matter while other friends 0i rapid transit
gave similar opinions. 1t il likely that OF the
schemes that for five years nave oeen before the
Legislature VIII present their models and explain
are some twenty-five or thirty schemes promi-
nenty aeitated, but which oae viii likely COM
mend itself TO the commission as the most feasi-
| bic Of course cannot at this writing be guessed.
Among the plans are what are known as the
| EVANS ELEVATED SCHEMB,
which includes bridges anu cables; the Morris |
underground or arcade, the travelling Sidewalk |
scheme the Watkins truss bridge plan, the Gil |
bert elevated ana Williams saddle-back elevated.
Nearly all these nave been fully described In the
HERALD and need NOS be referred to here aS
length.
In a coRversauon yesterday had by a reporter
with MT. A. A. Drake, who last winter With others
conducted the public meetings In favor OF rapid |
transit, that gentleman expressed the belief that
We were very near the accomplishment OF what /
public sentiment had long demanded he |
thought that the action OF the citizens meeting |
last year and the clamor OF the press and people
alone secured the commission Just appointed.
Nearly oil the subscriptions, agRreRating about |
$300.0 secured last winter, are still good. A |
few may Withdraw their subscriptions, but others |
would take tncir place. Capital is certain TO
vest the moment tne commissioners adopt a /
feasible plan. Foreign capital, too, will DO offered
and rapid transit Will be fixed fact In few |