The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-10
RAPID TRANSIT.
The Work Before the Com
miSsiOners.
MORE DETAILS OF PLANS
Illustrations of American Engi-
neering Ingenuity.

In addition to the many plans for rapid transit already
pictured and described in the HERALD give to-day
number of which have been heretofore alluded TO
and partially explained Each has its special excel
ences and is believed by its promoters to be the very
best that engineering science present for solving the
knoty problem in which whole community Is so
deeply interested
Under the rule adopted by the Commissioners no
more plans will be received considered by them.
they will now with the assistance of their consulting
engineers go thoroughly over the great mass Of sug
gcstons practical and mpracticabc embodied in the
many plans and models which Mve been presented,
sitting the useful from the worthless Having thus
before them, in addition to their own pre-
vions convictions the subject the ideas OF IN
army inventors and students of the citys needs they
will enter upon thorough study OF the
most advantageous for this system of railway lines
which they empowered to authorize BY the law they
arc required as early as the Sth Of September to decide
npon the question of routes and after that fixed upon
they will decide upon the plans of construction and the
company companies to which the franchises shall be
assigned. No doubts the thorough earnest
ness with which the Commissioners have undertaken
10 give people the very best for making the
closest possible connections between chief centres
Of commerce and industry and the uptown suburban
residences of our people, well with all the great
trunk railways which, like the veins and arteries, cen
tire in New York, the heart of country To their
wise decision of the important questions bound up in
this complex problem of rapid transit New York looks
with eager expectancy. From the data before
The Commission Is evident that abun
dant capital waits to carry into practical
effect the plans they may approve and to give the city
the earliest possible period the full benefit of we'll
built amply appointed railroads to replace the slow
and clumsy methods of transportation which have only
retarded the growth and prosperity of the city There
will be session of the Commission day, and every
day through the week. in which these matters will be
thoroughly canvassed and early decision upon them
is hoped for.
HUBERT, AUDIN wooDwARD's
This plan is arched elevated road consisting of
series of arches spanning the roadway from curb to curb
distance apart of fifty feet Where streets in
tersect the crossings will be spanned dagonaly and the
structure will thus acquire immense longitudinal
strength, it, indeed, abutment built on
every block Over street ofsixty feet Third avenue
the arch will be circular and will therefore rise to
centre height of thirty feet Sixteen feet above the
present roadway the main tie Of the arch girder will
be thrown and firmly held in position by truss
rods and suspcnders from the arch itself Between each
arch will be hung intermediate girdcr which will also
be kept in place by vertical and diagonal suspend
ers and braces. Upon this series of ties or Orders
will rest the tracks, four in number occupying an ex
IRENE breadth of less than thirty feet about half the
width of the street below The two inner tAacks will
be used for quick transit and the outside for the
slower requirements of way travel while at the ermini
and at such points on the line may be found expe
dent the usual switches for transfer OF from track
to track will be placed Level with the rails will be the
stations landings, platforms and necessary gangways
from track to track.
The whole will be of wrought iron excepting the
ntnl will hn of cast irou he arche
will be of rolled iron, the segmcnts all rolled and
punched alike and the double plates together forming
set up with 'joints broken" The ties and Orders
will be of the different required forms OF rolled iron
the very best makes The material employed in each
and every piece will be thoroughly tested and proved
and will be an exact duplicate Of every other similar
piece, thus nsuring harmony in construction The
OF construction will be about $3.50, 900 per mile
double track
The rails will be of Steel especially smooth rolled on
lheir face, with continuous joints and held down to
heir place the sleepers by bolts Between rails and
ccpers proper intervals will lie leaves cushions
sf rubber The whole line, say from the Battery to
Harlem, having been divided into many sections
may be deemed expedent for efficient and rapid work.
he blocks of granite, cylinders filed with concrete
which are to form the foundations of the arches, will
be sunk their places along the curbsones At the
beginning of each section will be placed in position
huge carriage mounted on rollers and so spanning the
street in no way to interrupt travel This carriage
will be in length equal to the ground covered by two
arches and by aid the be built far
mp and including the Orders and track platform.
From this platform the succession of permanent arches
will be raised independently, and the whole struc-
urc finished All material to be used during the day
will be delivered night and elevated by power the
platforms As bolts and to be employed the
of rivetng will be avoided and consequent increased
rapidly of construction insured
Thus the whole structure be erected without the
necessity of large excavations the interference with
sewers gas and water mains, their connections the
use derrcks the encumbering of the sidewalks or
roadway with material
When finished the gasights, teegraphs, signs and
awnings all be affixed to the arches and the present
posts which severay support them entirely dispensed
with The obstruction of light to the waysidc houses
Will be slight In fact 1t has been calculated that the
total dimnution of light from the whole structure will
be about equal that absorbed by brown 'front.'
to that caused by dark paint applied to opposite
house or block.
J. Il. NJ coRSELL's PLAN
The Mcssrs. j. b. 81 NJ. Cornell in presenting the
Commissioners of Rapid Transit with their model and
plans Of elevated railway, accompanied them with
description Of the route and proposition build and
operate the road in accordance with the act of the
Legislature and such regulations as the Commission
might impose
ROUTE
They commence at the South ferry and run up
through Broad and Nassau William street to the
foot of Centre, through Centre and Marion to Prince
then castcrly through private property to Mul-
berry, up Mulberry Blocker continuing directly on
through private property Lafayette place. up through
Iafoynttn nIacp into Fourth nj Eighth strcnt
turn cascrly out Of Fourth avenue between Twelfth
and Thirteenth streets and through private prop
perry Fourteenth street at foot Of Lexington
and up Lexington avenue to Harlem River.
From the City Hall to the Forty second street depot
they propose three tracks the central track To be
clusvcy for express trains between those points this
express track Forty second street and
directly up the front Of the depot All the remaining
part of the road TO be double track.
They propose to have the road completed and In OPP
Grafton from the City Hall to the Forty second street
depot IN eighteen months from the time the right OF
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