New-York tribune., 1875-02-25
4 BASEMENT ROAD FOB RAPID TRANSIT

A PLAN FOR LINE DEPRESSED FOUR FEET BEL0"
THE STREET LEvEI-AssERTED ADVANTAGES AMI
ECONOMY OF THIS METHOD.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
SIR: Tie question of rapid transit Is begin
ming TO fix the attention OF the community in such
way as to demand aud promise an early aud successful
solution. 1t admitted to be affair or prime eross
TO the convenience OF the people at large and OF vital
importance the normal growth OF our city. VIII you
permit me- through your columns to furnsh the PuD"c
with the outline of plan which believe Will cohmehu
itself alike the common sense OF the merchant aua
capitalist and to the special training anu ski o tue Gu
gineer.
let roadway be cut to the depth Of four feet in tha
centre OF street. and of width suitable for SINGLE or
double track as may be found most desirable ana prao
ticaDle In of singe-track cut In one street, e1
return track be cut in street at suitable distance
from the first Let the body OF the cars De hunR 50 as
TO run within inches Of the rails Let the interior
the cars be feet high in the clear Tnis VIII give
sufficient hight for comfort OF passengers, and VIII
paee the TOD of the cars 81 feet above the level OF the
street Let each crossing bridged over by bridge
approached by an Incline OF easy grade running from
the street level TO that of the bridge Let the roadway
at the top the cut be ncosed by an open and strong
irsn railing four feet high The top of the railing may
support movable cover OF wood or other suitable ma
terial as protection against snow.
The ermn of the road and the street or streets to be
selected might be suggested by the writer; but Is per-
haps better not to say anything upon point whica
entirely with the capitalists and vested inter-
ests naturally controlling such selection The plan pro-
posed independent Of the route selected though
might be possible fix upon such course as would at
few points, and for short distance, require cut OF
greater depth by few feet than the proposed limit or
four feet railway the level Of the street which Is
Theoretically the cheapest aud BEST conceded on all
hands be impractcable in the case OF city rapid
transit.
Inc objections to an elevated railway in point OF cost
TO the capitalist and of Inconvenience OF access 10 ths
public say nothing of certain strong fears and pru
dices against travelling in the air. must always weigh
heavily against It, and seem to be almost faai 10 the sue
cessful working OF such plan Besides, there is no
greater dsfgurement and damage to street than an
elevated railway running through 1t; and there Is % no
form OF railway travel certain 10 ghten horses Tho
tunnel plan has against 1t the objections OF greater cost
in the original outlay for building, and OF inconyenence
OF access and the discomfort OF smoke and DARKNESS IN
the working. These elements, affecting prohtS and
patronage the shrewdness of business men will not fan
10 estimate at their proper value
The proposed basement plan would place the platform
the within step or TWO Of tue street level
descent Of few steps more would land the passenger
on the level OF the floor OF the car When seated the
head would be above the level OF the street There
would be light enough admitted for readingand sufficient
open space for outlook The would In fact be easier
OF entrance and exit than IN the case OF the usual road
way having the rails upon the street level The deGas
for the execution of the plan are so simple and 50 en-
trely the nature of ordinary routine work. tDat any
good civil engineer could lind no difficulty In executing
them. Apart from the amount needed 10 secure tue ts
OF way, the building Of such Basement Railway from
the City Hail. tnereabOut, TO the upper end OF tne
island needs cost no more per mile than the average COST
OF the work done upon the Hudson kVer. New. iosS
Central and Eric Railroads. IL Is claimed that tno
original cost OF the road built upon TINS pan would DO
vastly less than upon any other that would NOT IN
erfere IN an appreclabe degree VIII the traVe acO
or by the side OF the track and that Its praeca WORK
would be more successful than that OF any otner % %
tenn Of its greater facility OF access 10 the
public, and the greater comfort of the passengers
IL desirable, the iron railing and cut could Do
put under permanent cover. The passing OF trains rs
would thus be so completely screened from horSes as
aud scarcely any additional risk 10 the ordinary dangos
which attend carrage-drlying in our Gro wded city
NeE. York, Feb. l6, 1875. j. '" hoDdhs'