The New York herald., 1875-07-19
RAPID TRANSIT.
Earnest Efforts to Solve the
Problem in the City.
HERALD ILLUSTRATIONS
Plans Presented for the Consider
alton of the Commission.
FEB LOrTY POINTS FOR The BOARD TO SETTLE.

The property owners and capitalists or the city
have made frequent efforts TO end solution OF
the rapid transit problem, but owing 10 the oppo-
Biyon OF the horse LOBBY every well denned
scheme submitted to the state Legislature for four
years was deleased. All classes OF our population
ioined property owners In demanding better
Iacinties for quick transmission between the
upper ana lower portions OF the city. The press,
following the lead OF the HERALD have vigorously
advocated the movement, and, with the annexa-
tion OF Wcstchester rs an additional reason why
we should have It, the camor became so great
that our Albany lawmakers dared no longer
trine with the subject The last LEGISLATURE,
as all our readers are doubtless aware.
Yielded TO Uor popun ana passed law
providing for the appointment OF Commissioners
10 select routes plans, &c, and take the prelimi-
hary steps toward the organization Of a company
10 puild the roadA Messrs. Mott. Brown, Canda
Delamater ana Seligman, the gentlemen selected
by the Mayor Commissioners. are known as
practical, common-sense men. Hence the en-
tire community watching their deioer-
atoms with great interest and confidence In their
ABILITY 20 devise some plan TO secure the long de-
ferred railway facilities. AS yet they have not
fairly begun their labors, last week having been
taken mp in arranging plans. models, drawings,
4c., preliminary to formally taking up and ex-
Amining each individual plan presented, with the
aid OF an engineer whose services they win
call IN.
THEIR POWERS UNDER THE LAW
are very manifold. 1t gives them thirty days
after organIza ton 10 determine whether one
more roads are necessary; within sixty days they
must select the route, and shall have exclusive
power 10 do so through or across streets, avenues
or places or lands, except In Fifth avenue,
Brosdway and Fourth avenue; within ninesY
days they are compelled to select the plan, hx
Tue time within which tne roads portions Of
hall ho tharw with tha
maximum rates TO be pad Tor transportatto n and
conveyance, and the hours at which special cars
shall be run at reduced raLes; within ninety days
they shall also fix the capital stock and prepare
articles OF association for company wnen rhe
ssptal STOCK Is subscribed tae Sor nrs
gsnization Of the company and the election OF
directors The act makes Il oOgstSTy g SSa Upon upon
each. 10 do all the things above set forth.
IL VIII be seen. therefore that THESE gentlemen
have a great responsibility put upon them from
which most persons would shrink; but tney all
seem hopeful OF achieving success and giving the
people what they much desre-quick transit
between their homes ana their places OF business.
Already there have been filed with the Commits
roRTY PLANS, MODELS or DRAWINGS.
out all OF these gentlemen are not competitors who
adopted. Many ME taem merely for tue inrorma-
lon OF the Commission. Among these are
plan presented by these engineers is quite volu-
mlnous, and Is accompanied by q map showing
strain sheet OF the elevated way. This comnluni-
cation differs materially from most Of those sub
form OF road, but all the details necessary Tor
making the system accessible. cheap. safe. CON.
TO the success OF o rapid transit scheme are de-
fined TO be accessibility In the sense OF contiguity
forr and convenience.
ACCESSIBILITY
Is secured by due attention to tie gauge OF the
tracks, the positions or termini, the distance be-
tween depots. sse speed OF trains the location oil
railways, which has the eject OF reducing the
number or main lines 10 the least possible, the
oerso IN any pa.t Of the city Wishing to reach
Ine Battery. City Hail. GranQ central depot, Har-
Of points which his desires necessities may sug-
gest, will always find the nearest line (Which Is
% or sne erpos aa se ra o ae
TALLY the same Whatever may be the direction Of
the trip
are liked as low as In the present street car sys-
TEN. Considerable space Is devoted TO an argu-
ment IN favor OF these rates OF iare aud OF the
details OF construction and operation which tend
10 render their adoption possible.
THE LOCATION OF THE ROUTES
Is nxed by the CONSIDERATIONS that the number OF
main lines should be the least possible in consist
ence win expedlting circulation and furnishing
tue requisite capacity; that they should be SYM
metrically arranged with reference TO the con-
formation OF the island; that they should follow
the lines greatest travel and be, IN connection
with their feeders, within fve minutes walk OF
any part OF the city situated between their term-
mai points. In deIerence to these principles, with
the aid OF the necessary data, the location is
worked out after the manner or q mathematical
problem, and It is found that, ior the upperipor-
lion vi tue city, two lines will answer-one in
Third aud the other IN Eighth avenue-whle be-
low Fourteenth street the main lines are brought
as close as possible to Broadway, and loop line
10 added upon eacn side OF the city.
SAFETY COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
are insured by proper attention to the design OF
the character Of track the despatchlng OF trains,
Inc methed OF collecting iares and number OF en-
rUR cui AcrrR oF sTRucrrRr
Is determined oy consideration OF the foregoing
netails In connection with possible revenue. ana
rlght OF way, Is the only method OF construction
whose cest IS not prohibitory. The details OF the
load being fixed at 1000 pounds per lInea loot Of
track. with a lactor of SIX; the minimum spans
port 40 eet; the minimum clear mead way, l3 feet,
and the use OF noOr beams, cross ties ana
'rhrough" bridges being dlsapp pproveo, as tending
TO oDstruct light and sunsnine, ana c0Iect snow.
Ice and moisture. lt Is recommended that ex-
placing supports IN the roadway, and mat tins
iorpl OF construction be adopted IN the avenues,
serious obstruction will not be caused thereby.
Special Iorms oil construction for particular local
ties are noticed, and estimate OF average cost,
accompanied by strain sheet and diagram OF parts,
Is presented: TINS IS ABOUT s45O,OoO per mite OF
double track. The Messrs. Buel suggest the
Commission that the exact detan OF the several
forms OF elevated way required can best be de-
termined BY professional bridge oniiders. and
PATENTED DEVICES
thus, while submitting designs for the elevated
way Of PROBABLY merltOrlous character. tney re-
commend to the Commission that these he only
used ~ furnish approximate estimates OF cost, and
that tine corporation created he aIiOwed. IN tnclr
dealings with bridge builders the utmost latitude
possible IN cOnsstence with the general require
nents, winch are specified at length.
Elaborate cs fimates oil construction, equipment
anu operating expenses are next gwen, followed
by deductions as 10 the pracucabiity OF the sys-
tenn, Including analysi, OF aud comparison wltn
the operations OF existing lines, and n demonsira-
non OF The method oi determining tue num-
Der OF persons who travelling IN any event.
would save time By employing toe proposed
means OF transit The concentration o. the
financial prac sIcabIty ot the system consists IN
moving that 1t offers superior advantages OF
cheapness, safety aud comfort 10 nunlocr OI per-
sons reaulv accessible wnO wouIu save time ~
ats use, anu whose patronage Il obtained would
render II remuneraivc. IL pointed out that
moro exact answer 10 the question
n ann p.x