The New York herald., 1875-09-17
RAPID TRANSIT.

THE QUESTIONS AT ISSUE BETWEEN THE COM
PAN1Es AND THE COMMISSIONERS TO
PLACE THE sTRUCTURE-PRoPosED AMALGA-
NATION OF THE NEW YORK AND GILBERT
COMPANIES.
The Commissioners of Rapid Transit held another
meeting yesterday, President Seligman in the chair
Mr. Harrison the Secretary, being still away at SYRIA
cuse here he doubt is to represent and guard the
Mayors interests Commissioner Canda continued TO
act in his place Secretary. The session
sumed by discussions of the various features of elevated
railroad plans, the various members of the Board
pressing their respective opinions frankly. Thus far
no decided irreconcabe differences OF opinion have
appeared The Commission to be perfectly har-
monious in this important work. The probability
from present Indications is that only the general outline
Of plan will be adopted and that the details of con-
structon will be left to the judgment of the respective
companies The Commissioners are afraid that they
might otherwise stultfy themselves; for, while
tain structure might be advisable for certain Streets
contingencies may arise which may demand alterations
The outline of the be adopted by the Com
mission will only indicate the capacity of the road its
strength, the general plan Of construction, &c.
CENTRAL STRUCTURE PREFERRED
One OF tho principal questions still undecided is the
situation of the structure whether 1t be placed in
avenues-notably the Sixth and the Third-there
is no doubt that the middle of the street will be
preferred The reasons which seem TO have
led the majority OF the Commission to
this conclusion mainly these:-It is considered in
the first place that span the street would dis
figure 1t more than if the structure were only in the
centre This be correct for the view along the
would certainly be much more Interrupted by the
complete span Another argument in favor Of the
situation of the is that the light and venta
tion would be better, which is also sound. But the
greatest advantage which is claimed for is its cheap
ness and greater strength. Tho engineers consulted
by the Commissioners agree that track placed right
over the posts must undoubtedly be stronger than if it
rested on girder spanning posts twenty
five feet apart, and this would seem to
be also the common sense conclusion. Coincdent
with this is the question of expense. The grder in
the complete span must be of very remarkable strength
to possess the same endurabty in its centre when
the posts in close contguty To give that strength
large outlay is required which, it is claimed could DO
saved by placing the structure in the middle of the
nue..
THE NUMBER OF TRACKS
Another important question still at issue between the
companies and the Commissioners is that of the number
of tracks The New York Elevated Railroad Company
in favor Of four tracks the Third avenue, which
they deem necessary for the accommodation Of tho
enormous traffic along that thoroughfare while several
Of the Commissioners think two tracks would be suf1-
cient for the present, and dsinclined to
grant more than three at the utmost, in
traffic of vehicles possible ltwill be that the
Commissioners are in delicate position They have to
harmonze a great many conflicting interests They
are unwilling TO do anything which might perchance
defeat the practical success Of their work. For in
stance, in the question of expense they concate
the capitalists. They might adopt the best
the human mind could devise, and If II were ex-
pensive that capitalists would withdraw they would
have done the very thing TO kill rapid transit
QUESTION ExPESsR-
1t is great consolation that the capitalists who
TO take this great enterprise into their hands-George
NJ. Pullman, Jos6 Navarro X. Garrison, David Dows,
william L. Scott, &c.-are public spirited and lib
eral men, who look the question broadly,
and will not stint few thousand dollars to make the
structure solid and ornamental to render it worthy
of New York The New York Company computed the
of tho road at $500 600 per mile (of double track
while the Commissioners plan will probably bring it
up $400 600 which is still low figure for first ratio
structure They say very confidently that it will be
pleasing as well safe structure; that II Will have
three different coats Of paint, for instance, and that
screens reaching up to the windows of the will
hide the lower portion Of the moving trains partially
from the horses view.
There is considerable talk OF amalgamation Of the
New York and the Gilbert companies at distant iu
ture In view Of the determined opposition Of the horse
car companies with their reptile fundn of $3, 600 COO
as the German radicals would call IT, union of their
strength would certainly to be just in the in
terest of rapid transit
The Commissioners will meet again to-day at twelve
O'Clock Next week they will advertise the day on
which they intend to adopt the plan