The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-23

pan AuOpte0 IN bdltlmOre, WHICH J uu6
already been referred to in the HERALD, is one oy
which all interests can be served. II company
OF capitalists Is given the right to build rapid
transit railway the corporation can be bound 10
pay 10 the city e-nith OI It's profits to be put
into sinking fund for the liquidation OF the mu-
nicipal debt. Further than TINS. siipulations can
be made In the General Railroad law py which
rapid transit railway corporation Win be allowed
10 divide among ITS stockholders only about three
fIlhs o It's profits the remaining fifth 10 90 TO
form luna that would enable the company 70
reduce rhe rate OF iare. plan something like
money TO pay the interest on cost Of the Druid
Hill Park ana to form sinking iund Tor the nna
extinction OF the dent incurred IN the purchase OF
that property.
The Aaermanic Committee on Rapid Transit
VIII meet TO-DAY to discuss the substance OF Its re-
port. 1t VIII undoubtedly decide 70 report in
favor OF permitting the city to build the railway.
A TUNNEL AS MEANS TOWARD MANY ENDS.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Among tue various plans heretofore proposed
for securing rapid transit there are none Tree
from objections, some OF which are OF a very Sc
rious character. and such as are likely to defeat
the object in view. However great the dement's
that might inure to the city OF New York from
rapid tran sit, and however much it may be de-
sired by the public generally, II can only be real
tied by adopting plan that is practicable. and
one that Will secure the confidence Of capitalists
To make the road q success financially the route
must oe one that will best accommodate the peo-
pie at large. and thus secure the greatest amount
OF travel To accomplish this object the road must
extend from the Battery through the centre OF
both the city and Westcnester. The most feasible
method OF securing this result is by means of
vIADUCr ROAD,
which has the advantages OF being elevated, sur.
face and underground. This may be accom- plished
by constructing an arched tunnel mot on Beach's
plan) from Bowling Green through Broadway to
Twentv-tnird street, from thence through Fifth
avenue to about Tooth street, from thence by an
eievsred road to the Harlem River, ana continuing
the elevated road to the high ground beyond the
river, and from thence by surface road directly
through the centre OF Westminster and connecting
with other roads beyond. The stations on the
route. beginning at the Battery, could be so To-
Gated to connect the road with every line OF
travel leading from the city in all directions.
1t would open up line OF travel greater than
thar OF any other road In America. 1t would en-
able to reach the upper portion OF the city ana
the interior or Westminster directly end rapidly.
The objections to this plan viii be that 1t VIII not
do to disturb Broadway and Filth avenue.
1t wOuld Interfere with the business OF Broadway,
and residents OF Filth avenue would never submit
to having that beautiful avenue made the route or
rapid transit; ana then, again, there are the gas
ana water pipes well as tne sewers IN the way
OF this pan. Now let US see II these are valid OBJ
)ectIOnS II hey are, then our suggestions In REL
erence to rapid transit are worthless
II there Is one nceueG Improvement OF more i'm
portance tnan another IN the city OF New YORK, 1t
Is a system ol sewerage and piping through the
centre OF the city on the Paris plan, when should
be adopted In consideration OF It's advantages TO
health Ii Tor no other reason. The present sys-
TEN oil sewerage Is very Objectionable IN many
respects. AS Tor tearing up the pavement In Filth
avenue, 1t Is hgn time tor 1t to be replaced by
better one.
linen again. the work could be completed in
short sections, that 1t wOuld not greatly neon
venlence any one. Indeed we should be not only
wiling, but anxious to make some sacrifice to this
great END. IL would be necessary to have the
whole tunnel ventilated and lighted, which could
easily be accOmp ished.
Tns elevated portion of the road could be made
Orname 0 al ana even beautiful, and to occupy no
available por ton OF the street side walks. The
whole work IN the city could De rapidly completed
by skilul engineering, and we have as able and
competent engineers as any In the world. The
advantages OF TINS plan may be summed up as
First 1t is central.
SecOnd-lt could be of no possible disadvantage
great advantage IN hygtenlc point OF view.
Third-It Is the most practicable OF any plan.
EOurth-Tne location OF the road will accom- mo.
date a larger number OF people than any other
Fyth-Ir win prove the cheapest road, consider.
ing It's advantages.
Sxth-rners would be no costly property TO
purchase.
Serenth-lt will pay better than any other road
Toe arcned structure could be covered with solid
concrete TO any depth desirable. thus forming .
substantial foundation for pavements that would
last Tor generations.
TINS foundation would enable us to construct
pavement Of greater utility. and worthy OF the
For power steam could be generated very con-
venlenty and economically oy the combustion OF
compressed, innammaDe gas by which there
oxide IN the tunnel or while passing over the
elevated portion OF the road IN the city.
The products OF combustion OF the gas would be
carp0nic acid and water only the same as Is ex-
hailed from toe human lungs. w. E.