The New York herald., 1875-03-01
THE VANDERBILT UNDERGROUND RAILWAY
CHARTER.

THE VANDERBILT UNDERGROUND RAILWAY
CHARTER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
have read with interest the numerous articles
which have appeared from time TO time in the
columns OF the HERALD on the all. absorbing ques-
tion or "Rapid Transit" and must confess that l
have seen little else in these articles than
words, words, words-notning tangible. Men
may write, speedily and theorize as much as
they please; but neither talking nor writing nor
tneorizing Will build and equip an expensive rail-
way. Nearly all the articles to which ausion Is
made seem to ignore the fact that 'rapl6
transit" Is, or very soon will be- an accomplished
fact as far south through the city OF New York as
Forty-second street. 1t seems to me that the real
question Is, How Is the rapid transit or steam
railway from Forty-second street Grand Central
depOt to De continued to the City Hail or to the
Battery
Now, everybody knows that charter was given
by the Legislature 10 Commodore Vanderbilt two
or three years SINCE authorizing him to build an
underground railway from the Grand Central
depot to the City Hall Park, and that he went
about the work in good earnest. He directed his
engineer, the late Isaac G. Buckhout, TO make the
necessary surveys, prepare plans OF the work and
estimates OF It's cost and that in accordance with
said directions MIR. BuckhOut did make the surveys
and prepare the plans ana estimates, and that In.
structions were given him to invite proposals for
the construction or the work, when, for some un-
explained reason, the "COmmodOre" changed his
mind, and operations on the contemplated ex-
tension OF the Fourth avenue improvement TO
the City Hall were indefinitely postponed. The
estimates OF Mr. BuckhOut, l am CfeoItably IN.
paeS ro sas
the new Post Otce could be built ior less than
81. .oooC 600; and am also informed tnat contrac-
ready to 90 the work OF construction for a sum
considerably below the estimate Of the engineer.
OF the late Klngmaster Tweed parties interested
IN the Tweed.Sweeny arcade project, interviewed
the Commodore and induced him to believe that
the WORK could not be done lOr the amount set
iortn In the estimate OF the engineer, and that 1t
was owing to the representations OF these parties
that MIR. Vanderbilt abandoned the idea OF build
ing the underground railroad down town. Be
this as may, there is thing certain that the
only way TO secure rapid transit to the southern
part OF the city within reasonable time IS to
M sae s"n ,e CIV @ ama n M Kali
posed by the late Mr.. Buckhour. 1t Is practicable
and can be done at q reasonable cost; Therefore,
let your rapid transit men-nvrth side east side,
west slde and every other side association men
unite on this practicable undertaking. Let them
secure the Vanderbilt charter, and II possible
cure the interest and aid OF the Commodore. ana
the great corporations whose roads terminate in
transit to the City Hail Park would be secured.
Aterw ARD, or even while this work is in course OF
put In progress. Tom. Dick and Harry will not be
debarred from pursuing their fancy tights on
tnree-tier ways, 0ne-eQged whlrlggs, hoops,
loops, walking sidewalks. or pneumatic per-
amOulators. But for goodness sake give us
something Notwithstanding practicable. Let
US have the Fourth avenue Improvement carried
underground to the new Post ONCE. as the first
thing needful, and let the Commodore imm0rtaliZe
himself by giving material aid to the enterprise.
without his aid and assistance the work, regret
TO say, Is not likely to be accomplished. his as
sstance, think, may be secured II some sensible
gentleman would convince him that the construc-
tion OF an underground way from the Grand Cen
tral depot to the Post Office would nOs lessen the
Harlem
railway. JACK SMITH.
MoNTERLoNEY Feb. 20, 1875.