The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-22

several OF the street railways carrying
passengers at five aud six cents each by
horse power, arc paying regular dividends
ON n stock cost OF about million dollars
per mile, it is easy TO see that there is
great ncid to be pioGtably occupied by tie
elevated steam railways. We say This in
the fun kuowie lge of the fact that prob
ably one third Of the travel Is for DIS
tances less than mile, and not therefore
l1lupiy 10 sccll the elevated roads. with all
the probable reductions Of traffic, aud
with the greater eos; OF steam roads fully
discountcd we regard II a. absolutely cer-
tain that any wei regulated doublc-tiack
steam railway, whether supported on iron
columns or trcstlc work, in the streets or
oil the sidewalks, Is sure to prove fuau-
cinly successful, provided il does not cost
over a milton dollars per mile; and there
is reason TO believe that such roads amply
capable of accommodating the public can
be built aud equipped for less than hall
that cost.
A prejudice has existed against the
Greenwich street road. because IL IL sup
ported by q single row of columns; but we
are glad to note that this prejudice is dis
appearing. There Is no reason why such
road cannot be made just as safe rs If Il
were built on Il double row OF column.
In fact there are some reasons WHY 1t
should be even safer, aud we need mention
only one To- show the truth of this remark.
A roadway supported by Il single row of
columns must necessarily be placed imme-
datoly over the columns, and thus di.-
4.
TO the foundations; whereas II roadway
carried by two rows OF columns would
naturally be placed between the columns,
and thus require II stronger ana more eX-
pensive cross structure 10 carry its load.
The only danger 20 be unprecedented from
Il road constructed on the former plan is
that of lateral motion, and this can be
easily guarded against. No such notion is
felt or need be apprchcnded on the Sew
York Elevated Railway.
The time for opposing such structures
has gone by; for their safety. their
economy, and their suitableness 10 the pur-
poses intended. have been fully demon
strated. The Institute OF Civil Engineers
has approved the plan of elevated roads,
aud the Board of Rapid Transit Conmis-
sioncrs has authorized their construction.
Both the New York and Gilbert Elevated
Railroads are authorized by special char
tiers, and we trust that neither real estate
owners nor street railway stockholders
will throw any obstacle in thcir way. We
do not think that either Will receive the
slightest Injury from the new enterprises,
but that both will from the well-known
experience in such cases. derive positive
advantages thercfrom. The real estate
owners viii be- benefited by the in
creased facilities for getting M and
down town; and the surface railway
companies by the increased volume OF
travel due 10 increased settlement Along
the new arteries Of communication. and
particularly in the upper parts OF the
! Island. ana The adjacent country beyond
! Harlem rver. 1nc railway companies
have just rs great an interest rs the public
in erecting safe. commodious ana siehtlv
! structures, and may be confidently de-
pended upon to protoci their interests in
these particulars. They shoaid be encour-
| aged as pubic nriaciors.