New-York tribune., 1875-10-07
THE REPORT TO THE MAYOR.
OFFICE or THE BOARD OE
COMMISSIONERS OF KAIID TRANSIT
NEW-lORk, oct. q, 50.

10 Ris Honor WILLIAM H. WICKHAN, Mayor
SIR: The undersigned, the Commissioners
appointed 10y yon under the provisions Of Chapter 606
Laws Of 1s75 reported the 9th ult. the for
steam railways, fixed, determined. and located within
the 60 days by the law allowed for such action. The
reasons then stated for addressing the report TO you
prompt make formal report L. You of The plans
also which we have within the 90 days allowed FOR that
purpose decided upon the construction Of such rail
ways with the necessary supports, &C. upon the routes
and the location determined As suggested in oar
former communication have attempted 10 ascertain,
not what under other circumstances the hest in theory
merely, but what the best which can, here and now,
be realized In practice. We have thought IL TO
be our duty so to designate routes and TO
describe plans Of structure TO make sre. possible,
Of the actual accomplishment OF rapid transit And, he
ginning our work with sincere desire foI Information,
and with minds open conviction, have considered
every suggoston made in response TO published per
sonal invitations upon the subject 70 engineers cnd TO
capitalists expressing desire TO invest moneys IN the
enterprise, have given special attention. We per
eeved, at once. that in such undertaking capital
should be hampcrcd with The fcwcst poss HE restrictions
Remembering the discussions had during the last l5
years and the history Of the several attempts in that
time made 10 reach the result desired considering the
circumstance OF the PRESENT situation. and advised by
engineers and capitalists as weli-Nc bad, before the
date Of previous report, reached 'i conclusion that
elevated steam railways not only '' likely than any
Other steam
city but the best for the purpose n view IL Is with
reference 20 the location not Of the tracks railways
bat Of the itself that the law under which have
acted. required rs 10 determine whether II should he
cover under through or across the several streets
traycfsed. And you will remember that. in reso,u-
designating routes and adopted within the statutory
90 days carefully described elevated routes. No
body has proposed 20 70 construct railway either
upon the surface Of the street, in tunnel But,
when determined the routes VIC had already nCard
the arguments OF the engineers who have proposed what
called depressed OF "Opcn-cut' railways and We
had examined their drawings and specincatious Since
then and within the last three weeks have been
urged by parties in interest 10 decide upon that plan
the style OF cOns uctOn 10 be adopted But deber
ate Judgment bas been against il and, had We been
otherwise inclined advised by counsel that, hay
ing osimated the routes already described it not
within power to decide upon the depressed or
"open-cut plan OF construction and that it is indeed
doubtful whether the law which allows the streets To be
used for steam railways can he held 70 intend that 10
large portion Of the street Is necessary TO make
depressed "opcn-cut" railway materially better
than an underground, tunnel road should be absO
Iutey Withdrawn from the possibility Of FOR any pur
pose other than that Of furnishing air and light
railway below the surface
Tho plans for the construction OF rapid
transit railways decided upon by us
are described IN the resolutions adopted
the 4th inst and Of which copies accompany this re-
port 1t will observed that, with regard 10 the
ture, have limited requirements 20 essentials eX
acting attention only 10 the necessary conditions Of
strength and safety As 10 oil matters Of detail have
allowed the widest range Of choice TO those who shall
build the road our purpose has been 10 the road
way of the streets against obstruction whenever IL Is
practicable TO so and, though We have allowed a
range Of choice for selection by the companies build
ing roads Of the plan OF structure 10 De used in
particular street will be found think, that they
required employ in each street structure which af