New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-21
RAPID TRANSIT.

PLANS SUBMITTED - RECOMMENDATIONS VT
HENRY y. KNAPP AS TO ROLLING STOCK AND
MOTIVE POWER.
The Commissioners of Rapid Transit met
again yesterday Communications were received by
them from the following persons L. A. EhleFs Alfred
sper Leon Echart, T. d. Harris, NJ. Cartwright C. f.
Hill W. W. Ballard, H. Il. Campbell, L. c. Oppenheim T.
W. stebbins, z. II. Jackson H. +. Knapp, 5. b. b. How
land, J. b. Newbrough.
The American Pier Column Compony-The Commits
soners with their secretary Col Burton Harrison dis
eussed under which they One section Of the
law about tho meaning Of which there some ques-
ton, that defining the powers OF the Commissioners
TO adopt the plan III road to the city, east ana
west, below Fiftyninthst Some were OF opinion that
this provision would prevent the Commissioners from
recommending road across the city, at right angles 10
Ffthave at Fortysecondst TO connect with the Grand
Central Depot, In case such road should be deemed
necessary The question was not settled.
Commissioner Deamater said yesterday that every
thing In his opinion pointed to the adoption OF some
plan elevated road il preference to either an u
derground or opencut road Commissioner Mott
thought that there would have TO be some degree OF
elasticity In the recommendation of the Commission as
10 the kind OF road built else the capital could
not be easily raised 10 build IT, Capitalists might not be
willing be bound strictly by the limits OF any particular
plan Many Of the plans presented to the Commission
had capitalists to back them OF course plan OF I'M
doubted excellence, If it had no capital behind it,
might recommended by the Commission, and the cap
a would be found to carry on the construction but the
choice of the Commission would probably fall where the
excellence OF the plan and the certainty that IL would be
able TO command capital were united.
One Of the plans submitted yesterday was that OF
b. Newbrough of NewYOrk. This plan consists of two
rows of columns, bracing diagonally Each track Is
placed the center OF row OF columns Tic ears are
divided into two compartments, one Of which hangs
down each side OF the track The engine is placed III
the top part OF the car
rr,.. D..uif NiaIu( M
were placed before the Commissioners few days ago. is
represented by t. B. Caherwood. This is the plan OF
rapid transit which proposed three years ago
90 erect Thrdave This road is intended TO combine
the truss and suspension principles. The spans OF
the trusses are to be about 80 feet. The columns,
OF arches OF the towers placed only at the
Of the lateral streets The spans TO be
from $50 26o feet long The cables are to stretch
from one iron arch 10 another on each side
Of the track Saddles for the cables to be placed on
the girdeTs of the arches 10 admit Of slight movement
of the cables so as TO remove the drawing strain from
the arches or columns. The rgidty Of the tracSway,
caused by system of tsses is expected to anchor
the cables throughout their whole exeut, that they
cannot materially, either upward or downward Ill
consequence of any weight upon them side view of
one of the spans road would not differ much in
appearance except fo the absence of high towers at
each end, from that of ordinary suspension bridge
The estimated cost is $500, 900 per mile.
Plans were presented by L. A. Ehers Of Rhinebeck n
" of an elevated railroad to be supported on iron col
umns, and TO over the sidewalks OF street, or
through the blocks where necessary.
The following communication from the New-York Elc-
waited Railroad Company was received by the Commits
sioDers yesterday:
To he Honorable Con'missioners Of Rapid Irdns,t-
GENTLEsES At meeting OF the E5ecH% M e y
the full power OF tue Board OF Directors when not
in session. held Monday July II, 1879, at ll43 a. n al
No 10 Wllliall-st in the CITY OF Ncw-York pursuant u
nOtce-prcsent, Messrs COuTtwrigh DOWs, ana Han,
posing said Communicable following resolution was
unanimously adopted, namely;
the Commissioners appointed under the act entitled An
act further TO provide for the construction and operation
of steam railway or railways, IN counties OF the State
passed Is 1919 10 FIX and determine the route or
the extension of The railroad OF the New-Hork
Elevated Railroad Company from its present terminus at
the south end Of Grecnwlclst. by which the SAID
Company may connect s railroad WIN the south Ferry
HamltO-ave Ferry, and Staten Island Ferry, also TO fix
and Diet rhine the route or routes om the ine or track
OF said Companys road at or said ferries or nom
such other point upon the line OF said COmpanys rail-
road ~ said Commissioners may deem advisable, by
which the said Company may connect us rdliIoad WIN
the depot OF the New-lOrk Central and Hudson River
Railroad Company, upon FOdIthave, at or near Forty
secondst, and tDat eolV OF TINS resolution properly
authenticated be presented to the s,d Colnnissoheis
Telc- iork, July II, 1875.
A long communication, containing suggestions in re-
gard to the rolling stock and propelling power which
shoud DC used rapid transit road in tins city, was
received by the Commissioners yesterday from Henry f.
Knapp, civil engineer, of ills city.
SUGGESTIONS or HENRY +. KNAPP.
take pleasure offering to your serious consideration
the following views the rolling stock and propelling
power of rapid transit road tor this city, which think
must be strictly observed satisfy the public After
the style Of roadway has been decided upon, the next
most important question to De considered Is the style OF
rolling stock and motive power 10 be applied together
with the system Of carrying passengers, as the whole
success the road depends entirely on uniting the re-
ourements OF travel and if this is neglected the enter
prise may result in failure until altered to suit the de-
'ua Of
transit for the City ~ NewYork applied TO the rolling
stock are that the passengers shall not be kept waiting
long before starting during any time OF the day that
after starting the number of for letting off and
taking ON passengers not exceed four to tie mile,
md that shall be escape OF exhaust steam,
unoke, and ciudcTs from the engine.
To meet tne requisite The should not he made
MI in trains Of several cars which Will necessarily imply
delay in filing UP with the iul complement of passen-
gers each should be built to seat from 80 to 100
passengers and carry its power-that is, be steam
ear in it's complete sense The ears should start of on
from three 70 five minutes Roadway, OF less, from
another. The entire propellng machinery OF the cars
should be placed underneath, which is not only
thoroughly practical but the only proper position FOR
many reasons not least OF which its leaving the
tire floor plan ~ the car for the accommodation OF the
passengers and both its ends unohstruc;ed Ia such
position can he handled 10y the ehgineer above IN
pef Ct facility and security, and while the heat radatcd
from IL in can BE- entirely shielded from the bot
tom the ear, Winter II be used to give To the
interior the "a pleasant and agreeable temperature.
Iy tits construction tho useless cost Of lun
hing deadead rolling stock Separate OcOinOtives over
the road avoided TO get rid OF the exhaust steam the
deleterious gases resulting from combustion, together
with the mode OF na nltn ,he furnace so that VIII
be- fed uniformly with fuel and air is the next point TO
consider. The only OF getting rid Of the exhaust
steam surely Is 10 run 1t into ian blower where II
will be mfxed with two three times its volume of
atmospheric which ubtracts its heat and reduces 10
IL water quickly that only fine mist i elected from
The blower Tine products Of combustion tsnOke
carbOuic acid cdrbOnic oxide, steam and such
portions carbon may have escaped unburued may
b. most completely reduced 10y beng forced through
reservoir tank containing milk OF lime 10y the blast