The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-03
RAPID TRANSIT.

DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW PLANs-TtE SCHEMES
THAT HAVE BEEN FAvoRABLY Considered
no MORE PLANS TO BE RECEIVED.
The Commissioners OF Rapid Transit met yester-
day at noon to receive plans for the last time and
to give hearing to some inventors. Among
those who argued the advantages OF their schemes
were MI. Charles H. iIaswell, who presented a
plan for an elevated road running wrought
iron arches, OF elliptic form, from curbstone to
curbstOne; Mr.. Widmayer, whose elevated double
track scneme mas superior safety appliances,
and counsel for the Evans Elevated Suspension
Road, wGo claimed that 1t could be built for
S3G0,000 per mile, A large number OF communca-
lions were received conveying suggestions and
plans and giving the Commission kind acvice; but
there was time 10 consider these yesterday.
The commissioners adjourned at baf-past tire
O'Clock, and will tomorrow listen to the argu-
mems OF other inventors MIR. Delamater says
the Com mission has considered with especial care
and decided favor rhe following elevated plans:-
Morgan's Gothic Arch Railway. which certainly
would be very ornamental; Haundh's Plate Iron
Truss Order Road with cars running between
the girders Hatfield & Kitchens Bridge Truss
Road; Meyer Widmayer's (alluded to above);
Cornelps Plate Order ROAD Charles IL Haswelps
Elliptic Arch Road and a few others.
the following are descriptions OF some OF the
interesting plans whcn are before the Oonms.
sioners. and have not yet been fully noticed Ia the
HERALD:-
sHELDoN's ELEVATED PLAN
This elevated road ~ TO run on elliptic arches
sufficiently Hat TO support the roadbed on their
tops Tue height OF the arches above the street
Is placed at sixteen ieet, While they spring rom
posts, at the curDstones, eight to ten feet high.
These posts extend as high AS the crown OF the
arcn, aud at the tops to ue connected herewith
by horizontal bars, making a level support for The
girdets, preventing the posts rom spreading and
Draclng up The arches. The arches viii be made
boiler
or wrought iron aud set in any approved way;
The orders OF rolled IRON III TWO parts the lower
portion III the form OF half rails, with the nori-
ZOntal base and vertical web but in the upper
portion branching eacn way, thereby forming
longitudinal groove, III wBicn a lght longitudinal
wooden sleeper Is placed on Wnlch tie ral5 are
laId Cushions Oh ruoOer orleather III necessary are
to deaden the noise One part OF the glrder IS only
OF sufficient height to secure the rails properly,
but the other part, and preferably the inner one,
extends upward TO form guard ran for prevent
ing tue wheels from running OH ana TO receive he
bottom OF the car III case an axle breaks TIE
guard nanges also serve TO connect the tie girders
by cross stays 10 prevent the rams rom spread
ing, and they allow OF the connection being above
tue rails, where they have better effect tnan II be-
low them. The archways may be placed iorty or
nifty apart, according to tue SIZE ana strength
OF the Orders The guard rails will be connected
with secondary or guard wheels on the car hav-
ing two 1anges pro- ecung down the sides OF the
ratls so That II the main wnees or aXes break the
guard wheels Will fall on the guard rail ana save
car fron faing by carrying IL temper arily and
RILEY's SAFETY SINGLE RAILROAD
by uoiseess locomotives or urged py compressed
air. Inc driving wheels and brackets supporting
the safety wheels near the ends OF ire car.
The piuiOns or aXles OF the driving wheels are so
arranged that they adjust themselves 10 tae curve
OF the rail. Inc brakes can be connected with
them In the ordinary way and controlled Dy
electricity or atmospherIcally. should driving
wheel break the bottom of either cad OF the car
Is provided with an iron shOe or groove 80 1T the
rail- and so near 10 IL That II would not carry the
safety Vulue Weeels below the angle irons OF
Ranges; she would side along upon tne rail-
until stopped by tue brakes. 1t Is Impossible Tor
tne driVlng wheels 70 Jump the ralls. lhsre Is
no. sufficient space between the safety wheels and
the upper nange OF the safety rails 20 allow the
fianaes TO rise high enough 70 get OF the rall.
slCKLEs BROTHERS. UNDERGROuND PLAN
presents the following features:-rne engines are
10 be urged by compressed air. the tunnel IS
formed vi iron beams on the TOD and side sup
porting BRICK arches. the passenger cars are
suspended between the trucks, so as TO bring the
moor OF the car near the rails with gas reservoirs
10 supply ample lignt To the Passengers to read
wDlle In the cars.
MR.. PETERsoN's FOUR TRACK ELEVATED PLAN
IL described by udm as 1OiiowS:-rhe columns to
be at the curbs DOWN town and spanning the
street, and a thlrd central column III tue avenues.
between the surface tracks, which Is a neutral
point OF least III erlcrence, vencles never turning
Oh TO the otner track, IN the way Of the column,
but OUTWARD on the ample unOl struggled road
way. Inc Gotnlc arcl consisting o. twO lateral
braces OF rOIled IRON with Ranges Is IN tcrsected
about one'tnird OF the distance from the upper
ends or apex ~ the girdel, the upper ends being
keyed together by triangular block OF IRON,
through whlch passes a depending rod, which
passes Lhrougha snort, thich BAR VI ron, passing
Denea n the glrder, where 10 Is also uphei0 by
another depending rod, dropping from tbs apex OF
Il similar set OF tracks On the oLher size
OF the grder. Heavy nuts hsten on tdese and
upon any depression vi tne glrder one or Two
turns o the nuts VIII correct1t The lower ends OF
tEebraces are inserted pockets, cast alb ut Two
thirds the hcigAt OF the COLUMNS Wnlcn are ABOUT
IL eet nlgn and DolLed 1t Is evident tnat any
downward strain OF the centre Of the girder IS III
stanty ira SHIFTED through the depending rods
To the apex vi the braces, ana thence III the
direction OF tie braces to the columns, and tne
sustaining power Is precisely the same as II the
apex was linned atcly underneath tue glrder,
Wnl+ It's resisting power Is obviously almost
Irresistible. Tins combination avoids the VehcleS
IN tue street, ana the apex, rising only luur
leet above tue glrder and rapidly slOpnE, avoids
interference Witn TIE cars ABOVE, whIle It's great
strength ADMITS Of TWO central tracks ior express
trans, and Two tracks near the columns Tor way
Trains There VIII nc lurtDer seen Il perfect
balance OF forces between the inward pressure
upon tAe columns upon any depression OF tne CEN
tire OF the girdcr, Which Is rlsldly locked 10 tue
co!umns. aud tile outward thrust upon the col
uun5 by the braces from Jne bearing on the bar
at the ends Oi the Two depending rods, and which
must Instantly en- ue; mat he greater tie
pressure on the glrders the more nrmy Is tue
structure found together. The novel plan OF
locking the grders 10 TIE columns Is believed to
be tue strongest yet devised. The naGges
OF the girders are cut away an incn or
Two near tue emf To CO. respond with Silt or
opening case 40 the end OF the columns. Tue
ruer oeing dropped ia forms Kind OF double
mortlse ana tenUn, ana Is 1mmOYdbie, ana Wnen
iurth er bound by Dat through tue side portion
oil the column, any possible upward dispacem ent
Is prevented.
SEATS FOR THE PASSENGERS.