The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-03
RAPID TRANSIT
Interview of Civil Engineers with Mayor
Wiekham Yesterday.
Facts for the Alderman1c
Committee
Experts Opinions on the Best
System Of City Transit

System OF City Transit
A IuiI occurred yesterday in the midst Of the
agitation that is thought now 10 be certainly the
immediate precedent OF the accompaniment OF
speedy and cheap travelling through this city.
No bodies OF merchants met TO formally discuss
the all-important subject OF rapid transit YET In
dividuals were not Indifferent TO 1t for the time
being. The obligation" 70 use "their best efforts
In obtaining subscriptions 10 the extent OF $4,000
zach for the iund purposed to be raised to promote
rapid transltn was no; definitely assumed by any
more gentlemen. That is TO say, no capitalist
called at the Chamber or Commerce ana amxei
his name 10 the paper which contains the 'obliga-
tionn which is deposited with Mr.. Wilson. the
Secretary OF the Chamber. There were. however,
several calls by letter made upon Mr.. Drake Tor
subscription lists. These were being printed. and
win be sent to-day 10 all gentlemen who desire
them. number OF business men. who Lave In
rerested themselves in the project devised BY Mr..
J. M. Drake. dropped into that gentleman's once
during the day TO discuss now TO advance 1t; but
rs Mr.. Drake was away from the city temporarily
they only had desultory conversations among
themselves and with Mr.. A. A. Drake. Commo.
dore Levy was among the visitors to Mr.. Drake,
and the most enthusiastic OF them. He
talked as II he willing 10 expend at
least ne-third OF his fortune TO secure
rapid transit. There was some conversation
On the subject OF the cost oil o rapid transit road
from the Battery to Harlem Some Oh the visitors
were doubtful that IL would be so small sum as
$a,OOo,000. the amount at which It has been set
down by gentlemen who have studied the subject
The douoters argued that. the value to the COM
panies OF each mile of horse railway IN this city Ii
estimated at $500. o00 eacn mile Of elevated road
way would cost more than $500, 900.
themselves by forgetting that the estimated value
Of the city roads per mile was SIMPLY the quoitent
Of the entire capital OF each road divided by Its
number OF miles IN length, without deduction Tor
rhe value OF depots, stock or Other property.
Speaking OF the cost OF running the rapid transit
railway, Mr.. A A. Drake made some starillng as
sertions. He said that It would exceed that OF
running ordinary horse-car roads BY but very
little. and then he added that he knew
OF an invention only known to few otner gentle
men by means OF which he expected that trains
would soon be run ali the steam railways with.
this invention Il successful, as he expects It Will
be, lust make great reduction OF the expenses
of steam railway companies.
A GENERAL RAILROAD Law.
During the meeting IN the Chamber OF Com.
merce on Monday several gentlemen spoke, laying
general railroad law framed, and arguing that Il
was premature 10 collect subscriptions Tor rapid
transit ROAD un I'll such bill nad passed the LeRs-
ture. The remarks OF these speakers were not
away Tor the reason that the meeting was called
simply Tor the purpose OF procuring subscriptions
20 PROJECT perfectly formed. 1t Is now in oroer
TO say 10 them that such law IS they wished the
meeting to employ legal talent TO frame IL now
being drawn up BY the Assembly Committee on
Railroads. OF which Mr.. L. Bradford Prince "
chairman.
CIVIL ENGINEERS AND RAPID rPANsIr.
il has been stated in the HERALD several times
that special committee OF the Society OF CIVIL
Engineers mas, since last autumn, been inquiring
fnf n Cr nj fra Tbaf
consists OF Mr.. Chanute, Chief Engineer OF the
Erie Railway; General Charles x. Granam. OF tue
Railroad Gazette, ana Mr.. Colingwood. The lapors
Of this committee have been extremely onerous.
In detail about seventy projects Tor elevated and
underground roads and 10 judge OF them ali. not
but with reference TO their applicability to routes
IN this city. Besides this labor they have colated
severest - rei. The puruose OF making these ta
bies Was TO determine whether II would pay to
build railroad for rapid transit; how much
money could probably be invested Ia It:
what number OF persons would patronize
II. and what rate OF fare should be established In
order that proper income should be derived
from the improvement The amount OF material
gathered aud consulted BY the committee is I'M
mense, and the report Will be very voiumlnous.
Already that document Is being printed, and ir IL
expected that copies Will be READY for distribu-
tion among the members CT the American Society
OF civil Engineers at the meeting OF that BODY TO-
Tue membefs OF the committee waited upon
Mayor Wickhan yesterday morning TO MORN him
OF their laDors ana 10 offer 10 him Tor the use vi
the Adermanic Committee on Rapid Transit the
material which they lave collected during tneir
long loil Their conference with Mr.. Wickham
was private, yet the evening papers announced
that they examined many plans proposed
for the construction o. rapid transit
favor or product OF their own As Mr.. Cnanute
had, ON last SATURDAY, assured the writer OF
maui would i not IN avor Of amy S
scnene, that gentleman was waited upon and
SHOWN the report published in the evening papers:
He Immediately declared that 1t was untrue and
occurred az the conference Of the committee with
Mr. IN ns
the committee Tor Its offer to lay the material 1t
Aldermanic Committee, and said that the iesulrs
OF The work OF MI. Chanute aud his fellow work.
the committee then informed the Mayor
that their WORK mad been done at the
sepDr nj 5s ees y sna no s
whose members wouo certainly discuss and per-
haps disapprove OF some OF its statements. After
Society OF Civil Engineers t. decide as 10 the DIS
position OF the document. The foregoing 10 the
ru a. then, Of the occurrences ut the con'srence
Mr.. Cnanuts tnen read to the writer letter
the society OF Civil Engineers In which he sald 10
enect that the ATTENDANTS &C the meeting OF she
Members. and that the report Of the Committee
on the Plans Tor Rapid Transit must not be given
ior the present 10 any other than members 81 the
cherished among reporters and indeed Ny many
others. mat the document. winch was iaoored over
30 long ana when promises 10 be such an import
ant Aid 10 the lucid discussion oil rapid transit,
would be given to the pubic, through
II may be, that the public VIII
be deprived OF the full results OF the committees
work. There will probably De On acrtd debate
among the members OF the society OF Engineers,
and some OF the conclusions reached by the COM
mittee alter months OF study, during which they
learned more OF the details OIL the problem
or rapid transit than are known by any
other men, may he rejected as incorrect
BY engineers who have only smattering Of their