The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-10
MIR rRYER's WATER LINE BELT ROAD.

To THE EDITOR oP THE HERALD
More than eight years ago published pamphlet
showing tho mpracticaby Of an underground road for
this city and advocating elevated road be built
the line OF this island forming belt line along
the river streets entirely around the island and having
lines either horse surface elevated
steam cars, plan like gridiron The underground
plan after being carefully examined by Mr. Vanderbilt
and other gentlemen, has been laid aside for all time
The Rapid Transit Commissioners sitting
laying permanent work next only in public i'm
portancc to the introduction OF water system of
erage supply OF gas Cheap and rapid railroad
transportation is requisite for the future growth and
benefit of this city well TO meet the wants of to-
day Every person has a direct interest III the CONNER.
cal prosperity Of this port. The carrying trade,
foreign and domestic, needs all possible encour-
agement With our rebuilt piers and bulkheads,
wide river streets lreproof warehouses and railroad
facilities the supremacy of this city will be assured.
Merchandise traffic must be taken OF well pas.
senger traiIc A loaded freight car coming from san
Francisco needs to be run direct from the Battery
switched into pier warehouse the second story of
which should be on level with the elevated roadbed
The Greenwich street Elevated Railroad, has mitedy
filed the demand for passenger transportation 1t is
believed that the Commissioners of Rapid Transit will
grant that corporation the privilege of constructing
line on the east side OF the town This will then give
double belt line for passengers up and down the central
part of the city That road is the best solution of
elevated road streets The general make
up of that road has always with my approval The
Greenwich street road was the pioneer and that com
pany is entitled such will enable them
perfect their system.
To take up any avenue with central line of railway
be Third Lexington, Madison Eighth will be doing
great injustice TO property owners the selected
The destruction of light the noise, &C. will do
precate the value of property at least twenty five per
cent The value OF property along the length of any of
the avenues is hundreds of millions and its depreciation
would equal the cost of building half dozen railroads
Property owners have rights and they will not without
bitter and long legal struggle, permit road TO be built,
such road ut best, Will destroy values of real estate
along its line. Now, if elevated road be built the
water line will appreciate the values of property along
its entire length, and will meet with opposition.
have sent in TO the Rapid Transit Commissioners
plans for four track Elevated Margin Road TO encirce
the city-along the East River the Harlem and the
North River The proposed construction of this road
is wonderfully simple At every distance of thirty feet
are SGT up three iron columns nineteen feet from
centres On top stretching from column to column)
are placed wrought iron plate girders and ON these
two and half feet apart. and top
OF the beams the track timbcrs and rails
are laid thus giving smooth unobstructed roadway Of
four tracks two Tor passenger and two tor freight The
matter of stations and other details, such gasghts,
telegraph wires &c, are such as any railroad engineer
is competent to lay out | propose this railroad AS a
railroad ought to be built for all time and u clap
trap construction The route enables this to be done
All the rattle and noise the destruction of light Sc
comparatively of small Importance ON this route Such
road would be positive ornament to the city, and
would fulfil the requirements of transportation
OF passengers and freight for century
to come 1t accommodates people living opposite Man
haitian lsand-people in Brooklyn Long Island, Jersey,
&c proper system OF crOsstOWn lines would prove
wonderfully convenient The gauge of tracks to be the
the leading trunk roads of this country,
that engines and from the New Haven Railroad or
the New York Central eailroad run directly the
elevated road the structure strong enough and entirely
safe and secure Lighter locomotives aud smaller
will also be used for passenger trHc
SUCH road will necessarily be an expensive one.
Experienced railroad men have agreed that to properly
build and completely equip such road will call for
capital of Sl5 600 COS have asked the Commissioners
to adopt this route and this plan. | am prepared to
furnish them bond in the amount of $500 900 that
such road will be eXpeditiousy built and put in opera
ton. WILLIAM j. FRYER Jr.
NEW YoRK, August 0, 1875