The New York herald., 1876-02-20
RAPID TRANSIT.
LAST MEETING on THE COMMISSIONERS TO De
eide FOR on AGAINST II.

LAST MEETING or THE COMMISSIONERS TO DE
eide FOR on AGAINST II.
This body met at eleven O'Clock yesterday morning
and heard the views Of different persons In avor OF ana
against the Elevated Railway plan on Third avenue
No specially points were presented BY the repre-
senatves OF property Third avenue but the
arguments used simply repetitcns Of those for
merly advanced.
Mr.. VandenburghA Aowner OF the franchise OF the
Underground airOad again spoke IN opposition 70 the
Elevated Road claiming that the underground roads
alone could give rapid transit
MI Parsons read additional batch OF a1idavits
from property owners and others Pearl street,
Third and the Bowery protesting against the
construction of rapid transit road on that line
MT Andrew Kennedy, largo property owner on
Third avenue forth in his afdavt in effect the fol-
lowing-Any one with the slightest knowledge Of en-
gneerng know that it is impossible to get rapid
transit Third account OF the difference in
the grade. Some parts would have TO bo elevated to
impossible height oher parts depressed as 10
interfere with tho carriage way and would also leave
the houses places several feet above the grade
He also suggested that II the road should be built in
the centre OF Third avenue it would be perfectly
impossible for fire truck TO turn around or go
TO fire II carriage or truck was in front Of store
and II built over the sidewalk II would be Impossible
TO raise long ladder 20 burning house; 1t should be
the duty OF the fire insurance companies TO look after
this matter as it was important 10 them to do IT,
during fire, the front OF building should fall out
wnat will become OF the rapid transit roadY
Afidavts were submitted from William j. AcAlpine
and Egbert L. Viele, civil engineers in which the pro-
posed scheme of an elevated railroad Is unqualihedy
condemned.
ExJudge Emott read an affidavit of MT. Milton Court
right President of the Greenwich street Railroad and
engineer, stating that the road proposed would not
in his opinion depreciate the value OF property inter
ferfere with street traffic. or be unsafe or insufficient
and that elevated road would be much better and
safer than underground railroad.
A recess was then taken, and re-assembling the
counsel on both sides prepared TO sum up.
Mr. Church proceeded first in favor OF the construc
tion of the He directed his efforts TO show that
injury would be done to private property by the con-
strucIon and operation Of aTapid transit road the
proposed route and II such injury done the great
public good would vastly counteroaance t. he then
showed prospectively the great benefit which would
result from rapid transit in the saving of time the in
of population and consequent increase OF
enue to the city The Increase OF the population OF
the city previous 1860 the rate 28 cent
every five years. while from 1850 1870 the
the years was only l3 per cent and the Ave
from 1870 TO 1875 was only So per cent During the
last ten people have been driven out of the
city to Brooklyn and New Jersey because facility
has been given them to get to available and desirable
homes in their own city.
Mr. Parsons replied and said did not think 1t
necessary TO defend himself against the implied charge
that he there to oppose rapid transit He was in
favor OF proper rapid transit road and interested
personally in such quick and efficient means OF rapid
transportation He opposed to the route selected.
Third avenue property above Thirty fourth street. he
said, is the most valuable IN the city and has been
made by the enterprise and lberaity Of the prop
erty owners, who expended large sums OF money to
make it SUCH in the confidence that the character of
their avenue should not be changed and their
rights invaded, as is now proposed. The
value OF the property along the route is about
$50, 100000 He had read largo number of afidavis
showing that steam elevated railroad the route
would injure property from twenty five forty per
cent Taking IL at twenty-five per cent they found
that the property this line requested TO
give $50 600 600 in value TO this private corporation
Mr.. Parsons had not concluded four
P. NJ and an adjournment taken until ten O'Clock
Monday.