The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-25
underground Railway.

A syndicate (eyery hnanclni movement IL
these days IL gotten up by syndicatc) IS
formed in London TO build an underground
railroad in New York. A Sir EDWARD
WATxrS, of London, is said to be at the head
Of It. The New York papers are quite ex-
cited over the statement, and comment earn
estly upon it. They all speak Of war be-
tween the elevated and the underground
railways. A curious war, indeed. The
forces being scparated-one underground
and The other in upper air-they can't col
Tide; and unless the one comes above ground
and attacks the props OF the other, or one
tears down the arches OF the other, no Sc
rious injury will be inflicted by one upon
the other.
But this underground railway suggests
some interesting reflections. 1t is contem-
plated to build it from the Battery, under
Broadway, to City-Hall Park; thence north
ward, partly under Centre, Baxter, and
Mulberry streets to Lafayette Place; thence
through Aston Place and Fourth avenue to
Union Square. and onward to Forty-second
street. 1t is expected to cost six to eight
millions OF dollars. 1t will seem strange to
rural people that such is the crowd of peo-
pie on the surface OF the earth in New ork
that il becomes necessary for some OF them
to travel underground to get from one part
of the city to another.
Then, again. we may speculate upon the
conditions OF underground travelling FOR
much distance or time. What will be the
effect on health OF inhaling the atmosphere
at a depth under ground perforated by
sewers and imbucd with the descending
sewage from above. Will it be healthy or
agreeable? And then travelling through a
lighted tunnel aud shut off from the world
above. What effect will that have on travel :?
VIII people take to this tunnel? or will
they prefer to keep above ground?
These underground ways are much used
in London. But we have no definite knowl-
edge OF tue effects of this sort OF locomo-
ton. 1t is not old enough to be understood;
and then New York and London are differ
emily situated.
Another inquiry that is not inapprc-
pirate is as to the buryins so many mil
lions under ground. Moneyed men are
strange. They arc at times the most timid
and fearful of lnen, and anon they are the
most intrepid and reckless. Ii they have
even suspicion OF profit from an invest
ment they will bore into the earth, OF dive
into the sen, or scale the Alps. AT the pre-
sent time il is quite likely that pecuniary
disadventureS above ground incline many
to make the experiment whether better
luck would not attend underground en-
tcrprses. We have thought that the fear
OF doing anything with many i'll the
open day above ground would tempt
moneyed men in this latitude to seek
both subterrancan enterprises and lives to
get away from the periis which they have
learned to regard, as children do ghosts, as
being in every alley and bush and hollow
tree. We sometimes think it would be good
for worldly commerce if acolnparison could
be practically drawn between the above and
the underground; it might strengthen con-
fidence in daylight. In truth. it is strik-
ing illustration OF the immensely of buSi-
ness and life in New York city that this un-
derground way to get from one place to an
other within the boundaries Of the city
should be deemed necessary.