The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-20
RAPID TRANSIT.
Mayor Ely Submits Commissioner Campbelps
Views 10 the Aldermen.
FEASIBILITY OF AN UNDERGROUND ROAD,
Estimated Cost and Probable Return
Upon the Investment

Estimated Cost and Probable Return
Upon the Investment.
Az the meeting OF the Board OF Aldermen. held yes
terday, Mayor Ely submitted for consideration eab
orato report from Allan Campbell, Com missioner OF
Public Works. IN accordance with resolution OF the
Board passed February l, 1877, asking tho Mayor ITO
ascertain the feasibility OF constructing by private
tcrprisc underground road commencing ut or near
tho City Hall and connecting with tho rapid transit
trains now running the Harlem road. tho cost OF
such road, the time required for its completion the
measures necessary TO obtain in conformity with law
tho requisite franchise and all other matters relating
10 the construction and operation OF such road. T"
Mayor Ely advises that the views forth in the 70.
port have his concurrence and approval
COMMISSIONER cAMPBEL.s REPORT.
The question of rapid transit from the Harlem River
TO the Battery, Commissioner Campbell remarks, has
been discussed Tor the twelve fourteen years.
during which time several grants from tho Legislature
have boon obtained but practical result has boon
reached except the OF tho Harlem Railroad
the Fourth avenue, north OF Forty-second street,
whore four tracks arc in operation underground
road. Tho conveyance at the Grand Central Depot
of throe gront railway lines, loading from tho East the
North and tho West, and over which vast numbers OF
persons pass and repass daily has this station
important point to be reached in most
Of the projecteu routes OF rapid transit. Since
tho completion of tho rapid transit road along
tho Fourth avenue, from tho Harlem River to
Forty.socond street, a distance OF and
half miles, the conclusion seems irresistible
that " this line, underground or depressed
plan, he extended southery to Broadway, ut or
the City Hall, distance OF three and one-haf
miles. the problem OF rapid transit WILL at least in
good part DO solved Ono-half Of the distance having
completed at expense of So 500 000 the qucs
ton worry pcrtincnty asked, Is II not the cheapest
aud wiscst plan to complete tho remaining hail. rather
than encounter tho whole expense upon some othor
roureg Mr. Campbell recalls that tho Legislature in
1858 granted charter to tho New York City Central
Underground Company, with very liberal powers;
May 1872, 1t incorporated tho New York City Rapid
Transit Company which tho late Mr.. Vanderbilt pro-
Jectcd; Il also chartered tho Beach Pneumatic Com
Mr. John schuylsrs plan OF a depressed but open
road IL also referred to-
FEAsIgILIrY OF AN UNDERGROUND ROAD.
The feasibility or an underground railway from tho
City Hall ParK to connect with the Harlem Railroad
Forty-second street must DO considered III both
Its physical and financial aspects. The engineering
question first dealt with. Two reports were madS to
Mr. William i. Ogden, the President Of the Ceatrai In
foreground Railway Company; ono IN October. 1868, by
the late Isaac G. uckhout civil engineer, and another
year later by Mcssrs. " W. Evans, + s. Chesbrough
long oxperonce The route adopted is those described
IN the later report
Tho line or the railway commences Broadway in the
City Hail street. and through City Hall place
though Maerry anu across the bocss ccese
and Great Jones 70 a ha aa
Ninth streets to Fourth avenue and through tour. avenue
blocks between sevenreenth and streets
Madison square and Madison avenue. and through Madison
The Fourth avenue Improvement not having at that
time been contemplated this description embraces
aftxvpu fha
Harlem River. TO combine the two plans some Of the
blocks between Forteth and Fiitieth streets would
have TO be crossed, which would involve largo OK
pcnditurc private property Mr.. Buckhout, In his
report, described with mnuteness the necessary
changes street grades (Which are fcw) and tho alter
atoms and rcarranrcmcnls OF and pipes
These obstacles not all insupcrable, and the
ponse Is estimated by Messrs Evans, Chcsbrough and
Greene Tor that part OF the road lying between the
City Hall and Forty sixth street, as follows:--
Raising and rcpaving Streets S2Co 700
Changing water pipes &c.... ....... !so,ooo
Changing sewers, &c. .................... IoO,ooo
Total. s5o5, 600
The feasibility, therefore, OF the work under consid
Grafton, in an engineering point Of view cannot DO
questioned.
In regard to the Vanderbilt underground road no
rcporls or estimates were published though surveys
plans and estimates were made by Mr.. Buckhout
These documents cannot at present be found, but the
Information obtained by me when tho work was under
consideration Will suilco Tor our present purp0se The
estimates are:-
To execute tho work of construction proper
The cost oil private property required was
carefully valued at ............ GOO
Adding for rolling stock, engineering, super
intendcnce, &C.. l,2oOO0O
Also per cent Tor contingencies, say..... $4,000
Total estimated 50. 100, ouo
the road was TO DO completed within three years
THE CENTRAL UNDERGROUND COMPANY
Having stated approximately the estimated cost of
tho Vanderbilt line, may DO interesting, by way OF
comparison. 70 give the estimate OF Mcssrs Evans,
Che sbrough Greene tor the route OF the Central Tn
dergruund Company, distance, about four niles
II Is follows (Irom City Hall Park to Forty-sixth
Earth excavation, including drainage, street
piling and bracing ana rcnlling over tho
masonry, 1885, 800 cubic yards nj II 5O... $050,0S5
Rock excavation in tunnel, $4,000 cubic
yards, at Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
Rock IN shafts 5O2 CUBIC yards, ut $780,. 1000
Raising aud repaving streets. 100000
| Changing water pipes, &c... 10 oOO
Changing sewers, &c....- .................. 10000
Brick masonry "a 0SS cubic yards, at Sl6.. 1885, 30S
Bubble masonry Is. 900 cubic yards, At Sl0. do60o0
Concrete, IS, 500 cubic yards, ut SS...... 47O40O
Ten miles single track and ballast. sos 500
Eight dcpots and stations, at $50, Oo0.... 100 900
Repair shop engine house and sheds. $50 600
Telegraph und gas hxtures.. 80 900
Seven ventilating stations, shafts ana ma
chInery ................ S5o ooo
Two hundred passenger cars, NJ $4,000 1000 600
LAND DAMAGES.
From Worth to Mulberry street. ......... 225 COO
From Blocker TO Great Jones street. 500 900
From Eighth street to Fourth avenuc..... $4,000
From Seventeenth to Twonty-third street,. TO 900
For depot near Forty sccond street.. 26000
For three stations. 100000
Contingencies, &C. fifteen per t......... 1,3ls,oS5
|
Total. $40 l05,3Is
1 THG PARK AVENUE TUNNEL
| Tho report then shows that the OF the tunnel
the present grade between Forty-second and Thirty
second streets is impracticabc sInrc II would compel
all the trans to Forty the
lace directly IN 'front.' OF the Grant Central depot, to
the great detriment OF traffic ana ut risk OF Lie.
| THE DEPRESSED ROAD.
Mr.. Schuylcr's present estimate OF the OF de-
pressed road through tho blocks from the CITY Hall,
connect with the Harlem Railroad near Fity.gixlh
street, the intcrsecn2 streets to DO carried over
4 iron bridges, Is as ioliows:-
Construction. ......................s2 500 900
Right vi way. estimated equivalent 10 12O
lots at $4,000 each, say............... 800 900
i balm A-4.ao