, 1877-07-19

mfr. Richard r. Morgan, Of Bloomington.
niscusscn tts Economy nntt ncstrabtcncss
In Cities.
II taA Eaitor ot n. Tribun&+
HiooHtSorox. H.. July 17.--The public welfare
Of tasr cities viii tnNbtlcss be greatly benc.
1trd by yont lfhcrallty and rubc spirit In opening
year coluMns in the Interest Of rapid trAnstt-t'
ana not IN the interest Of any particular Invention
Tor snch railways. OF Incorporation for thclr con.
struc.tnn. in this respect. | believe yon differ
wtanly frnm nnc OF Two Of TIM leading journals Of
New York, which. unfortunately for them, rctn
n be ba11y mixed up With and deeply Interested
In, thc fortunes of certain rnpl transit corpora-
tfon Of that city. anl tte ''moiiGcd plan,"
In ali further dlscuesion Ut th!a in,portant sub.
ject, which. an TrE THnl'NE suggests aoes not be-.
long exclusively to Now York, It will be- econotni-
cal a. we'll advantageous 10 divest 1t, II possible.
OF the russ that has risen. during tho past twolvc
years, In tho ctncsble Of Ia investigation 70 this
end, crcn At the hazard OF severe crftc!sm shall
ctldcayor to state with reasonable nccurAcy tho
prcscnt Status 1f "rapid transit"
The dcsIrabillty Of haviny snch means Of tsanstt
IN ont large cities. and In instances It's str!n-
gent necessity, nrc universally conceded. and ntcr
long ycars Of rasah. tic question, how to rovo tho
@ s s.sate d Se
ssgsnise ot isispsndsSt '' sysaas: tn.oaas
tho p,ibtlc n ono which proposes 10 Htillzs exist
#
into three c'as.cs, differing only n tic details Of
eonttaetion. q, sepassie traek on Zach .lae oF
stunc by sligle lnn Of pn.ts, substantially like
thn Greenwich street road Of New York: C:l
oublc. rosa supported ovrr tho Middle Of TIC
trark foa, carried oycrt middle Of the street by IN
direct .upport taken At the stowatk. near tho curb
Mcro cirapness Of construction ii not tho only
pu!nt to bc considered. though those engaged In
haIldinx rapid transit roads, a'l Of which arc nee.
due prominence, mil will, IT permlttcd sacriacc
p1,el!e insstsas to pr!ysse Ssn f. -. ,o., ~
ptann Is great ~ TO- renaer tho n,ust desirable
ncarly ln,practcAblc. tho difference Of inter.
fessnec with existing interests should bc the con.
II. difference Of cost between either ot the three
plans n,tnl3nneL. having oqulsalent capacity. IN
!, ta: s d:. snsf
'rIe rrmsninc queaton then to determine Ii.
r1ist!ng tnte<es!s,
into tsir discussions innrs Of VI considered de-
TAILS, lon; before their tmc,, and rh!e', il the
thu capital tnat might onsage the construction pf
i';,, A. sag:sstea IT, Mstlod ot ;s%epo..!ns :
street, md hold ratcntA for The paan md that the
Gilbert charter ot New York pssae,a'es that mctao
ofcoHettactlof, It ny br supposed that my opinions
are in!lncncea By tho.e tacts snd ahon!d ba Iooac
uudn Is thusc of II prrjndltcd psrron. tut, when
commenced professional examination Of thu sue.
Jecs a' rapid tFanslt. MAJ co"als!ad to no 'fiaa
Ut structure whatever, and sought onty 10 atces.
tain Whit I'lsn would con.bipo most perfectly aho
thrcc INDISPENSABLE .eleu,rRts of rnceess: u
E:ltcicnt capacity 10 do tho work rrquIrrl: e.,
9reatcst economy u construction; t;3l least In
ierfeseacc with existing rights Of property or pub
lie asa. .uf stfeats.
Anet examining ~ THO ,plaus for rapid transit
ttcu befuse the public, 6ccau.e sAttdded that the
streets mist be utilized fnr this object, and yet
that the ordinary trntc IN them nuat not 10 Inter-
feFra ,Fta or materially GIntnIeaca II double
track railway oe carried over tho middlu u tho
h!reet At auc& height nut 10 interfere with its
preAcnt uAe, and 20 upheld hy supports taken OH
lht sidewalk At The cursstone, she taa'sren*xh'e
elements OF success bcfuru mentioned will have
been attained. Tho particular form Of sifuciura
TO Ia hioptcd for this purpose | DO mot now dls%
cusa, that IA matter Of fstafl. Hnly desire u
keep, IN VIEW tho general psopositlon TINT the
streets must he utlL:c4 for rapid transit without
reducing thoIF honc1t4 to tho public.
Rutland r. MonaAx, JH.