The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-22
From City Hall 10 Harlem Beneath the
Streets and Buildings.
SIXTH AVENUE DIPLOMACY.
Wreaking Vengeance Upon the
Gilbert Company.
GBY CABLE TO THE HERALD


turned the attention of English capitalists to
underground railroad systems for rapid tran
sit in large cities. In London the obstacles to
an underground network of railways have.
been almost insurmountable The ex-
brilliant rates at which all property is held
and the intricate and constantly changing
system of sewerage have combined to
create engineering difficulties of the gray
est kind.
STARTLING REPORT.
It became known this afternoon on the
Stock Exchange that syndicate had
been formed with large capital
to undertake the construction of the
Vandenburgh, or Central, Underground
Railway in the city of New York. cor
respondent of the HERALD at once drove to
the Office at which the syndicate has held
its meetings and there found full confrma-
ton Of the rumor.
Sir Edward Watkin, the president of the
London Underground rElways--they are
really one company although Incorporated
under two names-is at the head of the
New York enterprise and there will not be
any delay after the work is once begun.
THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED.
The most careful estimates have been
made by English engineers, experienced in
J the building of the Metropolitan Railway,
and it is known to within q thousand
pounds what every mile Of the proposed
road will cost. The money has all been
raised here and the stock will not even be
put upon the market. The syndicate refuses
to exhibit its books
THE ROUTE
Work will begin Immediately, the draw
ings and specifications being dow in pro-
cess of completion. The road win be con-
structed according to the original charter,
granted in 1866 and.amended in 1869, from
the Battery under Broadway to City Hall
Park, thence northwurd partly under Centre,
Baxter and Mulberry streets, to Lafayette
place. Thence through Astor place and
Fourth avenue to UIion square and onward
to Forty-second- vet. The road will SUBJ
sequently be push ed forward to Central
Park by way of Ma olson avenue, and ulti-
mately will be completed to the Harlem
River.
AN oDsTACLE AVOIDED.
Thegreat feat Of the engineers who laid
out the route, andsthe chief element of its
feasibility, was in carrying the tunnel
around the depression in Canal street,
which exists at the point where that thor
oughfare crosses Broadway. By the route
selected the rosl is carried through the
high ground near the Bowery, and Che
expensive engineering work which would
have beensneceaary had the line Of Broad
way been selected, is avoided. II is asserted
that it would cost ESQ, 900 (aboat $3.50, OOO)
to construct the siphon by which the great
sewer under Canal street would require to
be carried under the tunnel, in case the
road was built under Broadway, above City
Hall
ANOTHER ROAD UNDER SIXTH AvElUE.
The Sixth avenue horse railroad company
is also energetically represented here This
corporation offers money for an under
ground road to kill the charter Of the Gilbert
Elevated Railway. The chart sr for such an
underground road the Sixth avenue COM
pany claims to hold by pur chase, and
English contractors will sail 500 U to make
the necessary estimates
FIGHTING THE ELEVATED RoA DIS.
The workers in this enterprise, who
seem to have for'their object the r.a,ivM of
the Sixth avenue horse car monopoly, de-
clare that the Elevated Railway ill be
litigated at every point. This undtrg 'ound
road is expected to cost from Sc, coo, O 90 to
$4,000, 900. and the preliminaries ne all ar
ranged.
INTERVIEW WITH MR.. vANDENBURGH-rRl,sEN
CONDITION or THE scHEME-THE cES.RAn
UNDERGROUND HALLWAY.
A HERALD reporter paid visit yesterday aftcrn Don
TO Mr. vauocnburgn, In order TO obtain some In
formation as to tho arrangements he had mude
WIN the syndicate OF English capitalists who werceto
furnish the money to build the Central Underg round
Railway Company. Mr. vandenbsirgh was found
seated In his Office apparently rcccting tho
cess Of bis enterprise, and Immediately stated that he
was willing to enlighen the public SO far lay In
hts power.
REPoRrRR-How long have you be en- negotiating In
England tor capital for the Underground Railway
MI vASDsSBURGH-Ne goliatiDns have been going !.