New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-31
UNDERGROUND RAPID TRANSIT.


TO The EdttOr OF The Trt6uHG
SIR: 1t is a marvel to one who has wit
messed the almost perfect wOrng OF the underground
system of London that a board OF scientific men IN Sew-
York should declare it impTaccabe Were they honest
i'll that dccaratIOnl II So II reflection on their Ell
paby. assume that they have not given the London
system personal examination, otherwise 1t is Incredible
that they should hazard and give publicity TO proes-
sona oJnOn that practical observers know 10 be foolish
and ulsound. The London system is 80 orderly and
complete that one unaware OF Its existence WOhId
scarcely believe that thousands hourly being trans
ported rapidly and quietly unobservant To the oid-
nary street traveller One has only step down stair
way at BakeT-st and in few minutes find himself at
MoCrgatc station, three miles away From the latter,
trains depart every five minutes, connecting with va
fous surface roads at the suburbs and though running
rapdlv accidents Of rare occurrence ana herein
consists the superiority Of this over ans elevated or sur
face railway system No collisions with vehicles, 10
fgheni OF horses, delays at crossings no obtFuc-
tons from any 10 which surface or elevated road
would be liable. In fact, the system complete, aud
il is . mystery TO me ignoring the Of delay above
assigned why vour crowded city has not long ago
NAV for time longer hinder the contamination 81 2
plan desirable but II mus, ultimately succeed anu
venture 10 say tIa any other plan a"0i te Wiz
ually be abandoned Il, impIacucabe ana superseded D
tins. ,..,.u
to the fact, recorded IN TIE IEEUNE OF ILe h ll2,,
that certain contractor nad made an oer 10 ~!
from Thirty iourthst. to the City La ior - O100oo
The Hon sanford T. Church, before committee oI the
Board OF Aldermen ia February, $50, declared mat
rapid transit would annually r23OOobto 10 me
civ" How uuwise then considered simply question
economy, 10 delay any practicable system tie cost OF
which would exceed the sum or T25OOo,eF, par
tic.lrly II true udg Church asserts, TINT any
Of proposed lines, IL built would return large reye-
nUes." Why, then, 10 capitalists hesitate ana why VIII
not the city aid III construction OF all underground
road can reason save that IL VIII interfere
with the OF Railroad mOnOpOliss thei,
in the language @; the Hon. John i HaskIn have tic
people by the throat, and the aud State, ana
have the Legislature to grind axes for them
and not for The people" There Ii little doubt
that had its pretended friends early day afforded
materi, aid TO company already organized, ana
progressing the franchises and pOwcrs necessary To con-
sruct an underground road rapid transit would now be
az Gtn dccOmpi ana would suggest 10 the riXthaVe
nrOperiy owners who sTcuuOusly oppose the Gilbert
Elevated project that II they would at once suDsoriDe,
say One-ten part the they expect To he dam
aged by construction toward the capital OF that com
pany whose underground plan seems nearest realizing
success, il would doubtless insure the Immediate com
and speedy completion thcreof and a con
sequence hideOus skeleton that IN prospect hauns
them continually would DC forever land, and the dlre
ante pdted by It's construction entirely removed
Rtch ned SDrtH1s, v. l., March II, 1877 A L. L.