The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-25
RAPID TRANSIT.

AVENUE ELEVATED RoAD-INCIDENTS OF A
NOVEL RAILWAY JOURNEY.
Yesterday was another gala day for rapid transit.
The first train of the elevated road Third avenue
that to the Harlem River made the trip yester-
day. The occasion preliminary excursion given
by President Cyrus W. Field and the directors
of the company to their invited friends aud the
press. Among those who participated in the
novel journey were Mr.. Field and his son, who is
also director OF the roads Vice President Heber r.
Bishop. Directors Brewster. Fiske Hall and Barney;
Mr. D. o. Mills expresident of the Bank of Califor
mia and large shareholder; General Manager Kicker
Chief Engineer Walter Katie. Secretary James A.
Cowing, Superintendent Onderdonk exEapid Transit
Commissioners Jordan l.. Mott and Mr.. Lawson N.
Fuller. The train consisted Of one of the
engines and two cars, which only partially
filed, the entire party not numbering over twenty
five persons. No attempt made at attaining any
special degree of speed, for the excursion train
sandwched III between the ordinary business trains
of the road up to Eighty-nnth street, and beyond
that point Manager Kicker. under whose immediate
direction the engineer acted unwilling to test the
new track by any high rate Of speed
BEYOND EIGRvy-NiNTH STREET.
The train started at three minutes after three and
owing to several delays attending some trains i'm
medately ahead of it the transit to the last station
at 129th street occupied close upon an hour. At
Slxty-hfth street alone there delay Of ten
minutes. From Eighty-ninth street, however (the
present operating terminus Of the road the excur-
sionists had clear track before them, and thence,
sackenng up only in front OF the great depot at
| Ninety-eighth street. the trip to the 10th
Non was n maas in sa than ners twelve
reference to the journey up to Eghty-ninth street
which is sufficiently familiar to the readers Of the
| HERALD. But above Eighty-ninth street all was new
and fresh, and the novelty OF the sights thor
oughly enjoyed. From Eightyn ninth street up to the
depot Ninety eighth street. the Harlem hollow.
there is tremendous ascent. the height Of the
structure rising swiftly and rather abruptly from
twelve feet to thirtytwo feetthc highest point on
the line. Here, standing on the platforms, with
one could look down upon the dismal flats
apparently by two rather big but excessively slow
ants. Second avenue horse car slowly struggling
splendid view could be obtained Of the turbid river
and the buildings on Blackwells Island the very
sight Of which on this gusty freezing gay. was a.
the rapid transit enthusiasts on the train like Mr.
Lawson N. Fuller turned to the glad time now be-
lieved to be fast approaching when this dreary viii
derness Of poisonous swamp would be con-
verted into region of cosey and cheerful homes.
/ REACHING HARLEM RIVER.
At Ninety-eighth street the passing view Of the
great depot very interesting, for here whole
block of rugged rock has been leveed to the height
OF the structure and stone wall built for its front
and perfect maze of sidings and cross tracks con-
meet the depot with the main road. There are no
\
teen cross tracks for switching OF cars to
the depot, and this network OF twenty
to the The
employed here looked up with ainazement as the
train approached and along the sidewalks q good
many people wore standing who had rushed out or
| their shops and dwellings upon hearing the novel
rumbling Of the Many made an attempt to
cheer and wave their hands, but the intense cold
made their enthusiasm subside. and they glad
to retire rather precpitatey to their warm hcArths
| From Ninety eighth street the grade gradu-
ally d.,v
station and 12th street station were rapidly passed.
everybody being delighted to observe how far the
pleton. Some astonshcd boys rushed up TO the
platforms give the excursonists passing hurrah.
lures terrific that they turned back.
At last the train reached 129th street and the entire
party alighted and for q few minutes promenaded
lesurely upon the intcrtrack platform which Is
placed here. ssN
Look at this splendid city which is growing up
there!' President Field exclaimed, AZ he polnlel
eastward thick cluster OF tall chimney pots and
lofty factories on the other side Of the river.
ats nothing to what the west side will look in q
/ few years" Mr. Lawson N Fuller contcnded, and
went raptures the magnificent effects of the
continuation OF the metropolitan line TO High Bridge
t RETURNING HOME. ]
"Ali aboard" Mr. Field cried, AMI the train started
upon ts trip. The few people that had gath
To be let onthc train ratified by them and did not
stop until further down town. where the directors
slowly co. out one y ors and hr sa away 70 'nsr
| ton the hitherto unused track above Eighty
ninth street. and the roll OF the wheel upon the new
rail seemed harder and moro powerful, but the mo-
ton Just the same, and in all respects the
| tions experienced by the passenger above Eighty
ninth street will in no wise differ from those already
There Is some uncertainty about the precise open
ing OF the road to Harlem for public use, which had
iet1 originally announced for this morning. but the
! Inhabitants OF Harlem unanimously hope that the
company will make them pleasing Christmas gift
! b. running trains some time during this day to the
! Harlem River. Monlsy, by the way, was the biggest
day on both elevated roads. probably owing a. tho
! holiday travel. The traffic on the Metropolitan
Amounted TO nearly 81 OoO and ON the Third avenue
| line to $1,000. On the Ninth avenue line 1t was
Il,OOo, making $1,000 both lines OF the New York
Elevated Railway in . single day.
RAPID TRANSIT on THE BATTERY.
At yesterdays meeting Of the Board Of Aldermen.
Mr. Bryan Reilly presented the preamble and series
Of resolutions relative 10 the rapid transit railroads
| setting forth the following
The Commissioners of the Department Of Parks
have exceeded their powers in granting the New York
Elevated Railroad Company the right to mutilatc oc-
! cupy and destroy part of the Battery Park. Tho
Corporation Counsel gave an opinion that the Com
| missoncrs have right to grant the privilege;
| that the eli tcrs of 1870 and 1873 give them
no power except the care and maintenance
of the public parks; that the charter of
| 1879 directs the commissioners of ths sinking
Fundto sell and lease all public property not wanted
y sha be paid into I'll the city treasury and
that the commissioners of the Sinking FUND are
directed TO employ counsel other than the Counsel TO
the Corporation, who shall immediately apply to any
OF the Of competent for an injunc-
ton stop said railroad company from their present
occupation Of any part oil the Battery Park and from
any further infringement upon the property Of the
| city
| This resolution was adopted.
~ BROOKLYN RAPID TRANSIT.
The subject of rapid transit considered on Mon
day evening last at . meeting held At the house Of
Mr.. A. s. Barnes IN Clinton avenue. Brooklyn. The
present condition Of Atlantic avenue was discussed
and Mr. Barnes said he understood that an effort was
soon 10 be made to extend the Atlantic steam
road from Fatbush avenue to the South ferry. The
general sentiment of the meeting appeared 10 be adj
verso To- surnre rosd ON the avenue. The elevated
1 or depressed railroad system favored, however
4 committee appointed by the meeting 10 secure
depressed track Atlantic avenue, and resolution
! II ~.