New-York tribune., 1878-04-29
STREET LINES IN TWO CITIES.


| WORK ON ELEVATED AND SURFACE ROADS.
PROGRESS OF THE STRUCTURES OF THE GILBERT
AND NEw-YoRK ELEVATED CoMPANIEs-THE
ROLLING sToCK-NEw SURFACE TRACKS IN NEW
YORK AND BROOKLYN.
One engine and several cars of the Gilbert Ele-
yated Railway already on the tracks, and the
work the rapid transit lines both sides of tho
city is far advanced toward completion. Among
incidents of interest affecting the surface roads is
the laying of horse-car track in Union-square
and contest between Brooklyn lines
NEW-YORK RAPID TRANSIT NEAR AT HAND.
PROGRESS ON THE EAST AND WEST siDEs-CARs
FOR THE GILBERT RoAD-wHEN THE EAsr-sIDE
LINE WILL BIZ COMPLETED.
The first locomotive Of the twenty to be
used on the Gilbert Elevated Railroad landed at
Pier No. l North River, Saturday. 1t was trans
ferred Immediately the main track by the inclined
plano erected back Of Trinity Church, Church-st
trial trip Of the engine was aferward made,
with satisfactory results. Tho power OF the engine is
sufficient to draw six cars, although there will be only
three four in any train The diameter Of the
steam cylinders is ten inches and stroke Of piston six
teen inches The consumption Of coal will average
about quarter of a ton day The engine has eight
Wheels four OF which are drivers" the end wheels
used "trailers" guides around curves The
exhaust steam will be used in heating the cars A
patent device Will prevent the escape OF sparks from the
snOke-ppe
Twentyone OF the have already arrived, and
been put o the main track. Thirty-nine moro
pected within few days these win complete the total
number superintendent Van Brockln hopes to have the
road in running operation by May 15. trial trip
OF one Of the trains will be made this week.
Thry-sx facing inward, eighteen at each end,
placed along the sides Of the eight double seats,
the car in the centre, that there will be
seats for ftytwo persons each The sides OF tho
ay above the seats, composed OF large panels OF
glass; that the not only we'll lighted but also
well ventilated by opening the windows the ear viii
be thrOwn open. The wheels are made OF series OF
discs boled together and surrounded with
rim of irOn Tho dimensions OF the car arc as follows:
total length A feet length between trucss, 80 feet
height of body OF ear feet 3l4 inches width, feet
Jnne 8 FOR change OF the name Of the Gilbert Elevated
Railway Company to the metropolitan Elevated hall-
way Company.
THE EAsT-sIDE LINE.
Work on the Elevated Railroad the Eastside being
pushed forward rapidly possible. Tue road ex-
tends from South Ferry through Parkst. NewBowery,
the Dowery and Thrdave II Is expected that trains
on July !. The contracts specify that the
work shall be completed before that date, but
il Is not probable that everything viii be placed in
running order III less time The road up Ihnd-ave 70
.na,5s aSd TO HarIem River some line this Fall
contractors at work on the various portions OF
and is putting up part of the read with the greatest
possible expedition In the Bowery the width Of the
street IL so great that girders viii be used
In conversation the progress of tie road last even,
ing Cyrus W. Field said "Ihe appearance OF tue roai
il deceptive said TO me a few days aso: Why
don't you get on with your roads Is not going
up like the Gilbert said: I'VE are building rapidly,
mucn more rapidly than the Goert; we nave sixteen
miles of road. they only Eve miles yet our entire road
will be finished only short time after theirs Is com,
line, put up almost at the same tme-and they gay,
stcioS y" one Of when Is fully compete The work
To be in confusion almost to Tie end ana Then
al at the four great paris wil be finished at ABOUT
the same time on the North River side il is expected to
have double track completed to Fltyninths during
Tin devising the plans for the structure OF the
road we called in the chief engineers Of three great rail-
CAPTAIN Douglas Galton. OF England and prominent
engineer in OF the city These eight men de-
h ON ths bert RlaI the weight falls between the
uprghts, and the tendency OF trains passing
ia opposite directions is to rack rack the the
csed in all other arrangements. The best engine and
car builders consulted ana the latest devices
adopted for ehtness strength, speed etc The car, are
now building at Toy. n. Y, aud Springfield, Mass.
Each car will accommodate about my persons the
pacsd Iias 'es at every half % mile, at least and in
some parts of the line much closer together.
companies by which tickets VIII be good on their
lines for all distances between stations For instance
lives at Forty y-sixthst and IhTdaye lie gets out
froma the Elevated Road at the Forty ,secondst
depot His ticket VIII entitle hm to free ride OF four
blocks on the streetcats running below No one could
ride far the sreetcar as 1t would be for his own in-
terest get out at the station nearest his nome
when was In London the pr tsident OF the Under
ground Road, which cost "a 100000 mile, said TO me
Mr. Field, never go underground until you are Obliged
to- It's healthier, cheaper, better IN every way
10 WORK in tho open air than by gaslght'
We concluded to build in the open ar. The
solution OF the question OF terminal facillIles
for New-YOrk, 1t strikes me- Will be In this way. The
great place for freight will be the other side OF The
Hare River. IL will be transferred down town by the
Elevated Road from midnight 10 a. M, Wien the pas
sencer traffic light Cars could be readily switched on
into the second stories of warehouses Then by large
lifts these cars could be lowered OF raised " otner
floors 10 facilitate unloading.