The New York herald., 1878-12-15
The Metropolitan Elevated Railway
To Be Extended.
ON TO HIGH BRIDGE.
Work on the Second Avenue Line To Be
Shortly Commenced

Washington Heights by awarding the contract fer the
iron work to firm of contractors who are TO begin
the work at Inquiry being made at the office
of the railway the reporter was referred to the New
York Loan and Improvement Company, which,
being the construction company directly makes all
such contracts Mr. Jose f. Navarro. the vice presi-
dent as well as a director of the railway company,
applied to- and said he would cheerfully give the
HERALD all the information in his possession on
subject so immediately concerning the public.
PAST PROMISES FULFILLED.
"Some months ago." Mr.. Navarro said, "Mr. Will
lam r. Garrison, the president of the railway wrote
10 the HERALD deny the statements circulated by
enemies. and which were even partially credited
by the press tnat meant to build no further than
the Park and conine ourselves to the lower portion
of the city because it the best paying one The
HERALD accepted Mr. Garrison's word in good faith.
/ said then that while the upper part of the road
would probably not pay us, and while we were not
by charter compelled to build it. would never
theess do because believed owed it as aduty
to the people. You may state now that the company
has jnst taken official action to fulfil these promises
TO the letter"
Has the contract for the extension of the road be-
yond Eighty first street. on Ninth avenue been given
out?"
..It has," Mr.. Navarro replied 1--WE have been con-
ducting the negotiations for time past and yes
terday the contract formally awarded to Messrs.
Clark. Reeves & Co., of Phenixville Pa. who have
already built that section OF present road extend
ing from Morris to Grand street. The legal papers
have all been duly executed and signed"
EXTENDING TO HARLEM RIVER
"How far viii they build?'
1.-The contract is for four miles and will bring the
road up to the Harlem River the west side-that
is, to 159th street--and the entire road is to
be ready for operation to that point by
the 1st OF July, 1s79 1t first hoped
that the road would be ready in the
spring, but our engineers found unexpected
difficulties in the heavy grades and the nature of the
ground, and it found impossible to complete the
work (which is one of considerable magnitude) with
the which IL requires to safety and strength
before the date have mentioned"
How about the continuation OF the road from the
river High Bridge-l75th street %
THAT win probably be included in the contract by
and by for hope to have the entire road running
doubtedy be very attractive point for excursion
travel. and next summer we shall have excursion
trains running to the bridge
How will the work be begun?"
''rhe foundations have already been ordered and
shall probably begin to dig excavations above
Eighty third street in few days Our route is up
Ninth to 10th street At 10th
to Eighth avenue, and thence up to l59th
street. the Harlem River. Thence up along
the river, through River street. to High Bridge on
this last section from 15sth 175th street. have
the right 10 build surface road, If that shall be
deemed most advisable
RELIEF FoR WASHINGTON HEIGHTS
Wi this extension of the road afford relief to the
residents of Washington Heights and the territory
bordering upon ity'
..The line OF the New York Elevated Railway. which
lies west OF Ninth avenue, is the intended af
ford direct relief to that portion OF the city; line
is little eastward Of it, Nevertheless continue
lief. for ii will be comparatively short distance
from Washington Heights TO our High Bridge sta
ton. and no doubt most OF the residents OF the To-
cality will avail themsel Of it,"
THE SECOND AVENUE LINE
How about your Second avenue line, which is
urgently demanded by the east side publicY
Mr.. Navarro said in answer to this I'VE have re-
celved great many letters in reference to this SUBJ
ject from up town residents of the side urging
us to build this Second avenue road. and we have
discussed the matter for time past. NV assoc
cates Messrs. Garrison and Pullman General Por-
ter Mr. Baird well myself are all in favor Of H.
There is doubt that the Second line one
which Is needed and which VIII command very
large trac. it be true, has often stated
by experts the subject of rapid transit that the
residents Of Long Island coming daily to New York
the travel the east side elevated roads il
is evident that our line is the one which
OF that traffic We shall be nearer 70 Hunters Point
Twenty-third street. Grand street and other ferries
We shall soon begin operations 10 build this Second
avenue road. which we all regard as very valuable
line"
wil the road be built like that Sixth avenue or
will ii be a cheaper structure.
"Oh, we shall build equally IL not stronger
road on First and Second avenues (the line is
located on First avenue. from Division to Twenty
third street and then over TO second
avenue We shall put Just as much iron
into il we did into the Sixth avenue
road IL not more. for We intend that trains
shall be at better speed than sixth ave.
We shall have far less stations than on sixth
and shall be especially enabled 10 accomrno-
date the express travel up and down town We mean
to make it really fast hne such we believe is
very much needed and give true rapid transit
upper part Of the city. such 1t s impossible to
have II you have too many stops
lyon have already secured ground for your car
and machine shops on your west side line, have you
notr'
yes we purchased two blocks Of land. extending
from Eighth avenue 10 Ninth avenue and from Iiith
to 10th street, as already stated by the HERALD.
In addition to this we have Just concluded
the purchase Of about twenty city lots
and of about dozen buildings below
oar present terminus in Morris street between
New Church street and Broadway and Morris street
and Battery place. down to the Washington Hotel TO
obtain curve into Bowling Green and con-
Doction for east side line ON this plot Of ground
shall build large car depot and terminal station
for the convenient despatcng Of trains both sides
OF the city"
''rhe cost Of these real estate purchases must be
very considerable p
About a million dollars" Mr. Navarro said,
lightly, though this modest amount were a mere
bAgateile. and he added. humorously, You see. If
this road IL gold mine, il IL generally considered
~ bo requires considerable outlay before it he
HIGH BRIDGE AZ A nRsoRr
This concluded the interview with Vice President
Navarro. Prom other sources IL gathered that
the running time tor trains bigh Bridge
viii be little half hour and already II is
stated that enterprising men are thinking of
buying land very largely at High Bridge where il eau
now be had for song with view Of transforming it
into q pleasure resort for summer. "Hgh
Bridge. said one Of these gentlemen yesterday ''is
naturally destined 70 become the leading summer
sort OF New York when the road il running.
u affords lovely rural scenery lofty salubrious
ground, cool air, splendid boating and fishing,
and Will be far more convenient Of access than
Concy Island. am convinced that when ine hotels
and restaurants established there there are on
Couey Island. with popular bands playing on fine
afternoons and evenings, High Bridge will away
fully half of the enormous exodus Coney Island ~
last summer. In going to Coney Island you
people have had 10 wait hour or two for a
boat at night before they could get back 70 the
city Then, beside being infinitely more con.
yenicnt and easy of access, High Bridge will
be- also q cheaper resort. The fsre in itself
will make great difference 10 people who go every
fine day. The company viii probably hnd IL to their
interest TO keep the fares at ten and five cents
spectyey, while IL cost forty or fifty cents last SUM
fnor to 20 20 Concy Island or 10 Manhattan Beach,
But the maximum fares allowed by law
only and nlnht cents rnspcctivolN. that