The New York herald., 1879-03-01
THE II" RAILROADS.
Difficulties Arising from the Use Of
a Joint Track.
WHAT THE DIRECTORS SAY.
Claiming the Right to Build Lines on
All the Avenues

There was much discussion yesterday in downtown
circles Interested in rapid transit the difficulties
alleged to exist in running the two IL" roads over
the track in Pearl street and New Bowery
Considerable surprise caused by the report that
petition was in circulation asking the Legislature
to deprive the metropolitan 'L altogether of their
legal rights to the half Of the Pearl street route
formerly owned by them entirely. it mad been gen.
orally understood that the two companies were en-.
gagged in friendly and confidential consultation with
a view to harmonious settlement of the joint track
difficulty. The officers of the Metropolitan "L."
when asked about the petition yesterday only smiled
good naturedly and said they would not pay tho
slightest attention to it.
WHAT GENERAL HORACE PORTER SAYS.
sour legal right to the joint of that road said
General Horace Porter, sis vested interest which
absolutely sacred and which no such action can in
the least disturb After ALL it must not be forgotten
that the number of people to be carried this joint
route will probably remain just the it is now
only with this difference-that the two roads will
carry them instead of the one. The number Of
trains, therefore. will probably be about the same
with the mere difference only that the New York Il
will divide them equally with ours required by
the law"
VIEWS OF VICE PRESIDENT BAIRD
AS to the supposed danger, Vice President and
Chief Engineer Job Baird said TIT is grossly
exaggerated and for the greater part imaginary 1t
has been said that the engineer train in Beaver
street. for instance. will not be able to
train crossing from Pearl street; but there is no
necessity that he should do SO. He will see great
target, either red white, which will be conspicu-
ousy displayed from the switch house at the inter-
section of the two streets telling him plainly
whether he may proceed or not This is
cessfully accomplished at Rector street terminus
lutte safety to either into the right the left
or the middle track. All trains at the Pearl and
Beaver street crossing would come to a dead stop
and wait for the signal before proceeding any fur
ther. The two companies, of course will
enter into arrangement to which train
whether the up down, will have the
first right of way. Now. for instance, at present
been agreed that up to twelve A. NJ the down trains
shall always have the right of way before the up
and that after twelve the up trains shall have the
right of way before the down trains This arrange
ment could be easily repeated at the Beaver and Pearl
street crossing.
COLLISIONS RENDERED IMPOSSIBLE
'At the same time the two companies would agree
upon system OF interlocking switches. by which
when the switch for the down track thrown
open the up track would be locked rendering
a collision absolutely impossible. This diagram (Mr.
Baird pointed at a carefully and elaboratey drawn
diagram of the Fifty third street and Ninth
crossing) shows you that the switchman from the
switch house overlooks at the time the Ninth
avenue and the Fifty third street tracks Assume
that down train OF the Metropolitan l. should be
coming from the upper part of Ninth avenue at
time when the down train has the first right OF way.
and at the same time train OF the New York II
should be coming along from Fifty-third street.
Both trains stop. and great target. red, blue
white is displayed, which tells the engineer of the
while it informs the engineer of the up train OF the
New York Il to wait until the down tram has
passed In this manner the Beaver and Pearl street
crossing can be managed with absolute safety"
DIVIDING THE EAST SIDE ROUTES.
"what do you think of the plan suggested in the
HERALD, Mr.. Baird, separating the two east side
roads entirely below Chatham square?"
II think it is practical as well as an equitable
had exclusively the Pearl and New Bowery route.
which originally belonged to them under the Gilbert
charter. and the New York u had exclusively the
panies would divide the large east side teafc in Q
fair manner. and. OF course the people would enjoy
complaints. doubt while neither company will
gain anything. The New York l. would certainly
lin square stations and from the City Hall. for
should alternate trains from the first two
stations and by establishing our depots at Chambers
street and Broadway and at centre street and CAn-
bers should certainly take away half of their
travel from the City Hall.
Mr. Baird said that in London and in many other
cities tracks used jointly by two or more rail-
road companies and all danger had been successfully
could certainly be done here If the two companies
should be unable to come to satisfactory under
standing for the complete division of the two east
yinccd that ample provision would be made by them
to avoid even the possibility OF an accident
Director Heber X. Bishop, OF the New York ILL.,"
denied yesterday that the company had anything
whatever do with the petition asking the Legisa-
ture to deprive the metropolitan Company of their
rights under the law Another officer also thought
that nobody connected with the New York III" had
instgated the petition. as the two companies were
now engaged in q friendly consultation the sub
ject and to have done so, he considered would have
been disloyal to a very friendly corporation.
THE "GRIDmoN' FRANCHISE.
President Cyrus W. Field stated the other day to
reporter of the HERALD that the Second IL"
paid, the New York company would probably build
on First avenue. When asked whether he believed
his company had a right to build on First avenue
Mr. Field replied unhestatingly in the affirmatise,
saying under their original charter they had the
right to build on almost any avenue street In the
city of New York.
"Our original charter embraces pretty much the
whole city,. Mr. Field declared, and Mr.. Olmstead,
who was present during this conversation, said: -
''That charter pretty good charter. wasn't it2
1t was drawn at our Office" 1t is now understood
that the New York "L" will make an application to
the Board of Aldermen to confirm their routes en-
bracing nearly the whole city, laid out by them under
the general law which provides that the entire route
of any railway must be laid out by the railroad
poration within a certain time. The network OF
routes laid out some years ago by the New York IL"
and published at the time fainiiary called the
"grdiron" road and never confirmed by the
Rapid Transit commissioners.
BUSINESS TROUBLES.