The New York herald., 1879-02-26
RAPID TRANSIT CROSSINGS.
Dangers of the Joint Routes EStab-
liShed for the IL" Roads.
THE CHATHAM SQUARE PROBLEM.
How the Risks Of Delay, Confusion and
Collision May Be Avoided.

1t is now generally conceded that the great mistake
made by the Rapid Transit Commissioners was in
combining the two 81" companies to single joint
track for certain portions of their routes. The
HERALD has received great many letters the sub
ject showing that the hundred and fifty thousand
daily patrons of the az" roads fully of the
serious dangers of delays and of collisions
listing through this grave error on the part of
the Rapid Transit Commissioners. 1t is
the deliberate opinion Of all engineers and
perts the subject of rapid transit who have
carefully studied the subject that for single
inch of space should the Rapid Transit Commission
ers have confined the two companies to one track.
The following particulars will show exactly where
the routes of the two roads coincide, and tech
nically speaking. "joint. and where they each
other; and they will easily demonstrate the absolute
necessity for amicable arrangement compro-
mise to be entered into by the two companies by
which the dangers Of delay and accident may be
moved and the entire safety and perfection of rapid
transit be insured.
THE SIDE.
The muddle created by the Rapid Transit Commits
soners s far the east side than the west
side. and now that the Second avenue line Of the
Metropolitan 'L is about being built it appears to
be high time that something should be done. Ac-
cordng to the present routes Of the two lines, the
Metropolitan. after crossing Bowling Green from
west to east and passing through Beaver street,
strikes the Third L first at the intersection
Of Beaver and Pearl streets. From the juno
ton Of Beaver and Pearl streets to Chatham
square there is about three-quarters of mile
Of joint track to be used equally by both companies
each of whom pays half the cost of that portion
Of the road At Chatham squarewhich will be by far
the most troublesome point of all the IL" routes
ubouf fhac citv 0fh
is made-four lines intersect each other, namely
the City Hall branch Of the Third avenue IL" and
the main line of the Third avenue "L passing down
from the Bowery to the New Bowery; the Metro
politan IL" crossing from Division street to the
joint track in the New Bowery and the Metropolitan
branch to Chatham and Chambers streets
EVERY THREE AND THREE-oUARTER SECONDS.
Assuming that each limo one train per minute,
contemplated the trains would each other
at Chatham square every three and three-quarter
seconds! But If it were made a rule according
to the law of this State for every train to stop before
crossing and collisions would thus be avoided by a
most careful and elaborate system Of signals and
switches, the delays would unavodably be frequent
and greatly obstruct real rapid transit. An
other troublesome point is the joint track Of
the Chatham street branch from the intersection
of Chambers and Chatham streets to Chatham
square. The Metropolitan "L will have a right to
run their down trains from Chatham square alter
nately over the joint track through tho New
Bowery aud Pearl street to Beaver street
and Bowling Green. and over the joint track
through Chatham street to Chambers Tor to
within block the City Hall station Of the other
line) and thence Chambers street to Broad.
way and their up trains vice versa. OF course it
| would require the most exacting and painstaking
care avoid delay and collision this joint part of
the Chatham street branch il both companies to
use it equally contemplated by the Rapid Transit
Commissioners.
ONE ROAD RUNNING OVER THE OTHER
From Chatham square upward the two lines
branch out widely apart but again they cross each
other at Thirty-fourtb street. Here the Third
"L" contrary the general expectation. is building
q spur down to the Thrty-fourth street ferry. al
| though It thought that the trouble which the
company had already experienced with their Forty
second street spur would have been to them suif-
cient warning against repetition Of the experiment.
At tho junction Of Thrty-fourth street and Second
avenue the tracks of the two lines of the Second
avenue road and of the Thirty street branch
ntersect. The difficulty. fortunately. has been OBJ
waited by the Metropolitan L passing fourteen feet
over the track of the New York "L." The Second
avenue track will here be at q height Of forty feet
from the sidewalk, and the Thirty-fourth street
street and Second there is another crossing
for the Third avenue "L" which has spur from
Third avenue down to the Astoria and He'll Gate
ferry at the foot of Ninety street. present
there IL trouble about this point. ~ the New
York IL" do not intend to construct this spur
(which could never be made to pzy) for some time to
come-if they ever build 1t at all
THR WEST
The west side routes, compared with the east
side present scarcely any difficulty whatever There
is only one joint track on Ninth avenue. which ex-
tends from Fifty-third to Eighty-third street. At
Einhty-third street or thercabouts the New York
IL. will leave the joint track and west
ward for its extension to Kingsbridge. while the
Metropolitan Company continue their route straight
along Ninth avenue to 10th street. thence pass east
ward to Eighth avenue and along Eighth avenue to
| the Harlem River. Hence there will be only two
| points of difficulty on the west side--the juno
| tion of Ffty-third street and Ninth
| nue.. where tho trains of both lines will cross
each other and again. at the other end OF the joint
structure. at Eightythrd street and Ninth avenue
where the conditions will prevail when the New
York 81 operate their yet unbuilt westerly
extension to Kngsbridge (which. however will prob
ably not be for some time to GOMEZ. As tar as the
lower crossing at Fiftythird street and Ninth
concerned the engineers and managers of both lines
express confidence that with careful and thorough
system of signals and switches. delays and accidents
will be entirely and easily avoided. more especially
as tho here will not be of nearly such great
| frequency rs on the east side of the city.
| REMEDY SUGGESTED.
It has been suggested by way remedy for the
east side difficulty that the Rapid Transit Commits
sion should be again called into existence and am adj
| ditional route be fixed upon below Chatham square.
| 1t appears however that such u course might lead
| to great delays and complications likely be in
jurous to rapid transit In the first place. there
lists legal question to whether the old Rapid
Transit Commission has still power to act and prop
erty objectors, ii is thought would be to carry
this preliminary question to the Court Of Appeals
thereby causing tedious waste of time. After this
| question had been settled the consent of the
property owners would have to be obtained
| or, that falling commission would have to be
| appointed 10y the General Term OF the Supreme
Court to take testimony to the propriety OF the
| route fixed, and they might consume months before
| giving their decision. Owing to the peculiar shape
and of the streets in that portion the
east side below Chatham square 1t is also held that
hardly any other feasible advantageous route be-
| side the in operation is we'll possible. The
remedy suggested by those who have given the most
earnest attention to the subject. and approved by
many engineers and authorities rapid transit, il
| for the companies to enter into friendly
rangerncnt for the complete division of the side
| routes below Chatham square.
''what Is the of endangering the lives of the
Travelling nuhlic. IL asknd .in order that two