The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-22
SECOND AVENUE T.
The Largest Iron Contract Ever Awarded
in This Country.
WORK TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY
Derament on the Sixth Avenue 81"
Declared Impossible.

The Metropolitan "L' Railway took step yester-
day which has been eagerly looked for ward to by
thousands OF people-they formally awarded the con.
tract for the entire Second line from Bowling
Green to the Harlem River. Vice President Jose f.
Navarro and General Manager John Bard were busy
yesterday afternoon in revising and finally complet
ing the specifications with Mr.. Donzano, of Clark
Reeves & Co., iron contractors, of Ph1nixvle. Pa.
The latter firm, which, according to the officers OF
the company completed its share of the Sixth
III" last year more rapidly than any of the other con-
tractors. is already building the west side extension
from Eighty third l59th street-about three and
half miles-and yesterday received in addition to
this already stupondous work. the contract for the
entire Second line, nearly eight miles in
length. This is said to be the largest iron contract
ever awarded in this country. the Third avenue "L
having been built by several contractors
EIGHTY MILLION POUNDS IRON.
Mr. Baird said that the contract for the Second
Avenue IL" alone comprised $4,000, 900 pounds of
iron There will be 1900 iron columns and 5000
Orders used this line The contract for the west
side extension, in addition, comprised 81 00o,003
pounds of iron. The Second Avenue IL" is to be
completed by September and the west side extern
sion by July 1. that Messrs. Clark, Reeves
Co. have undertaken to furnish nearly eighty mill
ion pounds Of iron ard construct nearly twelve miles
OF doube-track road in little over six months
from now These figures. moreover only upon
a basis of two-track road for Second avenue,
while the structure IL actually designed the ulti-
mate use of three tracks and that number is to be
put in already along considerable portion Of
the road. The contractors are to build the entire
Second avenue road. with the exception OF founda-
tions ties rails, switches and stations, which the
construction company itself will provide The cree
ton Of the stations viii probably be also contracted
form dpfu 1nid
out.
MAXIMUM SAFETY AND STRENGTH.
As the Second avenue line is particularly designed
for tho running of express trains the company have
increased the strength of the structure thirty per
cent above that of the Sixth avenue H." thus
making the factor of safety cghtthat is to say, the
structure will be eight times stronger than tho
heaviest weight which it is Intended ever to carry
would neceSSitate.
This will make the road very expensive one'
Vice President Navarro said 'but We have agreed to
build road which shall last forever, and which, in
point of strength and safety. shall set
able limitations as to speed or accommodation. In
looking at the rapid northward growth of New York
which these IL roads to bring about, wo
may well ask who foretell what vast numbers
of people may not travel this line in future years
and how heavy trains our structure might not be
compelled to carryY In making our road SO strong
do not look at the present but at the future, for
know that. as these roads enable people who have
been hitherto banished from New York to return
here and cheap homes in the upper part Of
the city the travel must necessarily increase very
largely every year
In reference to the cost of tho Second avenue line
no definite figures could be obtained yesterday owing
to the fact that the specifications still apt to
dergo material changes. but 1t was stated that tho
cost including equipment and stations would ap-
proxmate nearly five and half million dollars. 1t
has been frequently asked whether the company will
build and equip tho Second avenue line hand.
somely and lavishly as it did the Sixth Avenue L.
COMFORTABLE AND ATTRACTIVE ROAD.
On this important point President Garrison
marked the other day that the Second traffic
would probably not require the purely ornamental
features of the road and stations to such high
degree the Sixth avenue travel, but far
fort, convenience aud that appearance of beauty
which pleased the eye and practically enhanced tho
pleasure of rapid transit were concerned, nothing
would be left undone satisfy the east side public
much the west side travellers lad been. The time
from Bowling Green to Harlem River has not yet
been definitely decided upon. but it will probably bs
thirty minutes fer way trains and twenty minutes
for express trains. Mr. Bonzano said yesterday that
the iron would be turned out of their workshops at
Phenixvlle fast as human handA could furnish
~ and That within probably month from now some
of 1t would be delivered along the line The erection
of the iron columns and Orders will probably DO
started in Division and Allen streets. and will then
90 forward simultaneously ut several points. For
the benoft of those al the HERALD readers who may
forgotten the precise route it is here repeated
Starting Bowling Green the road passes through
Beaver street fpast Demonicos restarant to Pearl;
there the trans will have to the track
used by the Third avenue IL (which is joint strac'
ture) as far as Chatham square; thence the line
strikes into Division street. continues from Division
to Allen and along Allen into First avenue. straight
up to Twenty-tLird street. where it passes down to
Second avenue and thence up to Harlem River.
DERAIIaENT IMPOSSIBLE.
A statement appeared yesterday in u morning jour.
nal calling attention the danger OF the sharp
from South Fifth into West Third street the
sixth avenue "L" and 10 incident in rounding that
curve OH Monday afternoon. whcn it said. the air
brakes refused to work. and certain train made the
curve at such great speed that there was general
the track the statement likely to brighten
the travelling public generally reporter OF tho
TO investigate the official report, which must
presumably have been made upon the incident
II it actually took place. Vice President Navarro
said in reply to the reporters queries. that in
constructing the road the possible dangers OF dorail
ment had been most carefully taken into considera
ton and that by applying every safeguard and i'm.
proyement known to modern science the road had
been built that it was absolutely impossible tor
train to be thrown of the track. MIR. Navarro said
official report of any such incident hnd been made,
and for further explanations referred the to
Chief Engineer John Baird. Mr.. Baird said that by
the manner in which the fiangcs and wheels
fined between double rails. and these again between
high wooden guard rails. dera.lincnt had been made
absolutely impossible, and the trains might safely
round the curves at their best speed. Nevertheless.
the engineers always slackcncd up before reaching
them and the air brakes were invariably applied.
Az additional prccaution provision had been made,
in the air brakes might possibly get out of or
der for the engineers to signal to the brakemen To
apply their hand brakes Before leaving Rector or
Fifyeighth street the air brakes every train we're
vigorously tested to that they were all right ana
in this cold weather special caution was observed 10
see that the vacuum pipes should not be frozen Mr.
Baird said IL any fear had entered the minds OF tho
passengers the train referred 10 thcy wore aito-
gethcr illusory Another engineer said tn"t as the
road had been running over seven months ana as
thousand trains had been run daily over It.
this West Third street curve must have already been
passed 10000 timos, aud tho puphc might now
well rest satisfied IA to its safety.
WHAT RAPID TRANSIT HAS DONE. .
1t has been widely remarked this winter that for
many years there has not been sucn scarcity OF
formerly dozen bills were up IN block there is
now probably only one. This striking change is
which have evidently induced great numbers OF
people to move back TO Nsw York from New Jersey.