The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-09

Here is a falling off between Thursday and the ter
riby cold Friday of eleven Thousand passengers.
On that frigid Friday the traffic OF the Metropolitan
Railway. whose were comfortably heated,
1868, or within less than seven thousand of tho
travel the entire Third avenue road-a line twice
as long and passing through more densely popu-
lated portion of the city. Again, Saturday last
when the traffic the Third road
had fallen to 63,571, that Of the NTetropoli-
tan to 52.361. several thousands
walked from the east side to the Sixth
nue. rather than ride in the freezing cars of
the Third avenue line Nevertheless, some Of tho
officers Of the New York Elevated declared that poo
pie would rather have the not heated. and that
circumstances had been received against heating
them. On Friday. Saturday and Monday night the
trains were kept running all night in order to pre-
vent the freezing up of the engines and the extent
OF the night travel between midnight and five A. NJ
has thus been practically tested. While figures
accessible as to the precise amount OF the travel
during these hours, the officers and employees all
agree that it next to null. The ticket agent at
Fulton street. of the best stations said he did not
sell over so tickets average during these hours.
THE METROPOLITAN EXTENSION.
Vice President Jose +. Navarro stated yesterday
that the work on the upper extension Of the Sixth
avenue line was progressing admirably, and that lit
tie doubt existed OF the opening of the side
extension to the Harlem River during the coming
summer. Mr.. Navarro was asked whether the ex-
tremely cold weather of last week had in his opin
ion affected slightly the strength of the iron
work the Metropolitan road. II have just receveda
letter this subject" Mr.. Navarro replied. "the
writer of which desires to be informed whether there
any just fear of the iron swapping from the effects
of the intense cold have just replied to him
closing the expert opinions Of our inspectors and en-
gneers who have tested the iron all along the line
since the cold snap showing that our road structure
has not been affected an iota by either snow. ice
cold 1.-THE fact isl Mr.. Navarro added, after
pause, "that our road was put up and equipped re-
gardless of cost, and took care to use only the
very best iron to be had in the country On west
side extension to the Harlem River and Second
avenue rh line we shall aanere to tine same
transit is safety to life and limb. We all understand
that serious accident would be ruinous to rapid
transit, and hence the very first consideration is to
have the best of iron and the safest we'll the
strongest possible structure. As compared with
these vital considerations the question of expense
must sink entirely into the background
RAPID WORK.
The work on the extension of the Metropolitan line
has already progressed to about 125th street. On
Ninth avenue, between Eightythird street and 10th
street already $50 excavations have been dug and
ton over five hundred laborers and masons
have been kept at work incessantly since the day
on which the HERALD announced that the contract
had been awarded Even on that terrible Friday
those who were willing to bear the extreme cold
remained at their tasks On Eighth avenue, between
10th and 125th streets, the fevcrsh activity
prevails and the work is pushed ahead with the
marvellous rapidity. Here about two hundred and
fifty laborers and masons are digging holes and put
ting in foundations. Thirty five excavations have
already been opened and twelve piers completed.
Although it seemed ut first task of great dfhculty
to build the road to the Harlem ridge-l55th street.
and to equip and operate it by the LIST Of July,
perts agree that il the work is continued with the
same energy it will be successfully accomplished.
THE SECOND AVENUE LINE
President William X. Garrison, of the Metropoli-
tan Railway, made an announcement yesterday
which will delight thousands OF residents OF the east
side who are now unable to find accommodations on
the Third Avenue Elevated line. I'VE shall award tho
contract for the Second avenue line very soon-as
Mr.. Baird, our efficient chief engineer and
manager. has completed tho specifications which he
is now preparing. and the contract will require the
entire Second avenue railway to be completed by
August !. Indeed there will probably not be differ
ence of more than u month between the opening of
west side extension and OF our east side line.
We shall open west side line to Harlem by July
/ and our Second avenue line to the river
probably next August" When asked to
the probable style of structure to be adopted
for the Second line, Mr.. Garrison
said it would probably be the deck structure pre-
vaiing Sixth avenue, above Fifty-third street.
and far practicable. third track would be put
in for the running of last express trains. II have
been discussing with Mr. Baird. said Mr.. Garrison.
chow much heavier shonld build Second
avenue structure than built Sixth avenue
road. You may rest assured that mean to do by
same time using the experience we have already
gained by the operation of our Sixth avenue line
We have received valuable franchises from the city,
and for these earnestly mean TO give the people
an equivalent by affording them the most superior
rapid transit accommodations that money and expe-
rience can provide.