New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-06
IN UNDERGROUND RAILE0ID.

After MANY years project Is put forward
for an underground railway which is plainly
in earnest. The character and financial stand
ing of the men named rs the incOrporator3 OF
the new scheme are such as to indicate that an
underground railroad is TO longer the dream Of
struggling inventors missionary capitalists, but
the plan of practical men who have money to
invest. The details of the project, as they are
given elsewhere, show that it has been care
fully matured with view TO furnishing the
best possible cOnyenlences to the publlc. Few
will doubt, we imagine, that such road VIII
pay from the outset, even upon the heavy
cost OF its construction. An underground road
running from the Battery to Central Park
beneath Broadway, the spinal column OF Man
haitian Island, and carrying passengers at five
cents fare, is an enterprise about whose sue
cess there can hardly be much question
Trains can be run at greater rate
of speed than on the elevated roads
and with fewer stops. Much longer trains
can be run where the road-bed is on the
ground and not on an iron bridge. Then the
road will run under the main street OF the
city, through which there is n great stream
of travel all day and much Of the night, and
on which most OF the shopping of the city
will be done. If there were as many draw
backs as there are advantages about such a
road the mere facility Of rapid transit for
cheap fare would make the road profitable
investment. The chief difficulties to be over
come are those which exist in the London
underground roads-the imperfect ventilation,
the smoke, and the discomfort of the dark
ness. All of these have evidently been
carefully considered by the engineers.
II is asserted that many OF the
annoyances of the London roads are due
to the fact that there is but one tunnel in
which trains run both ways, pouring out
smoke and nOXiOus gases upon each other. 1t
is proposed here to construct two separate
tunnels, with an extensive system OF ventila-
ton smoke consuming engines to be employed,
and cars and tunnels to be lighted by cleo
tricity.
The success of such q scheme would be due,
in part to the faults of the elevated roads.
and when it had been achieved would direct
public attention to them. The elevated roads
have become Indispensable but they are not
all that fancy painted them. The frequent
stoppages prevent really rapid travel. They
are difficult of access, in many cases, the ne
cessity of sparing the finest streets having
pushed them off toward the sides of the island.
The noise and smoke will always be an offence
to the residents along the lines, unless the
trains are drawn by an endless belt worked by
stationary engines. Probably the elevated roads
will never be superseded, but they have some
defects which would not be found in an under
ground railway.
One important question suggests itself In con-
nection with this scheme. Is this the charter
which, when originally granted gave the Com
pany the right TO build depots in City Hall
Park, Union Square and Madison Square IL
so has that right ever been surrendered or
withdrawn The public will not submit to
any further infnngements upon the parks.
The Battery park is monument to show that
we have endured too many already.