New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-03
RAPID TRANSIT IN WESTCHESTER.
Toth EDITOR The Trtbune

TO the Editor or The Trtbune
SIR: The admirable map published by you
Sunday showing the routes mapped out IN the
Twenty Twenyfourth Wards for rapid transit
roads must. think, every one that the Com
missOners have done their work well and made ample
provision for the accommodation Of the public The two
Wards known as the Annexed District form an IT.
regular quadrilaeral your map shows ABOUT elgnt
miles long and from two aud half to three miles Wlde
Along the west aud sides Of the district runs the
Hudson River Railroad which crosses the Harlem River
at two points, the west where the Spuyten puyV
Creek flows into the Hudson and the other at Fourth
ave- Through the middle of the southern part and along
the side of the northern part OF the district runs the
Harlem Road and in the southeast part the New-laVeh
Branch Road. Between the Hudson River and the ilar
lem Roads is the NewYork, Westchesier and Boston,
which is now almost completed
In providing for additional railroad facilities ~ the
Annexed District the Commissioners very properly took
these roads consideration, and laid out TWO more
roads east of the Harlem and two west OF it, They nave
thus cut up this strip of territory eight miles long anu
less than three miles wde INTO six slices, III winch ere
Will bc-f the plans of the Commissioners be carried ont
eight steam railways for carrying passengers wch
railways will be only from quarter TO half mile apart
The Harlem New-Haven and Hudson River Roads cross
the Harlem River on the Fourthsve bridge ana
the last named road crosses spnytcn DuyNh
Creek at Its mouth on the west side OF inc
city. The rapid transit roads laid out by inc
and Eighth-ave and the roads east and west OF the
Harlem Road VIII be connected by two lines north Of
the Harlem River that passengers can enter the city
on either side.
A number Of persons, led by Mr.. Leonard W. Jerome,
are Opposed this excellent system OF roads mapped
out by the Commissioners and have sent In petition 10
the Mayor for the appointment OF another Commission
70 carry ont Mr. Jerome's ideas That gentleman wants
only one road 10 be aud that he wants 10 ne
Immediately adjacent TO the Harlem Road lie wants
TO be permitted take OF the avenues Of the city
| several miles long, without giving any compensation
therefor to close the same TO the public, ana 10 run
| thereon rapid transit surface road.
By the Commissioners plan there are to be four add-
dona roads built, only quarter OF mile east OF
| the Harlem Road, and another only half mile West
MI Jerome aud ms 10 lowers would suos,tute Pu
Road. Mr. Jerome's plan would save none OF , , IN
getting and from The trains but Dy the pans OF lhe
COMMISSIONERS large numberOf the passengers, per
haps majority of them, would save from quarter 10
! hall mile and no one would he incOnyenienced. II
Mr. Jeromes plan good for the Annexed District
part of the CITY below the Harlem River. and that one
should run on Fourth-ave Mr. jerome proposes t. take
ing for IL; the roads mapped out by the Commissioners
run on public streets except in very few unafo-
able cases, and the companies ofean Zed 10 bulu tn
same will be compelled TO buy every loot OF ther rght
OF way, e1cepi street CROSSINGS. Mr. Jefomes pan
the avenue Mr. Jerome proposes 70 ske rs nor opeu g
| the Harlem River Is that any reason why rapid
transit company should be permitted 10 II aud use
II exclusively all the IRON Twenty-third-st to the
northern boundary Of Manhattan lslandf Mr. Jerome
saws that az the street crossings his road would be
brdged 1t should thcn 1t would be equally necessary
to bridge the Harlem Road Before any such bridges
could be built the grades OF the streets which ross the
Harlem Road and Rallroadaye would. OF necessity nave
10 be raised and IN cases. Tor several hundred eei
on either side Would Mr. Jeromcs company do this grad
ing al theirown expenscl Certainly not IL wond be done
BY the and charged by assessment on The ADJOINING
| lots Mr. Jerome would thus take the peoples highway
rum property them 10 be heavily assessed
for ruin had brought upon them IL IL absurd "a
talk OF building a surface road along highway seized
for the purpose and Of then compelling the people thus
robbed 10 raise grade OF their side streets nj tet
own expense and 10 their serious damage TO enable The
corporation which may have III the name oil RAPID transit
robbed them OF theIr rights and their avenue 10 glide
| along thereon unmoested aud free from care
| fhe moro when gentlemen stand ready u
| build two other roads within quarter OF 0
mile on one side and half mile on the other OF MI
Jcromcs proposed take man's roads landi
without compensation, 10 cause no property 70
| ar avenues on the grade thereof. JOSEPH g. WOOD.
| Dec. go. 1870.