, 1881-06-26
UNDERGROUND.
What Gen. Smith Thinks Of the
Chicago Underground
Railway.
This City Well Adapted for the
Construction Of Such
Road.


Special Correspondence Of The Chicago 1rioune-
NEW YORK, ,June:9.-Gcu William Sooy Smith,
an Old Chcagoan, who Is now in New York en-
EaXed In constructing the Ereat tunnel Under
tho Hudson River, haln brief chat with your
correspondent yesterday with regard to the un-
derground railway In Chicago, which Il company
of local capitalists prnpose to build from tho
South Side to Evanston.
The writer, after making trip to the wllds Of
Hoboken, diving about 1O0 feet into the bowels
of the earth, taking a run Of over 800 feet under
the Hudson. and thence over the river to New
York. tinuly found tho General nt bis residence
on East Twcnty-sccondst street. He wns prcpar-
ing for dinner, but readily acceded to THE TNln-
uSE's demand for Information, stating Mt the
same time that he was profoundly interested In
all public works affecting Chicago.
Your correspondent had already met Ar.
Charles Snoy Smith, the Generuis son. VINO said
that he and his father were made acquainted
with the Chicago project Of nn underground
railroad by paragraph in THE TRIBUNE some
time uEo, and afterwards more fully By letter
from Mr.. E. c. Cole, Uf Chicago. Gen. Smith
WIS then In Europe. i rough estimate OF the
cost Of Il tunnel such as proposed was sent On to
Mr. Cole the sum named being $210,o00.
Gcu. Smith, in reply to the writer's questions.
said:
81 THINK WELL OF THE PROJECT.
Chicago Is famous for lis business activity, its
marvellous enterprise, nnd its bold, live way Of
doing things generally, but it's away behind the
asc US to rapid transit The possible building Of
IL railroad tunnel underground for the con-
sneof' ssf of vast % tns city Is the peop 5e
ard am glad that THE Tn1prSE Is interesting
itself in the matter. The railways running into
tho city should have some entry other than
through and across streets ut the same level,
md believe that the cost OF providing such IN
entry would be mnrc til:'n compensated hy the
Improvement in the value Of the Property all
along the line
Would you prefer the narrow gauge:"
"Certainly not. It Is very desirable for the
company. and tic general good, TINT the stand
ART snuge be adopted. in view Of future conncc-
tions which it m"y be- desirable to make With
lines outside tho city,.
what do you know of this company which
proposes to build the subway
Nothing at all. except that my son. who Is
my business partner, hus been IN communicu-
ton with Mr. f. c. CuIe, who. suppose. repre-
scuts the Company. But am suro that any
Sacn pr"@e;ss ;t,," VIII d Ted v;x
,tttvt investment Further. think thnr any
company of gentlemen desiruus OF giving our
receive from the local authorities every en-
Yuu must remember that the |
population or Chicago Is increasing fast. and |
tll:tt the residences Of our citizens nrc being |
driven from tho centre fnr out or town. Now.
there must be some 1acans ot transit devised, |
either above ground or under ground, 50 TINT
GfC[.luC[ElSlAE 4Opu@tlk1OH H4h3 W Ga1a1tEA /
to and from business. That such rapid tn,nsit |
c,.n he had By u, underground ruiy7ny Atn
ccrlain. This would rcmedy-the evil Of over
probation Of property Ut course.
il granting my privileges to new
railway company. tho city ought to exsct
conditions by which the travelling public mny bo
There must hc thorough cleanliness,
lighting. mud ventilation OF tho subway. tho
,rovidiug Of easy ACCESS. and frequent stations
.long the road.-say At every fouror five blocks.
rhcn the roud should be operated under rnsulu-
ions which would make tho risk of accident as
ull as pussible. J.
- Is there
ANY SPECIAL DIFFICULTY
n the why Of building such Il tunnel In Chi
:ago:"
*On the contrary, 1t Is comparatively an easy J