New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-26
THE BROADWAY UNDERGROUND SCHEME.


FURTHER TESTIMONY TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION
ERs-EXPENsE AND DIFFICULTY OF REMODEL
LING THE SEWERAGE AND GAS SYSTEMS.
The hearing in the matter of the application
of the Broadway Underground Railway Company
resumed yesterday before Commissioners Davies Bos-
worth and . Brcn. Thomas K Lees, president Of the
New-York Gaslight Company, was further examined,
aud in answer the questions Of Mr.. Mann IN behalf
OF the contestants stated that the effect OF changing the
position gas pipes would be 10 ruin them. They
were put together with lead and the least settlement or
the soil woald leakage. Tdis would be exr
trenely dangerous for mixture OF with the at
mospherc certain proportions is explosive as gun
powder.
Robert L. DaTagb engineer and contractor, wa
again called to the stand, and examined by Mr. Mann.
lie said that had examined the plans Of construction
proposed by petitioners but that in his opinion they
could be carried out practically The plan which no
would propose would necessate considerable dlsturo-
ance OF tire present sewerage and water systems OF tho
street. but would away with the necessity of brdg
ing the street and interrupting tralic All the
sewers could be combined IN one large trunk
sewer in Crosby-st., running through Canal and
Pearl-sts., and dlschargng into the East River.
THIS would be great Improvement upon
the present sewerage system. The cost OK
the permanent construction OF the tunnel according
his plans from Park place to Union Square. he estimated
at 81 100000 mile should water rock be encOun
tered. In the latter contingency, however which he
thought highly improbable considering the character oe
the soil, he would attempt 70 give estimate Tho
expense Of enargng the sewers and changing the gas
and water mains would amount, IN his opinion, TO
81 900 900 entire proposed route. The time for
the completion OF the road after tho necessary changes
had been made in the sewerage, would be one year ~
least.
When questioned to the danger to adjoining build.
inys involved in tunneng the street. he said that with
proper precautions injury to proertyholders along
the line from this could be prevented Snoring
could be rosOrted to- where water rock with,
IN preyent the settling Of the soil The incon-
yeniencc resulting from distractions in the street was
ali important matter. It would be necessary 20 have
at eight openings along the proposed route and adj
Joining each of of these blocks would be occupied
for working ro0m within which the street would be oo-
stced IN the ordinary course OF events III there "ere
no delays these obsrucons would continue Tor year
and perhaps longer rendering the street enre useless
70 the and business along the route dur
ing this period.
In answer to a question by Commissioners Bosworth,
Mr. Darraoh stated that in his opinion the work Of
changing the gers and watermans should be done b
tho CITY nj the expense Of the company as the work re-
nired peeuliar skin and involved risks when NO privat
contractor would care 10 tahe AZ ,h to m' ~ 49,
mines He also thought that the company shoud Dc ro-
anrod give security to the Controller OF the cry .
toration OF the street 70 its original conj
Siian in case 1t failed to complete tho road and %
night suffer damage In fact the whole work ought "a
he nuder public supervision -,
ExCortroller W. g. Steinmetz, OF Brookyn, wac thcn
recalled aud gave his opinion that the plan pro,
by the petitioners entirely mpractcaole IA ap
piled to Broadway. His experience In the brooklyn
Bridge also led him to suppose that the time In
phteh n was proposed complete the underground rail-
way had been greatly underestimated
The lsss witness called by the ecaessAnts was GeorA