New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-16
RAILROAD INTERESTS.

| OPPOSED TO AN UNDERGROUND ROAD.
| MEETING OF BROADWAY PRoPERTY-OwNERs-wHY
THEY ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE SCHEME
A meeting of Broadway property-owners
was held yesterday, at the Metropolitan HOTEL to take
further steps in opposing the building of the Broadway
Connecting Underground Railroad the claims OF which
| are about to be presented before Commission ap-
pointed by the Supreme Court. Among those present
were f. g. JafTray o. b. Potter, Albion p Man, repre-
sentng thirty more property-owners Henry H. Rice,
James w. Alexander Il. H. Cossitt, E Van Ness, f. A.
Baker, John c. Shaw and T. p Sherman, representing
| the Grace Church corporation. H. H. Rice,
| the chairman, on opening the meeting said
that the committee, appointed at previous
| meeting TO make thorough examination
OF the scheme and to consult with engineers and arch
ecs in regard to the probable danger to property along
the line OF the route, was ready to report The question
whether propeIty-owners would consent TO hayo
Broadway scOoped out and have their valuable prop
ery endangered for the benefit OF few unmoneyed and
irresponsible persons. A. H. Jone the secretary, then
read the report 60 which attached the OF H.
H. Rice. A. H. Joline, s. Jaffray, o. b. Potter, Albon
z. Man and John C. Shaw.
The report which is Of great length states that most
of the members OF the committee OF the opinion
that would endanger public and private inter-
ests After giving detailed history Of the scheme and
the proposed plans Of construction, the following OBJ
jections enumerated:
1. That there is no demand for such road, as the
transit.
q That an underground railway Is not desirable
mode OF conveyance owing to the ascent and descent Of
stairs necessary to reach it, and the foulness OF the
atmosphere which science cannot devise means to REM
edy The promise to compressed air as means OF
driving engines is only pretence on the part OF the
company.
B. That the road if built at ALL should be built under
a less important street.
4. That on the companys showing, the surface Of
Broadway well as intersecting streets, would Do
greatly disturbed for long period Of time |! is con
coded that the street would have 10 be repaVed through
out its whole length The injury TO property would DO
the work of construction into other streets.
The danger arising from the proposed suspension or
the gas and water pipes would be DANGEROUS expert
ment and liable accidents and loss OF property.
g. That it matter of doubt whether the sewerage
system 1e successfully altered TO comply win the
scheme These changes themselves would Involve great
Z The excavations would endanger the safety OF the
buildings along the route The nature OF the soil IL df
ferent from that Of London and other places where un-
dergrOund roads have been built In many places there
are dncksands; i'm Others mud would be encountered,
and the removal Of this soil would cause the walls OF tall
buildings settle. There is guarantee that sufficient
precautions would be taken beyond the statement Of the
company.
8 That the centre OF Broadway should not be made
any corporation 1t is valuable. The streets
have already been yielded TO grieyous extent TO
monopoes so that Of important steets not given up,
only Broadway and Ffth-aye. remain.
.. That the persons constituting the corporation arc
irresponsible consequently taxpayers liable to
suffer great loss without remedy. Nor any security
offered for the proper performance OF the work
The report says in conclusion that the committee be-
lievcd that the Regulations propOsedby the company
inadequate, and recommended that the interests Of
the propertyOwners shvudbe formally presented before
the Commission at the hearing October %. 1t
was also recommended that a large number Of expert
builders and engineers should be summoned as wit
ncSsCs
speeches emphasizing the points OF the report.
On motion OF Mr. Man tne report was adopted, and he
committee was continued with power to employ counsel
In presenting the claims OF properyo"ners before the
commission.