New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-02
THE CABLE RAILWAY SYSTEM
PROPOSING TO USE IT IN NETWORK.

A COMMISSION NAMED BY THE MAYOR TO LAY OUT
ROUTES FOR ELEVATED AND SURFACE LINES.
Mayor Edison yesterday appointed Daniel
Drake Smith. George II. Byrd Thomas f. Stewart Abra-
ham L. Earle and e. A LiyermOre, commissioners under
the act passed on June Is, 1875, commonly known
the Rapid Transit Act for the purpose of laying out
route routes for railway companies TO construct and
operate traction street surface railways In this city,
Mr.. Smith was formerly the president Of
tho Commercial Mutual Insurance Company and
Is well known In business circles Mr. Byrd is mer-
chant doing business at No. 81 Frankn-s Mr. Stewart
has served two terms In Congress and was for short
time Park Commissioner he resigned this position.
Mr. Earle was deputy controller under Andrew H.
Green and for several years been connected with
mining enterprises. Mr.. Lyermore is "a wellknowa
member Of the Produce Exchange.
The appointment was made by the Mayor on petition
presented by James Gamble, general manager OF the
National Cable Railway Company. The petition Is
signed by H. b. Claain A. b. Happen, +. B Thurber.
Robert sewen, Homer Morgan, John A. Voorhis,
Thomas D. Adams, F. D. Mouton, John Foley
and more than 100 Others It sets forth various adj
yantages claimed for the cable system, and that
there urgent need for this form OF rapid transit In this
city on many convenient routes legally open TO s In
PRODUCTION that its economy Of construction operation
and maintenance would enable 1t to carry passengers az
any desirable rate of speed over long or short distances
for ve-cent fare and that the capacity OF the ee-
the passenger traffic.
Two OF the new commissioners told q re porter
Of THE TRIBUNE that the commission would
meet and organize soon as possible, and receive
propositions the establishment Of routes to be OPP
Grated under the cable system No route had been agreed
upon but there were many that could be laid out It
would be feasible to have elevated railway extending
from ThryfOurthst along the North River front to ths
Battery and thence up the East River TO Ihry-iOt-
st. Above that surface lines could be operated Or
elevated road could be built from the Battery along
the East River front, running into Wilamst thence up
Cenre-s through the blocks to Lafayette place, up
FOurthave. thence TO Lexington or Madison ave. and
so to the Harlem River On the west side surface Inns
could be laid out along Tenthave, Seventy seconds,
Broadway to Fifty-nntb-st, Seventh-aVe GfeenWlch-
ave. and of the streets leading down town. La the
lower part OF the city the roads would be elevated and
I'm the upper part surface roads.
The act under which the Mayor appointed the commits
missiOners, the Corporation Counsel says, gives
him ample powers to appoint such n
commission. The consent OF tWO-tlhfds
of the along the routes must De obtained
however before the work OF construction can be begun
The commissioners will receive $40 per day during tho
time In which they engaged In considering ana laying
out the route routes. -
are William p shnn PRESIDENT Constant A. Andrews,
yice-president ]. G. Lewis secretary Thomas W.
Evans treasurer James Gamble, general manager;
General Egbert L. Vele, consulting engineers William
Dorsheimer and Robert Sewen, general counsel Tho
company is the owner OF all the Hallidie and other
patents which used In the street railway systems IN
San Francisco and Chicago.