New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-23
RAILWAY INTERESTS.
THE NEW BROADWAY UNDERGROUND.
FEATURES OF THE ARCADE RAILWAY PLAN-wHA7
THE COMPANY HOPES TO DO.

THE NEW BROADWAY UNDERGROUND.
FEATURES OF THE ARCADE RAILWAY PLAN-WHAT
THE COMPANY HOPES TO Do.
The passage by the Assembly of the bill to
modify the charter OF the Broadway Underground Rail-
way Company to permit the construction OF its
proposed road under the arcade instead OF the tunnel
pan has aroused much interest in the enterprise The
company's original intention was to build two-track
road underground along the line OF Broadway from the
Battery TO Madisonsquare, under Madison-square to
Madison ave. and thence under the TO the bar
lem River. It's charter also allows 1t to build branch
road under Broadway from Nadisonsquare to Eighty
and thence TO the Harlem The officers OF COM
pany say that under any circumstances this road would
be built but the amendment of the charter 10 allow
the adoption Of the arcade plan Of road will be better
for the company and OF greater benefit to the travelling
public and to owners Of property in broadway.
The president OF the company Is Melville G. Smith,
wealthy owner OF real estate. The trustees who
were recently elected are Mr. Smith, William
Window, ex-Secretary OF the Treasury; Jerome
Fassler, ,r., of whiteley. Fassler Kelly,
manufacturers Of moving and reapng machines at
Springfield Ohio; H. c. Gardiner, and Edward NJ. Cly-
mer, president of the Buffalo, Bradford and Pttsburg
Railroad which Is leased TO the New York. Lake Eric
and Western. Mr. Smith said recently that the Board
would probably be enlarged and an effort made TO
induce prominent Broadway realestate owners to
DeCOlne Inc OApl'di otVNA Vi tuO
company is slOoOoOOO Only about s4Oo 900 has been
paid in for the purpose OF raising the money necessary
for surveys and engineering and other preliminary eI
penses Mr. Smith declares confidently that the capital
required for building the road be raised without
difficulty when all other obstacles are overcome. "The
money question:" he said els the very least OF our
troubles."
The company arcade pan, Mr. Smith adds, has been
approved by such nneers as General George b. McCel
Ian, William j. McApine, Egbert L.Vlee, Julius Adams,
sylvanus II. Sweet j. +. Qunby John B. Jarvis, silas
Seymour Charles II. Haswell, and Generals
Wright and Newton, Of the United States
Corps Of Engineers Tho plan. in its general
features is as followsi Practically basement
street will be e1cavated under the entire length Of the
proposed route 15 feet below the surface of the
present sidewalks The upper pavements will be sup
ported on iron columns ana grders, with arches De-
tive en-. and completed with roadbed and pavement OF
the best construction. The underground way Will be
wide enough 10 provide for four railway tracks, with
sidewalks either hand for ootpassensers The com
pany proposes the two central tracks for quick
through trains stopping at stations about mile apart,
and the two outside tracks for way travel the trains
running at slower OF speed and making soppages
at every second third crosssreet At night as the
travel will be largely reduced in volume, it Is intended
10 Of the tracks for the transportation OF freight
An area space sx feet in Width, adjacent TO the build
ings the plan contompates, shall be kept open in order
will lead down from the street 70 the arcade
o! course the company will have make provision for
the removal of water mains and gas and steam
heating pipes along the line OF it's route. Its plan con-
templates placing these In conduit or vault either un-
der the middle tracks below the underground side
walks The advantage Of such disposition Of the net
work OF pipes beneath the surface Is
obvious should II prove practicable. Ready &C
Gees for examination repair could be had
to the pipes without the daily nuisance undergone
by citizens IN the tearing OF the streets and the tenn
porsry blockade Of travel The companys friends reeog
niio the difficulty they may meet from some private cor
pJrlfons which may take advantage OF IT. position TO
compel IL 70 buy mp their underground property. The
company purposes to make the necessary changes with
out charge, and It, friends are hopeful that some
amicable arrangement be made with all interests In
voyeI. In behalf OF the company It is said that the
present cellars Of the Broadway stores be converted
into stores which will have much air and light any
basement has. The arcade road, under such
circumstances, would practically add another story for
business purposes to the buildings along Broadway.
IL il asscrted that the construction Of the
road can be carried without interruption Of sur
face travel. The Engineers who have approved the COM
pinys general plans describe the method OF wOdAIs az
be- used which Will allow vehicle 10 stand opposite
each building and yet allow four other vehicles wo On
each o the pass each other, similar bridges
along the sidewalks allowing the foot passengers 10 ass
freely bridges TO be elevated four feet above The
level OF tue street with soVng approaches AT each end
10 be removed midnight, panel by panel, as the work
proNessesi side steps 10 each building glyins access
thereto fhe surplus material taken out Of the street
ana the new material required oil intended 10 DO
moved through the completed subway, without In any
case using the street therefor The plan alsO provides
FOR the placing OF the pipes ana sewers Ia tne sub
way without inte ptng the supply of water aud gas
or the discharge OF the sewage.
The officers Of the company recognize the great eI
pense that must attend the completion OF theu WORK
The OF the road is put at 900 mile allowing
for the expense transferring the present system OF
pipes and sewage This cost does not include the means
OF sportaton Whether these shall be provided By
Of endless chain system or by supplying the
motive power from compressed air OF the same pressure
~ steam, Is question settled. The road wien
completed will DC IL miles long, and the O!al cost Is
put Ut s25 900 at the outside. The greatest engineer
lug Difficulty BE- overcome will lie At Csna-st, where
depression OF the street would carry the excavation
down - near wateT-mark The road may De carried
over Canal-st by watertght iron caiss0n. The com.
paiy has filed bond OF 100000 with the Controller OF
the city guarantee for the completion OF the road 10