New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-13
CITY RAPID TRANSIT.
WHAT KIND OF ROADS ARE TO BE BUILT.

VIEWS or TIE COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR CooN-
sEL-AN ENDLESS PLATFORM.
At the meeting of the Rapid Transit Commits
soners yesterday Alfred Speer, OF No. 16 Warens pre-
sented his pan which consists of iron anges connected
together forming endless chain on which, be SAID
there difficulty In getting grip. This arrange
ment is attached endless train platform divided
INTO lengths of thirty feet In connection with THIS
which is run by stationary engines or two miles
apart is transfer platform which runs along with tbe
train at certain points, enabling passengers to get on anu
of without stopping the train, which may be run
at the rate Of thirty miles an hour.
N.B.Adams of No. 2el Broadway said that he had some
novel features in his plan for caberoad In mis-
there two slots IN the ground ana the
were placed below the surface Andrew Maifoy' OF no
as was was appointed associate counsslto the DoAr
Several OF the commissioners expressed thor 'e"s
regard TO the proposed road. Thomas L. o'e"aA' saw
$50 far tell the crosstown rou'os 'nere
will be cable surface roads On Westst the road VIII DC
elevated but continuation Of 1t on Tenthave VIII DE
surace road The Iexingtonave road VIII be on the sur
face except that part Of It between William and Great
Jones-sts which win be elevsted. The road from
Division st. through Catharino and soutn<ts.
10 South Ferry will be elevated That from Christie
phcrst through Twelfth and Thirteenth sves to Seven
tyseeondst VIII be elevated. All the rest will be sur
face roads and all will be operated by cable This has
not boen formally decided on but there is no doubt that
the Commissioners favor It, Capitalists have come TO US
with that they would Invest In the enterprise
and think that laid out and the general faci
ties given win invite capital to take hold. The Commits
sioners will prescribe the time within which the roads
must be built The Lexington-aye road, think should
be built first and in what order the others will be Dut
cannot say"
The bin seems to made up OF loot from various other
bills on similar subjects and Of lie stolen bodily
from the partly prepared report Of the Committee on Cor
poration Taxes The scheme by taxing all corporations
on their value destroys its usefulness except as
regards railroads The propositions TO blaekmai the
companies into surenderng their rrepealable contracts
are IN direct violation OF Governor Abbetts sug-
eestlons heretofore. and no seems TO have made
a complete face-about The whole plan Is
40 violent that It VIII react and the
railroad men have reason satisfied with it for this
reason BY thus forcing the question into partisansip
the railroads gain another advantage and there are those
who OF desiring to aid them just hat
peculiar way The bill Is undoubted Introduced In oppo
stion TO the popularity OF the Special Committees meas
ure because Republican is chairman OF the committee
and some Of its crudenoss is thus explained.
Abraham L. Earle said: 81 was never more interested
in anything in which engaged than in the work OF
securing better facilities for people OF moderate means TO
reach distant portions OF the city for five cents Fare
where they can live cheapy and am in favor of giving
transfers on cross town for two cents extra
1 don't know how going 10 prevent certain
things like the Elevated Railroad people securing
the control roads with view to rendering the
as far possible. The corporation getting the francse
should give guarantees that the roads Will be Dt WIN
in reasonable time that the fare shall be low, that the
along the routes shall be kept clear as done Al
Chicago and that the shau be removed IN winter
prefer the cable system to any other but we are NOT
committed to It," -, ,,
Charles p shaw counsel TO the Commissioners said 81
see criticism is made upon the character OF the
that have been designated by the
Eapid Transit Commission and the suggestion is that
some in violation OF law. One gentleman well
In the subject said TO Since you went 30 Tar
why didn't you put line down Broadway" i sue
ceeded in convincing him that the routes designated
by the Commission had been dictated under
the pressure OF important considerations. The man
routes which be the OF the system should DE
clearly aud beyond question within the permission OF the
Legislature. There be no doubt that the Wesst ana
Tenth-aye is strictly legal within every REQUIRE
ment of the Rapid Transit act and II is considered tn
one greatest necessities of NewIork Is that route
AS TO the other main route III Lexng that also
for every foot of 1t is strictly within
every conceivable objection that be raised.
f Rapid Transit prohibited crossings on Broadway
and Fifth-ave. below Fiftyninth-st, and Fourt-aye
above FOrty-secOndst Hence II the act were 70 be III
orally respected there could be crossown roads except
horse railroads In this cy and the cable rOaos, WIN
all their reputed merits auXllarles 10 complete y
TEN inier-mura sit, could not be used But ~
seems that the statute and the courts have contemplated
the difficulty and established that che transverse routes
win be valid up prohibited streets and on the other
side Of them that passengers may get out OF the car
with transfer ticket until the horse car companies let
M and give the privilege 70 and connect with
main lines without break"