New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-01
goPPosED TO CABLE ROADS.
AFFIDAyrTs BY wELL-KNpwN MEN.

DASaER IN TEARING UP THE srRKETs-EFFscr %
WATER MINIS, ETC.
Dig pie OF legal paper comprising 14S afis
days besides maps and exhibits was filed in tina
supreme Court yesterday In opposition to tina Nevyo
Cable Compadys scheme By Mr.. wicKes for Corporation
.ounsei Lacompe. Tho afndavits arc made
by prominent physicians, members mr. an.
GERS of the Health Department, person. con.
| nected with the Department Of Public worts
members OF the Fire Department civil engineers.
mercnants etc. Among the physicians are Alfred r.
Loomis Fordyce Barker, II. B. Sands Frank IT. Hamil.
ton'D b. st. John Roosa. John O. Peters, william n,
thompson, Lewis A. stimson, Allan McLane Hamilton.
ambrose L. Ranney aud Edward W. Lambert. There
arc amdayits by Dr. James. DR.. Magic and Dr. DAY. OF
the Health Department. accompanied by some veridsd
py DE- Moreau Norris Dr. Cyrus Edson and other sani.
tary inspectors.
All theses aidayits express the unqualified opinion
that the digging Of the Of the city I'm order "a
carry out the plans Of the New-York Gable Railway
company would be highly predudical to public health
because the.upurning of earth and expo.,nr II 10 tina
raysof the sun and the action Of the air is IN all ases
one OF the most frequent Of eyers and maarial
diseases and because such excavations would be more
likely 20 cause an epidemic Of such diseases tho city Of
New-Yofk than elsewhere. by reason Of the fact
that In many parts of the city the soil OF the
street Is what is known "made ground"
containing moro less vegetable matter
in process Of decomposition, and at other
parts Is permeaed with sewage and .other poisonous
and noxous matter These scians further express
the opinion that in case of the appearance of cholera in
ths4city during the approaching summer the preva-
ence Of the disease would be greatly increased by reason
Of the existence proposed excavations IN the streets
and that 10 would be likely to manifest itself with much
more than ordinary violence along the line OF those
streets in which excavations were made OF the character
proposed In view therefore, OF the fact that disturb
ance OF The ground in the City OF NewYor the build.
ing Of upward Of seventy miles OF cable railroads con-
IN fpH
necessity for Increased passenger traffic will Justify tho
danger which Is thus threatened to the public health
neers and Others connected with the Department Of
George Wa sss be ns V viii ns
prepare the streets for the operation OF the cable system
wltnout seriously ntersrng WIN the existing system
that there will be an especial Interference with tho
would have to make turns etc Mr. BIrdsa says that Il
the cable runs over the mnnoes OF the IL will
require radical change the system or else Gu
rey cut of tho facility OF to the cesG-
ing or repairs and thus to rearrange the system Of
waermains and sewers there would need to be expend
ed by the city from two to five millions of dollars.
These afdavits are strengthened ysthose OF George
W. Blauyelt, Commissioner Coleman John b. Green and
John Gunner as to the Increased difficulty in keeping tho
streets clean and IN should be built
The afdayits Of Charles o. Shay. Chief OF the Fire De-
partDent Hugh Bonner aSsstant-chief and OF large
number OF forcmen and drivers OF different engine
panes state that the construction and operation OF tho
cable lines would seriously interfere with the prompt
and efficient service Of the Fire Department.
Aiidavs made In Chicago also filed, alleging both
that the cable lines IN that city are not entirely
ful and that the circumstances entirely different
In the two cities that II successful In Chicago they
would not necessarily be so in New-York The narrow
OF AewYork streets and the many necessary curves
in the lines are set forth as important facts.
series OF affdavits came from the Board OF Trade
and Transportation In whchthe opinion is expressed
that there already too many surface railroads the
city considering the necessities OF commerce. and that
the addition of the cable railroads in the which
proposed to be occupied would be disastrous the
commercial interests OF the city, would blockade tho
streets TO such extent result IN large losses
merchants. and would also have direct tendency to
divert the business Of New-Ycrk 70 rival seaports
acter l.. II. Bates. Frank o. Herring, James W. e.
well. Ambrose snow Joseph II. Weller Abraham g. Mil
Ter and General Lloyd Aspinwal. William Il. Dinsmore,
president OF the Adams Express Company and Locke
W. Winchester. yice-presdent of the National Express
Company, also maize strong opposing afiidavts. and
there five adayits from largely engaged in the
trucking business.
Tho Cable Railway Commission yesterday, account
OF the Illness Of Charles r. Shaw counsel for tho petit
toners extended the time for fling atdayis until next
Monday.