New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-12
AN ENORMOUS TUNNEL PLAN
IN UNITE TIE THEE BIG OI7IES'
MILLIONS BEHIND TaE sTuPENDous
SCHEME.
oSr TUNNEL TO RUN UvprR NETWORK, FROM The
CITY HAIL To FLEETWOOD pARK-oTHHRs TO
GO TO PROSPECT PARK AID THE NEWARK
MrAnNws-IIEMAN CLARK, TIE CON

cry Hal +, EETWODD PARh-OIHFhS ~
GO TO PROSPECT PARK AID THE NEWARK
MrADNws-HEMAN CLARK, THE CON
TRACTOR, UPioLps TIE PLAN.
There have been so many schemes for the soiu'
ton of the rapid transit problem in this city that
the average Ncw-l Yorker is apt to he beiogSed anu
discouraged amid SO many plans, especially when
there appears good ground for the conviction that
they are mere paper affairs, founded on socaileo
articles of association which mere airy notn-
iprs There is now on foot, however, we'll
dcvel Hoped plan for the solution Of the burning
quest on which has behind il, undoubtedly, some
OF the shrcwdest railroad men OF the CITY Inc!
have been canvassing the situation ana inc plais
proposed to them have seemed so possible ana pi'"-
ticabe that they have announced 10 the pro-
1ectors their approval Of the enterprise.
lie scheme is a starcnGous one. and its eXecn-
ton would result In one OF the greatest IL not
the greatest, engineering achievements OF the age
The plan is nothing more nor less than the tunnel
ling of Ncw-YorlS City, down the backbone 10 the
Astor Uousc. whence tunnels would be run to Jer-
sey CITY and Brooklyn. II contemplates, Dy Viis
means. the uni6cation OF New-York. Brooklyn ana
Jersey CITY within radius of ten miles from the
CITY Hall of New-York. the annhilation ,as IT WERE
If the North and East Rivers and the destruction OF
timo and distance.
The men who are behind this project can easily
figure up SlOo.oOoOOO from their available re-
sources. They have been conlerrlnG with some oi
the leading engineers Of this city, as wei us re''
estate men. and have received the most S'o'S
factory assurances that the scheme wouio pe
solution Of the rarid transit problem IN b'e pro'u-
est basis, as well the means to a real es''"
boom in the northern part OF the CITY, III west
chester County, in Brooklyn and New-Jersey. Inc
tunnel projected will run on an average VI i''
Ial.. I'm
BACKEN BY LARGE CAPITALISTS
This entorurise is about Ia be incorporated,
having for its corporators some of the bes-i<nown
capitalists Of this city. The pan proposed Is
the out come OF the investigations and experiments
of ueman Clark, well-known contractor. MI
Cl9rk is m.u of calm and even nina ana ne
is well known as one who never goes into Wild
cat ventur The present pan Is the OUTCOME
of his work on the aqueduct, work IN when
his share foots up some nineteen miles. me tuhneI
rapid transit ian Tor tins CITY cont mp''es
only fifteen miles
Mr. Clatk WIS somewhat surprised yesterday
when lac was informed that TRIBUNE reporter
had learned oil his plans. Yet he sa d: wen,
YES ii is true that have been INVESTIGATING uhis
matter and it is true that several large capital
ists have entered into the undertaking. 1t is nor
an Idle affair but the result Of two years OF
study and investigation The general plan is 10
run a tunnel. for four tracks. down the backbone
of the island, l so feet below the surface.
"Whore VIII you have your northern Ter
minal p Mr.. Clark asked. and 10 this he
replied:
1T is proposed to build our-track tunnel from
point near Fleetwood Park under the Harlem
River and under the backbone of the city TO
point OF junction near the AsOr House, where TWO
tracks would lie run under the North River at a
point near Pier /, coming TO the surface at the
west side of the PALISADES near Jersey City on
The Newark Meadows. Two tracks would con-
tnue from the point of junction. near The Astor
House, nearly a tangent line under the East
River and City Hall of Brooklyn, coming TO the
surface near Prospect Park making in all about
fifteen miles Of tunnel. The tunnel in no place
would be less thsn 100 feet below the surface in
New-YOrk and Brooklyn, This laces the eXcava-
ton down in good, solid formation where no fisk
will be taken in getting out the material. The jar
from conclusion would not be perceptibie on the
surface
In connection with the tunnel some twenty
five shafts would be sunk for the purpose of ele
vatlng passengers and like number for freight
pockets. These freight pockets would be short
tunnels turned of from the main line distance
of 300 900 feet where freight cars could he set
in any number up TO twenty for the purpose OF
accommodating merchants. IL is found by close
calculation that the extra cost OF elevated surface
is not material whether it be distance of fifty or
200 feet and that the distance herein pro. osed
will not, in any way, be Objectionable The pass
enger elevators would have capacity OF 100
The location is proposed to be made just at the
west of Broadway that the elevator stations
may utilize buildings at different Joints IN the
side streets, which may be fitted up to the elevated
surface and the remainder of the buildings rented
for business purposes.
Two of the tracks, which would
be used for express purposes, would only stop
every forty blocks. This would insure the iassen-
gers getting on train at the City Hall Square
rate of speed of forty miles an hour, which would
npa al and fxrG Ia.
st in fifteen minutes, including stOppages, or
Iwo-hundredth ST. under twenty-five minutes, or
10 the City Hall in Brooklyn in three minutes and
Coney Island in twelve minutes. The local trains,
stopping alternately every ten blocks, would make
0 speed Of about twenty five miles hour In
com arson with the present means person resid-
ing at Northumberland twenty fftlrst would be at
that point in about the same time as person now
res ding at Nnth-st The cars would be brilliantly
lighted by electricity, that there would be
obstacle TO those desiring to read the papers
they travel However the saving Of time would be Sc
great that sufficient time could be taken either at
home or in offices for the purpose
no TROUBLE ABOUT VENTILATION.
But how about ventilationp'
There would be trouble whatever about
chat for experience on the Aqueduct proves this.
There is current of pure air running through
that is strong enough TO take your hat off. The
great trouble would be in regulating the current.
The shafts cause perfect ventilation, and the
strength of the current would have be regulated
the shafts. At the lowest points circular shafts
of corrugated iron could be built up above the
surface il necessary, thus nsuring "a strong draft.
There is not the least difficulty to ventilation.
The immense number Of elevator pockets
would insure perfect ventilation, so that even the
ordinary locomotive smoke burning engine could
be used provided other appliances should not
swer the PURPOSE. From very recent experience
in the line OF electric motors, however, great
progress has been made in developing powers sufll-
clent 10 move heavy loads Until very recently
mn oil r m In ttAR. q bic
in Europe had developed power greater than
sufficient TO move ffteen-ton load motor
now in use at the Lylens Valley coal mines has
been moving 80 ton lead against a per cent