New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-20
4 SPLENDID TTNION md 4 Practical


OF all the Ilpd-trau>it schemes thus far pro-
posed. the most comprehensive. elaborate mag
nihcpnt and costly does not cman1'c. aN might
perhaps have lccn expected. from some pcnnI-
less enthusiasts; without hacker or friend.
bat from score Of conspicuous citizens, plac-
teal men. gIcat capitalists, headed by Mr.
Austin Corbin. Their plans are described IN
detail upon another page. II would not be safe
TO conclude that the stupcndouN system Of
underground communications which the pros
pcg;u, f0rcShadOWS is al present more than Il
vision in the mind, OF most Of the incOlpoI1toS;
though doubtless one or more ardent spirits al
ready see trains gliding swiftly on Il dozen
tracks a hundred feet below the surface.
The document, made public to-day include
designs for tunnels radiatinG from whitehall
81. toward all pans Of the city and meeting az
the upper extremity OF the island. whence
gigantic loop extends nor'hNard around jerome
Park. The drill reveals the fact that along all
these various routes the tunnels would PASS
through solid rock excepting for short dis
tanccS AT one or two points. The prospectus
does not question that engineering skill - com
petcnt 10 solve all the problems which this form
and extent of construction involve. save only
from 50 gigantic an investment. Upon that
point it is retccnt and properly So since tho
immediat purpose of the projectors is merely
to obtain popular and official approval OF a
single step in the magnificent programme. The
plans include six sections. OF which only the
first is now advocated by the incorporltorS.
This cOntcmpia'cS Il tunnel for two tracks under
the East River from Whitchall->t. TO Atlantic
ave. Brooklyn, connecting at both ends with
the elevated railroads now in operation III the
two cities. Beyond this the present incor-
poIator, do not commit themselves. and for tins
every requisite is said 10 have practically been
provided We understand Mr.. Corbln and his
colleagues to mean by the documents which
they have laid before the Board of Rapid
TranSi: Comm ,ioncrS that this initial part of
the great scheme which they outline Is 10 be
carried ont under the General Railroad law OF
the state. advantage being taken also Of the
statute Of 1890. No further legislation i re-
CURED We are told, for the specific purpose OF
cxcayatng tunnel 10 BROOKLYN with stations
on purchased ground al the terminal points;
but the projectors. considering the first section
rs possibly the beginning of a new rapid-tran,it
system. naturally desire The appreciation of the
commissioners anu tlf y llJhlIg vi 'hN ''Hi7
munity.
Without discussing further the magnificent
conception embodied in the drawings before us
we do not hesitate To commend the submarine
communication with Brooklyn Il, likely 10 prove
of grcai value to both cities, without injury to
existing interests, public or private, and c>-
pecialiy aS an immense relief to the traffic which
now oycrburdcnS the Bridge. Nor do We fore
sec objections OF serious obstacle, 70 It's pro-
longation, a the plans contemplate, under the
Hudson in straight line TO u point in Jersey
City. That extension j. described as Section
> of the completed rapid-transit system, and it
is not unlikely to be undertaken in the near
future. whatever may become of the rest Of
the plans. But for the present the public is
directly concerned only in the East River tun-
mel. to which the incJrpOrator> commit them
selves and with which they are ready To pro-
coed. And that We believe. Is IN enterprise to
which the community ought 70 extend 4 prompt
and cordial welcome.