New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-27
! MATURING PLANS OF RAPID TRANSIT

MATURING PLANS OF RAPID TRANSIT
The Rapid-Transit Commissioners are entitled
to a public acknowledgment of the patience
and ,assiduity with which they have pursued
the task intrlsted to them. They have now
laid out two routes from the northern limits OF
the city to Fourteenth-st., with "A single stem
from that point to the Battery, and the COM
bination is in the main well designed to meet
the requirements OF traffic for many years TO
come. The Commissioners have studied the
problem with deliberate care, and it must be
assumed that they have strong arguments to
sustain every conclusion which they have
reached. The second route finally adopted last
week, is rather central than eastern, but though
it was for that reason unexpected, it is recon-
mended by numerous considerations and Will
not be antagonized, we think, by those who,
next to the Commissioners, have given most
thought to the subject. The junction of the
upper lines at Union Square, as explained by
Mr.. Stenway, is favorable to the handling oil
an enormous traffic, though it must be conceded
that the avoidance of congestion at that point
will be hard problem. The shifting and
switching of trains at functions is always per-
picking and of necessity involves peculiar perils.
When we turn, however, from route to con-
struction we confess that some expressions at
tributed to the Commission and their engineers
aft ord ground for anxiety. Various outgivings
hitherto have led the public to suppose that
the deep tunnel system was approved and would
be recommended for adoption here. The recent
experience of London has completely vindicated
the calculations, and predictions of Mr.. James
II. Greathead. The underground road built ac-
cording to his plans has more than justified his
confident expectations. 1t is an absolute TIL
umph, and capital is eagerly bidding for the
privilege of extending on great scale the syS-
tenn which bears his name. 1t has been sup
posed that this discovery and application OF
new methods would be utilized here, and hither-
to we have seen no explanation of the doubts
which now seem to be felt as to its applicability
to the conditions existing in New-YOrk. The
mere fact that disturbance of the surface is
not officially declared to be out of the question
is in itself disquieting.
The Greathead system, as Mr. Simon Sterne
points out in "The Forum" for August is
originally expensive but when the comparative
cost of maintenance is considered the prospect
of a secure return upon the capital invested
is satisfactory, and every other conceivable ad-
vantage is on its side. The value of mode of
construction which leaves the deepest founda-
tons and all underground communications I'M
disturbed is alone incalculable. Mr. Sterne by
a single illustration brings this element in the
case impressively before the mind. When the
London Board of Municipal Control expressed
desire to have their engineers consulted so soon
as the Greathead tunnel approached the south
western viaduct in the interest Of absolute
safety they were surprised to learn that it had
advanced half a mile beyond the viaduct with
out their knowledge. So silently, and securely
and without observation was the great work &C
cOmplished.
We do not assume that the Commissioners
have already reached any single unfortunate de-
termination, and we certainly do not profess
to have an understanding Of the problem com
parable to theirs But one and another are
quoted as admitting the possibility of surface
disturbances, not greater, for example, than
those now caused by the laying of the Broadway
cables; and for this reason we feel warranted
in expressing the conviction that the adoption
of plan involving a much smaller degree of
discomfort than that would be universally de-