New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-16
RAPID TRANSIT SCHEMES.
MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
SEVERAL SYSTEMS WARMLY ADVOCATED AND
EXPLAINED.

SEVERAL SYSTEMS WARMLY ADVOCATED AND
EXPLAINED.
The first public meeting Of the new Rapid transit
Commission va, held at steinway Han yesterday
afternoon. with william stenway IN the chair. John
II .farn John II. Inman. samuel spencer ana Eu-
gene l.. Bushe the other members present. Inc
han Wa the y,tnc place Of dozens of men who had
- solved the rapid transit problem and who were
liable 10 convince the Commission OF the merits OF
their RESPECTIVE systems. The nr.t speaker. however
WIN W. called upon to present his views was Lucli
= Chitteudcn who presented the scheme Oh the
Pcopc's Rapid Transit Company. The Only soluuoh
Of The problem wa. he said, in the choice ol INC
yaduct structure Of his company. The structure
which was invented by ID. {. LInsley was 10 DC
biI upon arches masonry. carrying the lower track
a an average elevation Of four stories above the ground
surface
The proposed railroad Is to have four tracks,
said Mr. Chittenden. d" The two central tracks ior
express trains will be raised above me TWO cA'cIo'
tracks which are 10 be used for the local trains By
this means separate the express ti"i"c Ho'l
the passenger traffic. The tracks VIII be carried up"
viaduct formed By connected arches OF masonry "mch
may he incorporated into the walls Of new buildings
Tho ohvaton Of the lower tracks will be from sixty to
coventry feet That will leave room for four or i've
storjo. or floors The whole ground space with open
incs for light and air to the height o 'ncSc lo VI
five stories will occupied by frcprooi tehemeht9'
The road will end at the Battery with loop ihis
loon will connect with every ferry below CanaI-'t'
After crossing Canal II. the line VIII run 'io'o "
broadway as far A. Tarrytown'
Nr Chittend.n said the vaduct system had many
advantages over other systems. The passengers
world be carried al an elevation whi'h insurer
fresh air and abundant light. The road would ho'
interfere with sewers gas pipes or other CONDUCTORS
The p,,scagcrs would be taken TO the trans by
cro,.tor. II was the most economical system pro
lefa problems.
system had been tried and 1t answered. ''e p"Po'S,
t which II WA. intended II only required the usual
equipment of a railroad % the first class
Mr. cI..cudcn was followed by LOUIS SicTne, civil
engineer Of London who argued IN favor 81 the uhder
ground system lor TIL, city. vi t'rm'f o'Jc''i'n9
10 UNDERGROUND road, had been removed ne 'tiu' py
recent discoveries, In Illustration Of his sy't'm Mr.
.c,c rave detailed description of the city and south
Iondon EaUroaf The air. lie said. Wac pure, mo
coachc- vcr, made light day by the u-c Of electric
Iou,p, and the temperature Of the tunnel varied Only
between ii and so degrees. New York he ADDED "''
not limited 10 any particular sic % tunnel Inc nuoe'
mr. txe Of cache or power Of electro motive current
e believed that tunnel, twelve feet IN diameter "oui'
answer all purposes. In these tunnels trans oil hVo
ny y coaches, each coach being clcciromotor cou!d
carry LOO pa-,cngcrs Any required vola,c coulh
be used with security TO the pt>scnS T. AccmeNt'
need n5t occur. -Four or TX tunnels couid DC r'H'
through the line under Broadway without The e'''
possible injury to foundations Of buId!As'' f'"n Nv
station, acccs, could be had to the RAILROAD Platforms
by hydraulic elevators, capable Of carving hity or iAy
people. and by stairway Any desired speed could
be maintained. Though train, could be rin from
Wal!-st - one hundred and twenty hft'l 81 wtlih III
cen minute. Considering The value 81 properly VIII
V,uld I've necessary Tor any convenient me ~ 'uFll'
y.aduct or elevated railroad The underground rhlfptn
,y,teu was by far the cheapest. hahty COMPUTATION
of fhc probable cost ~ Underground rl!Ho ,s'rm
f., New Yor} CITY. p" ,ad. showed that dolhc INn
mel system could be constructed for les than l"Wp
a mile and ioar track ~ ''eH-ii c"h,TNoNi 4" iIr
saue lime for less than Sl.-OoOpo nL". hc!unln3
contingent and organization. such - tom oil rin
f,7 %.v-Y orii G. cOuld Doe more speedily foN".r''tp
man any other and when completed would give L" the
div a greater measure ~ relief.
,w.on Y Fuli.r laid that h" Wa ~ flV'r Z" an
eievat,d railroad from tho Battery 10 kr-'br'se
The building # TIE Other systems W1t" i'I"'I ."p
n.nch unc IN The meantime Il "'a tAc nIl> oi ,nc
g.n.li. toner's 10 choose road when W"u' a.-NrI
ba demands ~ the people IN the upper pa ." inc
- ~ An elava-oi rlad could run from the Battery 10
KinC,hhdgc i'm thirty minute ,.- , .t, .,.s
E.w!nnd H. halld -old IN" merits OF i9r'e ,y(
TOM, which he rcpr.-cucd would be presented A. th'F
next meeting Alired ~prcr-. Alfred \. larI NJ
r Williams and stephen Totem also gave the cNcl
ieatnrcs Of the .ysteni, which they Irprc'cnSd ~
The Commission adjourned TO meet on thursday ~
; O'Clock ~ the siunc place.