New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-23
FOR AN EAST SIDE ROUTE.
THE RAPID TRANSIT COMMISSIONS PLAN
A FoUR-TRAcK ROAD, PRINCIPALLY UNDER
opouNnp prsur n on eOprNC oS pRoAnwAy

A FoUR-TRACK ROAD, PRINCIPALLY UNDER
eRoUND-REsULT OF BORING ON BROADWAY.
The Rapid Transit Commission held session
yesterday afternoon. A completed chart was sub
mitted by the engineer showing the result Of bor-
ings from Front-st. to Broadway and Thirty
thirdst The surface of the street above high
water mark was shown, also the depth at which
solid rock was found below the surface at the
intersection of Broadway with each cross street
throughout that distance. The chart also ex-
hibits the various strata, consisting of top filling,
coarse sand medium sand, line sand, running
sand, gravel quicksand, soft rock and hard rock.
There are many and sudden variations in the
strata, and some surprises were developed In the
conditions.
l. At Front-st. the surface Of the street above
high-water mark is found to he 3.0l feet ana the
depth to rock is 30 feet At Pearlst. there are
only sixteen feet between rock and the surace,
while at Cedar-st. the distance Is 1913. The
greatest depth to rock is at Duane-st, 1850 feet,
though at that point the surface Of the street
above high-water mark is only 1851 feet against
ss.7s feet at Murray-st where the rock is
l135 feet deep The depression at Canal-so
has always been sort of ougaboo TO engineers
when considering the subject of tu9nelling Broad
way, vet here with the surface Of the street 1907
feet above high water solid rock is found at
s765 feet The highest point above the water
line is at Twenty-ninthst, 1928 feet, with rock
onlv 1877 feet below the surface, and at Thirty
third-st rock exists feet below the surface,
which is 42.25 feet above high-water mark
The Commission was in executive session about
two hours. all the members being present, and
the following resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
Resolved. That this Board approves
plan for an underground four track railway, d.
verging from the proposed broadway line at or
near Fourteenth-st, thence under Union Square
to Fourth.ave and under Fourth and Park aves.
to near and south of Forty second-st.; thence
| by suitable curve to the westward under such
private property and streets as shall be found
practicable to Madison-ave. at or near Forty.
fourth-st. thence under Madison-ave. to a point
near Nnety-sixth-st., thence curving to the east
ward to a point not less than 100 feet cast OF
Madson-ave, thence by viaduct over private prop
erty parallel to and not less than 90 feet east Of
| Madison-ave. to a point near and south of One
hundred-and-thirty tourth-st., thence by curve to
| the eastward and by bridge across Harlem River.
Resolved, That the general plan Of construc-
| tion from Broadway to point near Ninety-siXth-
| st. shall be either by double-deck tunnel with
two tracks upon each deck, or four tracks upon
the same level, as may be found upon further
examination and survey 10 be most expedient, and
as near the surface as shall be found practicable.
From near Ninety sixth-st. north, to De by viaduct
with four tracks to Harlem River
Resolved, That the conditions as to loca-
tion of stations in tunnel, and all appliances con-
nected Herewith shall be substantially the same
as those required for the proposed West Side
line described in resolution of this Board approved
| May 81, 1891.
Resolved, That the engineers of this Board
| are hereby directed to make the necessary sur
veys, plans and specifications for the abeye-de-
scribed East Side line south of the Harlem River
at the earliestspracticable date, and submit the
| same promptly to this Board in such form and
| manner as may be necessary TO place the same
| before the Common Council of the city of New
! York, required by the Rapid-Transit act of
| January 81, 1891.
Resolved, That from the Harlem River north
| to the city limits the exact location and mode
of construction can he determined only by in
strumental survey, having due regard TO the
| present sparsenese of population and necessary
economy of construction, and that the engineers
| of this Board hereby instructed to make such
surveys at the earliest date practicable but with
| out delaying the preparation of the plans and
| specifications for that portion OF the line south
| of Harlem River"
The Commission will not meet again until
| Tuesday OF next week.