New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-09
RAPID TRANSIT IN SIGHT.
UNDERGROUND PLANS PERFECTED BY
DOWNTOWN SYNDICATE.
COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM PROVIDED FoR-THE
COMMISSION WILL STILL GO AHEAD Win
ELEVATED PLANS PRESIDENT
81 ASTIC


ELEVATED PLANS - PRESIDENT
sTEINwAY ENTHUSIASTIC
The citizens of New-York may at last cohsia'
uate themselves the near approach u ap
transit Within three years. unless SUM
neced hitch should occur. swift trains VIII oe ~
ming from the Battery to the city limits 'hrousa
a combined system Of tunnels and viaducts 'iia'
will hermit the attainment Of high rate Oh spe.'
When the plans of the Rapid Transit Coh'"i'
sioners for subterranean route met sucn ii" -
nominols fate last winter 1t was believed 'ha' "'
underground system would have to be given ny,
and relief found in an extension OF the eieVa'eu
railroads. To this end the commissioners directeu
their attention Plans for complete elevated sys-
tom extending all over New-York have been near
" completed. All the time, however, moneyed me"
have had their eyes the old plans, ana many
abortve attempts have been made TO organize
company to carry them out. The immense amount
nj money required caused all these to fail. Many
nronositons were made to the commissioners
but as all involved some pledge from the CITY
guaranteeing the bonds OF the company-a 'hi"s
prohibited by the State Constitution-they hau "
be rejected. For several months, however hVe
men, well known in the world of finance but whose
names are withheld for the present have been dis
cussing the matter and their deliberations resulted
in an intimaion OF their wishes being maze 10 the
commissioners at their last meeting This intima-
ton which was made through prominent wan
st. firm, not, technically speah"s' " No''"7
ncation requiring a definite answer from the COM
missioners. but rather announcement ina, such
a communication would be made. probably at the
next meeting.
The firm declared that three-ffths Of the capital
required had been already secured by Them AS
the total cost Of the work is estimated at Sio"'-
600 this that least 270O00oo has been SUD
scribed. 1t not stated when the work could De
begun, how long the company would re-
quire to complete it. but II Is probable that IL once
seriously undertaken it would be pushed 10 an
early completion prevent the loss of interest on
the money involved. The firm further intimated
that some small changes in the downtown section
of the road would be asked by the company.
The road laid down in the plans Of the conf
missioners starts at South Ferry. Thence the
tracks in a loop under Whitehall-st on the one
hand. and Battery Park and Safest. on the
other converging TO parallel under Broadway
Just above Bowling Green. Thence the line runs
under broadway to Fourteenth-st. where it forks,
one branch going under Fourth-ave. and the
other continuing under Broadway TO Fifty-ninth-
thence under the Boulevard to One-hundred-and-
twenty -irst-st.. and then to the city limits by
Il succession Of tunnels and Niaducts. There VIII
be three or four parallel tracks on the same
level at some points. The motive power Will be
electricity or some other power not requiring
miles an hour must be- attained
If the route should be agreed upon there need
in beginning the work. The consents of all the
property owners along the route have been
obtained. and all necessary legal formalities OBJ
served. In case Of "a change downtown some slight
delay may occur
William Seinway. president OF the Board Of
Rapid Transit Commissioners, was enthusiastic
yesterday the happy outlook He said that
rapid transit nearer than ever before. and
that h. belie"ed three years time would see 1t In
full operation.
"undergrodnd transit" said he. lis the choice
of the board. first. last. and all the time We shall
not. however permit this proposition, thoroughly
authentic and responsible though II Is. to prevent
us from going with plans for complete
elevated system We must be ready for any emer-
gcncy. cannot tl the names Of the members
Of the company because | do not know them
myself They have only communicated with us
through a Wall street firm
Commissioners Bushe and Porter. with State
Engineer Bogart. had consultation with Mayor
GilrOy yesterday morning. presumably on the sub
Of the mndnrgrOMnl ranid transt plans