The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-10-09
BEHIND OTHER CITIES.
New York's Lack of Transit Fa-
cilities in Sharp Contrast
Engineer Pars mss Report on His
European investigations.
A Covered Trench the Best Form of
Underground Road.

The Rapid-Transit Board met to-day
and heard the report of Chief Engineer
William Barclaf Parsons, who was sent
to Europe to observe methods of urban
transportation In vogue there.
Mr.. Prisons report makes huge folio
of typewriter matter replete with phi Jto-
graphs, ground plans and cross sections
Illustrating the modus operandi of the
roads he observed.
In the main he favors for New York
an underground railway, built on the
covered trench pattern through con-
venIent streets, and operated by cleo
trici,y although a deep tunnel. he says,
Is practicable If necessary.
There were present at the meeting
President Alexander Il. RI. Seth Low.
William Steinway, John II. Starin. John
ClHin and John Inman, the board mem
bers. In addition to these Secretary l..
l.. Deiafeld, Lawyers Beckman and
Boardman. and Chief Engineer Parsons
we're on hand.
Letters We're received from f.. S.
Thornton and Jesse Reno, encouraging
the rapid transit project.
Mr.. Parsons then made his report.
llt was sent " EUROPE DN tllt bDdIu
in July last, and visited London, Liver
pool, Glasgow, Paris and Berlin. He
was everywhere received with the great
est courtesy and given full opportunities
to study various systems.
London, he says, has three under
ground railroads. two operated by steam
and one by electricity; another is being
built and great railway tunnel is being
driven under the Thames. Glasgow has
one underground steam road. two are
building and thoroughfare tunnel is be-
ing pushed beneath the clyde. Liverpool
the Mersey. In Paris and Berlin the ne
cessities of rapid transit are just begin
ming to be felt. and their enterprises in
that line are llmit ted and unimp 1rtant.
Speaking of the underground steam
railways in London, Mr.. Parsons says
that the smoke and gases that fill the
tunnel are offensive to passengers, the
stations unattractive and Erlmy, and
the whole service Is unsatisfactory
from almost every point of view.
These roads are both trCnched through
streets and tunneled under houses dC-
cording to the level and general con-
venienCe.
For simple city use the London under
II was not until they made extensions
and connections for out of town trans
p0rtltion that they paid a dividend.
These faCts apply toall steam under
ground railways in all cities where they
are operated
He speaks with appreciation, qualified
by some points of criticism, of the South
London Underground Railway, which is
built in tubular shields, laid parallel in
covered trenches, through the streets
and is operated by electricity. The at
mosphere in there is fair. although this
road built eXperimentally. could be i'm
proved in imitation by many things
since learned.
Almost all his observations coincide
with the foregoing, and the conclusions
that ~ reaches are:
An underground railway operated by
steam, even with the most approved
system of mechanical ventilation. would
be lntoIerable to the people of the city
of New York
Electricity can be successfully and
economically applied as a motive power.
An underground railway has com
fort able atmosphere, and can be arranged
so as to avoid great changes Of tempe
rature.'
The rail level should be kept as close
to the surface as possible, and eXcava-
ton Is the best form, but If tunnelling
is necessary. IA deep tunnel can be con-
structed, for which the circular form
Is best.
An underground railroad can be built
in attractive form. The work can be
carried on through a busy street without
cndangerlng abuttlng property or seri-
ously impeding travel
Mr.. Par sons report was adopted, and
his expenses of $3.50 ordered paid.