New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-06
PLANS FOR ADOUBLE TUNNEL
A NEW UNDERGROUND SCHEME CT RAPID
TRANSIT.
SAID TO HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY BACK OF IT

MANHATTAN INTERESTS Net CONCERNED.
There are for believing that the Rapid
Transit Commissioners will have laid before them
OF their meeting Tuesday new plan for an UNI
derground road worthy OF consideration The Reno
plan which seemed to approach more nearly than
any other the ideas Of the commission was forced
to abandonment first because of the indefinite de-
gree of liability damages to property along the
route; second, because It believed that the
noise produced would be so great as seriously to
affect the comfort of passengers resulting in loss OF
patronage; and, third that the estimated earnings
were placed too high figure and investors
would be in danger Of suffering from loss Of inter-
est IL not from loss of the principal itself AT any
rate, these were the views taken by experts ex-
aiming plans in behalf OF English capitalists, who
stood ready to support any plan that gave reason
able grounds of acceptabllity.
Joseph G. Hallam. a Yorkshire Englishman, acting
upon hints OF improvements suggested by these OBJ
jectons, claims to overcome them all. Instead OF
driving one large tunnel. affording inside area
% feet square, he would drive from the Battery TO
Union Square, a rectangular bore . feet by II feet
inside measurement. built of strong cast iron Sec
tona shields. and supported In the centre with iron
pillars. Completing and operating successfully
tunnel this plan. he would construct another OF
like dimensions beneath this. with minimum space
of two feet Of rock sand between the tunnels.
Two rails would extend through each OF the tun-
nes laid on feet. and built in concrete with joints
welded together to prevent the rafting sounds
so annoying in surface railway travelling There
would be a minimum distance Of feet from the
surface the platform in the upper tunnel and
of 80 feet TO the lower The trains. consisting Of
five each. and propelled by electric power,
would run on express and accommodation schedules.
the former probably being assigned 10 the lower
level Stations would be about far apart az
those on the elevated roads. Fresh air and light
would be supplied by electrical machinery
Mr. Hallam estimates that the two-track tunnel
could be ready for operation between Fifty -ninthst:
and the Battery within two years. The Greathead
system of driving would be employed, and work
would be carried on night and day IL IS calculated
that feet day for each heading could be driven:
The cost OF construction will almost equal that
under the suggested Reno plan, with far less ac-
companyihg liability for damages to property. The
use of the cast-ron shield this plan of separate
tunnels would IL is urged, insure almost absolute
safety from caving-in. ~
The declaration is made that Mr.. Haliams plan
has already received the approval or one or the
Commissioners and that letters from recognized
fnanciers will be presented to the commission,
guaranteeing the advancement Of the construction
capitaI The statement is also made that these do
not come from the Gould or Manhattan Company
interests ., -.
John IT, Starn. who recently returned from
ElIrope after an absence OF several weeks Is now
In the West In connection with matters bearing on
his large shipping and private interests. Whether
he will return to New-York in time 10 attend the
meeting Of the Rapid Transit Commission next
Tuesday ia uncertain. . $780,, -.
some Of the Rapid Transit Commissioners met
Yesterday afternoon in the board room, NO. y
william st, TO discuss the plans fDr the proposed
East and West Side elevated routes. II was re-.
probably finish their work the latter part OF the
rnOp