New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-20
MR.. WILSON'S EIPID- TR fNSTT PL1N.

Altogether the most interesting and important
proposition relating 10 rapid transit in tai,
city which has been made public Is that sub
mit,c ed on Thursday 20 the Commission 10y Mr.
r. Wilson. II derives lis special significance
from the fact that 50 far rs HE community D.
aware II Is the first proposal emanatiuc from
n man of solid substance and well known Ia the
citizens Of New York, hose name suggests ~
once the probability Of ample resources 10 carry
ont INV contract which he ni,y undertake. Mr.
Wilson'S proposition Is that the city shall loan
It's credit for iWothir,is II The presumed cost
Of Si5.OOO.uOO hv issuing per cent bonds n
they NAV be- required In the course ~ coustruc
ton to an amount not exceeding SIo,uo,W", IN
tercst and principal 20 be pail by the company.
He agrees in behalf Of those whom be- repre-
senis 10 deposit In advance the sum Of $1,000
600 as a guarantee Of good faith, and The con
ditious which he suggests are apparently such
in other respects rs 10 protect the interests 81
the city, though ~ 10 some questions, ln'lud-
Ing that of taxation. judgment must u" re-
served Ills plan provides for rapid transit
mainly in conformity with the tunnel system
devised two or three years ago by the RAPID
Transit Commission, the notifications being
such as to obvlate some practical objections l"
that design. 1t Is proposed 10 construct four
tracks, not on q level. but running through
separate tunnels one above the other, from thc
lower 10 the upper end Of the island. hraHch-
ing ut Union Square 10 the east and west with
a possible continuation In the course OF ilme TO
an underlined limit northward
The PROPOSAL 10 construct this extensive sys-
TEN by the aid Of the cliy's credit Of courS"
suggests grave considerations. and We do not
doubt that not a few intelligent citizens VIII
be. at least AT the outset. opposed to the scheme
on this account II must however. he adinlt"'i
that hitherto there has not been any sufficient
reason for believing that private capital VIII ever
be willing 10 embark alone in 50 huge an enter
prise Meanwhile the demand for incrcaS'd
transportation facilities on large scale grows
more urgent continually. The people OF New
York are suffering constant and great LOSSES
and immense Inconvenience for the lack OF Such
| n rapid-transt system rs Mr.. Wilson now pro
poses TO provide; nor Is there any nope mat the
| elevated railroads can by any process or "A-
| tension and development, satisfactorily meet
| the requirements Of the future. The only DINER
proposlton which is now before the Commission
and the public is The prcpost"rous scheme al
vocatcd by lr. Bushc for new elevated railroads
running oy r n course which oilers cXtraordi-
nary obstacles. and is generally deemed utterly
|
carried ont would inevitably fail 10 afford ade-
| quate relief. Assuming that the project oi II
solid viaduct through the city blocks is imprac'
| tcablc we have always believed that the o'iiy
! efficient 81 stem Of rapid transit for Newlor
| must be below the surface. The Rapid Transit
| Commission In laying out such pan TWO vi
| three yo'.rs ago made the mistake OF proposing
| a mode of construction at once exceedingly
costly and sure 10 develop, In the process oi
| execution. great and manifold annoyanccs II
we understand Mr.. Wilson's letter to Mr. stem
way. he proposes 10 construct tunnels 50 far
| below the surface rs not TO interfere with prop
crty ri hits or with the vast and complicated
network Of underground communications which
| now exist I'm the form of gas. water, cable ana
elect e. condults Ii is not directly asserted
but Il is at least indicated, that the method OF
con ruction TO be- employed Is the Greathead
sv .,n which has been economically and salts
ia rily utilized in London and elsewhere III
En-. 20. Nor is there the slightest doubt In the
m. of engineers who have studied III" pr"D
Ia. which New-York has to solve that This sys
. an be applied here with entire success.
Sc lie objections have been made TO tunnels
AMI especaly TO deep tunnels, for purposes oil
traI sportaton over long distances, but these
crit cisms have been derived chi fly from IN
hapoy familiarity with conditions which h'
I,n.,er necessarily exist. The practicable tllnnc
y today is radically different from the act'ia
mol of few years ago. IL may be brill
iantly lighted perfectly clean Thoroughly ven
t'l1ted, easily accessible by elevators. ana IL
very respect cheerful 81 l Wholesome Mr.
Wilson's proposal specif, lily provides tha'
trains shall be drawn throus the tunnels WHICH