New-York tribune., 1895-01-30
FOR RAPID TRANSIT.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF EXPERTS.

rpr orn nor;TE DECLARED IMPRACTIcABLE ON
ACCOUNT OF THE COST. AND NEW LINE FOR
PARTS OF THE WAY RECOMMENDED
The Roard Of Experts appointed by the Rapid
Transit Commissioners, composed OF Abram D
Hewitt O. Chanute, Thomas c. Clarke Niliah
n B,,rr and Charles Sooysmith. yesterday SUD-
mitted their report to the Commission Mayor
Strong. who is ex-officio member OF the Do"io'
was present at the meeting. The folio"lhe tN
tracts contain the main recommendations OF 'he
, experts: o.,
The discussion Of this question has been SO in,on GT
pee during the last feW Itself and tnau gave
to les conclusion in the rapid transit iegnled
under which the Commission has been 0rsa"Ne'
Briefly stated. the law which has been approved
by the people Of the city of New-Iork proVldes.
That the first duty of the Commission Is TO adops
plans which viii secure rapid tnans' ,s Of ~ NewYork
at as high rate OF speed now ordinarily exis,s h
upon the railroads Of the country % OUTSIDE G 't
must be only incidental to the man re3u
msnts Of rapid ain Ianss OF etops a and higher rate
Of speed, II practicable; .,a,s odonted
s fhsH Rsy De- sh iaif o aos
penditure on the part Of the city of New-fork OF
ne 8earinS % these Conditions precedent in mind, the
Board Of Experts has come TO the odv ' be
plans which have already receSed the haps
2 as ns ON the
the South Ferry vesey-st with 1a1 tw1-psck psr
loop at SS hs tSe pans provide for
track line: from Fourteenth-st through BrSadway way
aTacted ana tes psTy In subway and partly
along the boulevard and Eleventh-ave 90 One, One
elevated line is provided at kngsbridge, and from
Kingsbridge two-track railway partly IN 'uhhei
If this route be adhered TO- the Board ar na,Esd Of Ex
BY CONSTRUCTING two tracks in tunnel. instead OF
three tracks from South Ferry to the Sl'y aa nan
way with four tracks in tunnel to Ninety second
The express and local trSGks & bepf paSsn On
ST.. the construction Of two Of these tracks may
At Ninety -second-st the tracks will emerge and
be continued on an elevated structure 10 the
bS Sn9 tunnel and partly by via
duct to One-hundred-and-eighty
NO INVASION OF THE VAULTS.
This proposed modification will relieve the diff
culties of the construction due TO four tracks on
level in Broadway below Thirty-fourth-st. ana
will not require any invasion of the vaults on
either side of the street the underpinnns of the
The Board of Experts has concluded to recon-
mend the substitution of the Fourth ave. Lafay-
cite Place and Em-st line for the BroadTay way @ nne
sons wSieh haVe led them to this
as follows: .-.... III, - ~o,,,,.a
BY ise aam eSs Sf G ss So% the
OF the line on Broadway, between Fourteenth-st-
second-The location Broadway and eonSe, Sc
Congestion Of travel which exists in that thorough
fare. and which should not be aggravated: p-o,a
way from Union Square, 70 the cityy Hal; from
the serious interruption of business which the con
strpction of the tunnel routes through tnat 'n0r-
The Board of Experts recommends that above above
Fourteenth-st. the two express tracks be carried
along Broadway in tunnel In the the rock rock SO S,0 as to
syod disturbing The or the ss5ef ba feur
tracks be constructed along Tourth-ave. 10
.ersos and Ma
son Square to Twenty-hfth-st above which point
described, would be resumed on Broadway.
FOR THE EAST SIDE.
For the East Side line the board recommends the
construction from Twenty -thrd-st. Of four tracks
under Fourth-ave. to Forty-second-st.. and thence
under the Grand Central Station. with two tracks
to Ninety -seventh-st.. and thence by tWo-track
elevated structure to Mott Hayen point where the
existing lines of travel may be easily made 10 con-
recommends that two tracks shall be constructed in
tunnel under Forty second-st one of the adjacent
heresofore e reeommsndd an . Broadway thus AFFORD
ing an Independent as weli as a connecting Tapla
and East Side lines In time this tunnel may be
Ts 50 as y
the river front
The cost Of the line thus recommended aboye
Forty -second-st line as far west as Broadway, VIII
Coco On the etmaed eost of the Ea. Side line
Is proposed by the Chief Engineer
The total cost of the lines herein recommended
"a sds tracks sCsipSS viii Po' 81 IN eH Of
It viii be Observed that the plan suggested pro
fsar Tb
recommendation is made for two reasons:
elevated preference should always be given
TO the latternot merely because the construction is
light and ventilation are entirely obviated.
Second-lt has not been suggested 70 construct
One-hundred- -and-eighty- -ffhst. because the local
distribution will require more frequent stations in
created by the construction of the system through
region offering unexamped attractions for resi-
The heretofore described plan is intended to fur
city. the COS. of which, as estimated by the, chief
engineer. and as modified as above suggested. Will
For the Eas, Side the plan suggested by the
chief engineer contempates an underground line
Foart.ave and under % the Grand iG % Central Station Station
to Eorty-fourth-si and thence with two double,
four-track steel yiaduct to Mott Haven. and
two,srsek steel vaduct. he estimated cost of which
Is TSs s Ss" s.sssa,s Goa, Of the two line. would thus
be 81. 10000 to which must be added 10 per cent
for the cost Of @ terminals and side tracks making ing
further reduction in cost in order TO keep within
the limits of the law
THE CITY NOT TO CONSTRUCT IT.
Having thus after exhaustive examination
of the plans. and after a process Of careful DIFF
ferentiation recommended a rapid-transt system.
independent Of all existing routes. which can
be executed within the limit OF cost pre-
ecribed by the act the Board Of Experts feels that
1t would not obey the mandates of the commission
without pointing out the fact that no immediate re-
lief for the existing congestion OF travel will be
provided by the recommendations hereinbefore
submitted. The process of construction will neces-
sarlly be slow. at the best, and many unforeseen
,mpediments, legal and accidental. may be expected
10 interfere with the early completion of an under
taking Of such great magnitude and dlihcuity;
Moreover unless responsible bidder shall be found
for the franchise and contract. the undertaking
must by the terms of the act. necessarily be apan-
doned Construction by the city itself Is not con-
tempated by the act. -
Hence the Board Of Experts have been led TO
consider whether early Increase In the faciitles
for rapid transit be secured by other agencies.