The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-24
OVERHEAD RAPID TRANSIT.
A Pian for Suspension Bridges All the Way to
8puyten Duyyn.

A Pinn for Suspension Bridges All the Way to
spuyten Duyvn.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUE-Sir: In view Of
the vast Importance attached to the solution of
the rapid transit problem. in which your paper
is deeply interested, and especially owing to tho
fact that the taxpayers of this community are
assessed to pay the salaries of q body of men
known as the Rapid Transit Commissioner
who are trying to solve the problem-I beg leave
to submit a plan for the consideration Of
Alexander K. Orr and others. who have already
spent over $3.50. 900 in salaries. &c.
This plan is entirely practical and not Utopian
in its character. in these days Of such gigantic
engineering feats as we witness every day. 1t
is in substance as follows: The New York and
Brooklyn Bridge Is a mile or whereabouts in
length, supported on two towers. made to sus-
tain q cable road. promenade and track for troll
ley cars, double roadway for wagons. &c. Any
practical engineer knows that the cost Of a
slmilar bridge with two towers. built to sustain
only an electric road and no other driveways, II
built on land instead of across water. as the
calssons alone cost over a million dollars to place
in position. would be not over $3. 100000. From
the Battery to spuyten Duyyil is 17ia miles. A
series of sixteen bridges like the Brooklyn
Bridge, beginning at City Hall and built on the
east side or west side. would reach to Spuyten
Vest side With the New York and Northern Rail.
road and on tho east with tho New Haven Rail.
road. There would be necessary Just sixteen
such bridges, and this would bring the cost of
rapid transit almost to a minimum,
The Brooklyn Bridge, owing to the height OF
the towers. passes over houses seven or eight
| stories high; therefore II such n rapid transit
scheme as l suggest were adopted, the towers
| could be constructed OF the same height and the
| same distance apart as In the case OF The Brook.
Ign Bridge. No caissons would be necessary.
Since the bridges would pass diagonally over
the houses. 1t would not be necessary even to
| locate the towers on any avenue or street; but
they could be built within the .inclosure found
in every square block In this closely built city,
property owners to this use of back yards 10
only a secondary consideration.
Brooklyn Bridge cost $15, 900. OOO; but the con-
tract was placed twenty years ago. and tho
bridge ives only an eLperineRR IT. There Thn is nc
for just one-half the amount expended; and II q
| bridge. On the same plan, were built to hold only
| an electric road. w tracks. no vibration, no Gals
| sons or approached, the cost or q series OF such
| bridges would not be over pa. O0O.0O each.
The total cost of such a scheme would not ex-
coed $50, 600, 900. whereas the lOwest estimate
for the proper underground road, on such an
island as Manhattan, including damage 70
| trade, taking up the cable roads. &c, would
certainly not be less than $40. 200, O00.'
with stations. say at the city Hall. where Il
would join tho present bridge: Fourteenth
street, Forty-second street, and 125th street, we
should have real rapid transit. a rapid transit
that would be a success. as the Brooklyn Bridge
has been a rapid transit that would DO health
In underground roads. IL the electric apparatus
refused 70 work., and q credit to the enlightened
| people OF the twentieth century. J. +.
NEW YoRK. Jan. %.