New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-30
THE -AvE.TUNNEL
PLANS FOR RAPID TRANSIT FROM NEW
YORK TO LONG ISLAND.

STREET TO BE RECLAIMED
Not only will the construction OF the Atlantic
ave tunnel which has been made possible by
the passage OF the bill providing for II In the
closing hours Of the Legislature. permit business
men In Manhattan to reach Nostrand-ave In
Brooklyn in twelve minutes and Jamaica In
TWENTY-FIVE minutes but II will also result In the
carving out OF number OF other improvements
which the Long Island Railroad has In contem-
plation.
The whole of the trunk line from the terminal
in Cortlandt-st., Manhattan, will be equipped
with electricity large and commodious sta
ton will be built In Cortlandt-st., which II is
expected will at some time In the future occupy
q whole block of ground. The underground sta
tions will be fitted up with all the conveniences
essential to the comfort and the rapid transport
tation of the patrons OF the road. the tunnei
under the East River will consist OF two large
tubular conduits lighted by electricity and thor-
oughly ventilated.
The subway in Atlantic-ave., Brooklyn ana
those portions under Manhattan and brooKiyh'
will consist Of doube-track tunnel. Elevators
will carry the passengers to the street ie'ei'
The tracks will be depressed all along Atiah'ic
ave. where they now run on the surface MS
depression will be followed by the removal Oh
the fences and all distractions on the surface
and the asphalting Of the entire street. from curo
TO curb.
The tracks will come to the surface at NOS
trand-ave., Brooklyn. and from there TO East
New-York part of the line VIII be depressed
and part elevated.
MONEY FOR THE WORK
A large portion Of the bond issue OF S4o'oVV'ooo
remaining after retiring the present issues Vi
the Long Island Railroad and its tributary hhes'
and the floating Indebtedness OF the roau.
onoountinq in ALL to about 500. 100000. will be
ennlied TO the Improvement and expansion OF the
Long Island Railroad in accordance with the
nlans for the tunnel and the increase In equip
ment which It will render necessary
II Is believed that the opening up OF the
through route from Long Island TO Manhattan
will in few years result In an enormous 'raiii'
along this line To meet this plans nave oeeh
made for a large increase in the yard tacii'ie'
at Jamaica. Large tracts Of land nave oeeh
purchased north and south or the preSTn. 20
ciltv for the rapid handling OF trainc through
Jamaica will be made and IL Is estli'ia.eu 10 10
the improvements there, including iarge anu
handsome station, will cost at least *oOooov,
probably S3O0OOOO will be needed TO provide
the equipment necessary for the trarnc Trains
are to be run through the tunnel from Mammal
a frequently as on the tleNdteo iooNS a.
the bridge Places like Babylon and Hunting
TON will be reached under the proposed schedule
in not more than one hour from Mannattan.
II is expected that trolley lines VIII De puiit
at various points as feeders. These VIII also 40
away as far as possible with the stops at small
stations, and will make possipie genuine ca
press service =, - mutual
benefit TO the Long Island Railroad and to men
of small means who have families to care lot. IL
TO arrange cheap summer accommodations d.
the various summer resorts along the lines Oh
the railroad The class OF people VINO, IL Is
hoDed will appreciate the proposed scheIne can
not afford to expend several hundred dollars lor
a cottage at the seashore but would be aple 10
nav reasonable rent for summer nome. II
is proposed that the Long Island Railroad es-
tablish summer colonies beautiful tracts or
land upon which they VIII erect smail por'aoiie
cottages These houses could be rented lot 9fo
or $50 for the season, and clerks ana others
could take their families there for the summer
and go to and come from business every day.
1T WILL RECLAIM ATLANTIC-AVE.
People living in Brooklyn near Atlantc-ave.
will rejoice to learn that at last there seems to
be a possibility that the railroad tracks VIII
soon be removed 1t has always been matter
OF surprise to visitors from other cities that At
lantic-ave., which has the width to make it one
of the finest streets in the borough. should really
have so little Importance. and should be prac-
tically ruined by the railroad. Above flatDush-
ave. Atlantc-ave. is practically useless as
business street. on account or the tracks ana
the fences inclosing them, the usefulness or the
avenue as a thoroughfare is also impaired. ana
the streets which cross Atlantic-ave are oo-
structed and the borough Is practically diVlded
into two parts by the tracks. This has prevent
ed the uniform development or the borough.
Streets which are devoted to high-class resi-
dences a few blocks away. when they approach
Atlantic-ave. run down into the second-class
large amount OF property Will be redeemed
oil "
from Atantic-ave. and II is made finely as
phalted thoroughfare. 1t is the intention of the
Long Island Railroad TO run surface trolley
line where the main tracks now are. These cars
will connect with the tunnel trains at Nostrand
and Flatbush ayes.
William H. Baldwin. jr president o. the Long
Island Railroad when seen by a Tribune re-
porter last night said that his company would
go ahead at once on the improvement of At
lantic- ave- and would begin the construction OF
the tunnel as soon as the necessary consents can
be obtained from the property-owners under
whose property on the Heights the tunnel will
pass II no trouble is experienced In obtaining
these consents Mr.. Baldwin says that his com
pany will have trains running through to Man
haitian In two years and a half.
In describing concisely Just what the bill!
passed by the Legislature provided for Mr..
Baldwin said:
1T gives us permission TO construct the
tunnel under the East River and TO Cortlandt-
st In Manhattan. According TO the terms of the
act we are to have the franchise for seventy
five years The other part OF the work, the At
lantic-ave. improvement. was provided for in
the bill passed in 1897 This bill. under which
we will now proceed provides that the Long ISL
and Railroad shall pay half OF the cost OF inn
proving Atlantic-ave.. and that the city shall
pay the other half. The terms Of this agree
ment are similar TO those under which the tracks
OF the New-York Central were brought into the
city
Just as soon as Mayor Van Wyck signs this
last bill will go right ahead on the construc-
ton / do not know the Mayors ideas the
bill but l presume that he will sign II as so
many Of the people OF the city want to see the
tunnel built.
The only thing that will delay us at all is
the mater Of securing the consents OF the prop
erty-owners under Columbia Heights. After
the tunnel reaches Fulton-st by way Of Pine
apple-st.. it will turn toward the Borough Hall.