The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-28
Amsterdam Avenue.

"a Lifelong Reader" Interested in the
Amsterdam avenue question introduces
figures and measurements. and very inter
csting they will prove to those who have
not studied them. Here is his letter:
TO THE EDITOR OF THE sux-Sir, In THE SrS in
relation to the Amsterdam Avenue Four Track
Fight You have quoted as a comparison the four
tracks on the Bowery. thereby attempting to mini.
mize the danger that is threatening the people on
the west side. and particularly their innocent chill.
dren. by the proposed four tracks.
Are you aware that the four tracks on the Bowery
run only for nine blocks. whereas those on Amster.
dam avenue run for two and one half miles, Fur.
thermore, have you measured the space that exists
between the tracks on the Bowery. and particularly
the space between the tracks for the first half section
OF the four tracks on that broad avenue7 Have you
measured the space allowed between the tracks on
Amsterdam avenue2
"If four persons we're canght between two running
cars on the Bowery they could stand up in a cross
line without the slightest danger to themselves:
whereas. II ono person ia caught between two run.
ming cars on Amsterdam avenue he or she would be
simply crushed to death. because there is not room
enough for one person to stand up between a north.
bound and Q south-boupd car.
In consideration OF these facts. do YOU consider
your comparison a fair or an honest one?
NEW YORK. March -. A LIFELONG READER"
The comparison between the Amsterdam
tracks and the Bowery tracks was not used
to determine the merits of the question as
we ave presented it, but let us consider the
situation further:
Amsterdam avenue is, from curb TO curb,
60 feet wide. %Supposing the 1--WE ear ines
to be running there as they have been laid
out, on their four tracks, there would be
II feet and ~ inches between the curb to
the outside OF the outermost car, that of
the Third Avenue. Between the Third Ave
nue. car, which we believe will be 8 feet
wide, and the Metropolitan car, to be 7 feet
6 inches wide, there would come 1 foot 9%
inches. Between the Metropolitan cars will
come 1 foot 81 inches. The second half Of
the scheme is the same as the first, the ar
rangement of tracks being entirely SYM
metrical and II feet ~ inches interven-
ing between the other Third Avenue track
and the other curb.
Instead Of a person caught between the
cars on Amsterdam avenue being crushed
to death, he would find between the Third
Avenue car and the Metropolitan car only
three inches less than the space occupied
habitually and unconcernedly by the stall
wart policemen on duty ut the crossings OF
the Broadway railroad, and three inches
more than will be found there when the
larger 7 foot 9 inch cars go upon that line.
On tho Bowery the space between tracks,
or 3 feet . inches, is but 4 inches more
than the space between the rival lines on
Amsterdam avenue, and we can show our
friend how the BOwery plan could be bet
tered in Amsterdam avenue while still leav-
ing the four tracks.
AS We have said, the space between the
curb and car is now II feet ~ inches. In
stead of putting the Third Avenue cars
further away from the curb. II they should
be put nearer, and the distance from car to
curb be reduced to o feet, leaving ample
room for vehicles to pass pedestrians who
are waiting for cars, and more room than Is
found in the case OF many lines, C feet
could be added to the total spacing between
the tracks.
II the tracks should all be relocated so
AS to be equidistant, 2 feet would be added
to the present space now between each
track, or more than the Bowery spaces.
And II the Metropolitan road should be
left as It Is, and only the Third Avenue
altered, 3 feet could be added, leaving
nearly 8 feet in the clear between Third
Avenue and Metropolitan cars, or generous
room for stopping places, or refugees"
with curbs and posts, such as are used In
crowded thoroughfares the world over.
At the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge,
where morning and evening the stream OF
humanity crossing the seven tracks found
there is enough to populate no mean city,
In" situation has been mot by II bridge
over the street, That system, OF course,
could he used at the chief crossings on
Amsterdam avenue; or there could hc tun-
nels or, by changing the rails as indi-
Gated above, assurance against danger
and worry could be obtained through
refugee or the four tracks could be
made into three, two of them used for
the downtown traffic in the morning and