New-York tribune., 1901-11-22
WOULD ENDANGER sKYsCRAPERS-
WILLIAM BARCLAY PARSONS NOT IN FAVOR
OF FOUR TRACK TUNNEL FROM
CITY HALL, TO BATTERY.

The Ranid Transit Commissioners have no inten-
ton of changing the plans for the secuoh ol liie
underground road from Federal Building 10 lie
Battery so that there will be four tracks lhs'eau
of two. A question asked by John De Witt warner
at a meeting of the special commission OF the fae
River Tunnel. held yesterday afternoon at 'tie
of the Rapid Transit Commissioners. at NJ, NJ
$40 Broadway gave rise to the report uidI 'i4'
section might have four tracks instead OF Two
William Barclay Parsons. chief engineer OF 'le
Rapid Transit Commission, said at his nome IaSt
night to Tribune reporter that he was sure llie ~
commissioners had no thought Oh ha'lhs i'u'
tracks in the extension. He added that the queS-
ton asked him by Mr.. Warner at the meeting was
merely Hypothetical
The commission has not the money to build fouE
tracks in the section said Nj PARSONS. ti In
Il had J. for one, should not be in favor OF havis
four tracks there. when there are so many oIliei m
sections OF the city where two tracks Wouu pe q
great help in expediting travel ,,,r,e. today,
that there may be a halt in the tunnel work Tor
lack OF money If any new expense OF CONSIDER i
amount for some city work or Improvement Is
undertaken. j do not think there will be halt ~ ~
the work think he is only s0unal4g ,0rov moro o.
which have already been begun ana 10
fui issue before beginning ones. The section
of the tunnel from the Federal Building 10 ,ri me
Battery will be about nineteen feet aeep, , ms
will make The roadway OF the tunnel ~ ''f tbi v
scrapers and other buildings IN E5roaoNaSs -
those really small structures and are
Of the Equitable Building extend below the street
surface about twenty-one feet. The IounuaIiUh -
eight 10 thirty feet deep Both foundations rest
sand
The special commission of the East River tunnel
is seeking to get the consent OF the owners %
property along the extension TO the bulIdlns OF
the tunnel The majority OF the property owners
are heartily in favor of the tunnel, and the right
10 build II will. IS said, be readily given
When Parsons took the stand YESTERDAY ne
was at once questioned by Mr.. Warner. Mr. war
ner said he represented a number OF property
owners in Broadway below Fulton-sr., who desired
that the extension have four tracks instead or Two
In answer a question as TO how four tracks tracks
would be laid, Mr. Parsons said that the tracks
would have be laid under the other. necessi-
tating the construction OF q cut or trench "hlcl
would from seventy to eighty feet deep
Mr. Warner then asked if this deep cut would
interfere with the foundations of the skyscrapers
Broadway. ia, - .,
Some of the buildings that not built on rock
foundations would be endangered by an eighty root
excavation saiG Mr.. Parsons, and II would only
be at a great expense that we could render those
foundations safe while making such deep eAcaFa-
tions.
Mr. Warner then asked if Mr. Parsons knew what
buildings would be most seriously affected by an
eighty foot excavation.
Il know OF buildings that are not built on
rock founda tions.'' he answered. They are the
St Paul and Equitable Buildings. If a deep trench
were be near them il would entail an enor-
nous expense TO render the foundations safe while
the work going or. >.