The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-21

worth at least ss much to New York city to
is true, what would ii be worth to New
York city to have all Of the twelve railroads
run their trains into union station in the
heart OF the business district, to be In UNI
interrupted land communication with every
part Of the country by variety Of routesf
Until within a very few years such q
suggestion would have been perfectly
futile; either a surface or elevated road Of
the required magnitude would have con-
demned itself. But recent improvements
in electric traction have brought the tunnel
to the front ~ a means OF urban transpor-
tation. No feasible method Of freeing
tunnel from the gases Of combustion and
the smoke or condensed steam from loco
motive has ever been found, and this limited
the Use Of tunnels to cases Of extreme physi-
cal Necessity. With electric traction. how
ever, no question OF ventilation exists.
Even during construction it il possible to
carry on the work with scarcely an indica-
ton on the surface OF what is being done
thirty or forty feet below; and once COM
pleted. with our present knowledge and
resources; properly designed tunnel would
IL is conceived that tract Of land below
Canal street and east Of Elm street is suit
able Tor such union station a. il proposed.
II ia near the City Hall and will, therefore.
add no burden to the existing lines Of trans
ing and the dow ntown traffic in the evening
will he distinctly benefited. 1t lies close
TO the subway and the elevated roads OF
the East Side, and the aforementioned
connecting link of the Sixth avenue line
through Canal street would bring it within
direct communication with the whole ele-
waited system
Not to dwell too much upon details (Which
will he forthcoming at the proper time),
the tracks in the station would he below
the surface. Waiting rooms, ticket offices
and baggage rooms would he above the
ate platforms for incoming and outgoing
assengers, whose movement would be
accelerated by ascending and descending
escalators. At the present time this par
ticular neighborhood contains no buildings
OF much magnitude and, the station once
completed, that part not required for sta
ton purposes can he sold for commercial
uses. The experience Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad In their purchases uptown proves
that land in the neighborhood Of such an
Improvement advances in value upon a
mere rumor, and IL is probable that In the
case under consideration the increase
would 90 far toward paying the original
cost Of the site.
From the north side Of this station the
tracks would proceed on a gradually de-
scending grade to one Of the cross streets
south Of Houston street, where they would
separate. east and west, to the rivers on
each side Of Manhattan. The eastern
branch. passing under the East River.
would emerge near Broadway. Brooklyn,
and connect with the BushWick avenue
station Of the Long Island Railroad. whence
a new piece Of road to Winfield. less than
two miles long. would connect it with the
whole system OF Long Island. Westward,
the tunnel would pass under the new sub
way at Elm street, thence under the Hud-
son River, to meet and receive the railways
nm hat si1 Of hA hinh nj
east Of the Hackensack River.
There should also he considered branch
exending northward and connecting with
the tracks in the Grand Central Station
and a southwark branch connecting with
the Staten Island extension Of the subway
at the Battery But these conditions,
however desirable, are not absolutely neces-
sary features of the plan. and. in any event,
are not OF immediate importance.
1t is conceived that no particularly novel
or difficult engineering questions threaten
the successful construction OF this piece Of
work, and the only serious problem which
presents itself is that of cooperation be-
tween the interested parties-the citizens
Of New York and the railways. II consum-
mated, it will completely solve the greater
and IL it fails the natural development
of the city will be prevented and the present
unhappy conditions prolonged indefinitely
Very briefly, the immediate advantages
are AZ follows:
a) An uninterrupted journey from every
direction to the heart OF the business
district
(b) A complete abatement Of the vile
conditions at the ferry approaches and
their ultimate RELOCATION to freight pur-
poses-for which. only, they are appro-
pirate.
(c) An uptown travel in the morning
and a downtown travel in the evening to
balance the present congestion in the
opposite directions
Id To encourage the settlement Of the
country in all directions and relieve the
movement which now trends too heavily
toward the north.
(e) The creation OF a new commercial
centre. at present almost wholly occupied
by the poorest class of tenements.
81 The provision OF means Of inter-
change which shall do for the passenger
traffic what the Clearing House accom-
plishes for the banks and financial institu-
tons Of New York city