New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-22
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
PLAN TO OBVIATE DIRT.
Apparatus Which Would Make Wooden
Tunnel Unnecessary Suggested.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: I have followed with interest The Tribune S
discussion of the complications which will attend
the construction of tho subway in lower Broad
way, but / have not yet seen a suggestion Of
fered for a problem which will become vital
one soon excavaHng is begun in front OF St
Pauls Church. refer TO the disposal OF the earth
and debris with the least possible inconvenience to
the public and at the time without retard-
ing the work Of the contractors, which it is GER
tainly interest of all concerned to help to
speedy conclusion
The Rapid Transit Commissioners and the con-
tractors seem to have concluded that 1t is i'm
practicable to tunnel lower Broadway without dis
turbing the surface. and they have therefore
adopted / understand it, the "cut and cover
method. cutting by night when surface and
covering by day. 1t Is not my purpose to question
the wisdom Of this decision. Assuming that It is
final the point to be reached Is to do this work
with the least possible Inconvenience to the pub
lie. There many objections to the proposed
gallery. wooden tunnel. which has been de-
scribed and shown in outline in of the city
newspapers. to the roof Of which structure it is
proposed to hoist the dirt and debris from the
excavation by day. storing it there until night,
when it is to be removed
Without considering all the Objectionable features
OF this mode of disposal. 1t is obvious that the
occupants Of stores on the ground and offices in the
second story of adjacent buildings Will have good
reason to complain of the obstruction of light and
air from which they will suffer while this huge
structure remains in place (Which will doubtless
be for many months) to say nothing Of the clouds
of dust and dirt to which they will be treated
whenever the fall zephyrs sweep the structure;
pedestrians crossing the street at this point,
sengers entering and leaving and drivers of
vehicles of all kinds will not enjoy the dirt which
will sift through the roof on dry days, the
muddy water with which they will be sprinkled
when 1t rains but these things might be endured
with New-Yorkers' Characteristic equanimity If
there was no better plan 70 propose.
Nhorn SC -11rh urIur 49, eVr,gr h1o
been devised by thoroughly competent engineer,
and which. il added to the equipment Of the sub
way contractor will render the wooden tunnel
entirely unnecessary is installed, all that will be
required Is shaft to the opening in the street
Ghe opening can be on the side street and not in
Broadway at alp by feet little less in size,
communicating with the excavation below.
In the shaft will be placed the supports for the
apparatus, and all that appears above the surface
of the street will be the framework inside the
opening and the compact machine at it's top with
an electric motor to drive 1t, all under the control
of one man on the upper landing above the street.
The framework at the street level be boarded
in, thus absolutely preventing any from falling
into the excavation either by night day
Small be run on a track laid on the
bottom Of the excavation and leading to the foot
OF the shaft. Here the two hosting cables are at
tached TO the body OF the car and either the car
body or the entire is hoisted quickly to the
automatic dumping head the top Of the sup
porting umbers where it is finally held in place
while it Is completely inverted and the contents
discharged into ordinary dirt cart, which drives
up the street and under the end Of the chute for
The cart at once drives off. the machine turns
the car back to its normal position and swiftly
lowers II again to the track which 1t is off,
dumped in turn. ali the Street trao going at on
0r 9Sd on9nterrupfediy the carts driving up
waiting There will be splitting of half the
danger Of breaking or ling bon T sn Ste 6 no
the annoyances incident to the wooden tunnel
Loo, Locally considered. the loading shaft could be
RaceG az Broadway ana Fulton-sL the carts being
up and turning. without crossing Broadway, If that
would consist only Of the opening in the Sidewalk
dlscharging chute would be high enough at the
lowest point to permit wagons 70 pass under il
lhSstahi iy leaving a clean street behind them
m can also be made f4r 4 4b this APP
that need not be considered here, as do not wish
OFFER this as my contribution TO the much dis
Gussed question which IS now agitating the pun
lie in general and Broadway property owners and
merchants In particular.
No IS Pine-st. Manhattan. Aug. IL. 1913.
Mr.. Rue assistant to William Barclay Parsons.
chief engineer Of the Rapid Transit Subway Road.
was shown this communication by a Tribune re-
porter yesterday. Mr.. Rue said he thought
that the system adopted by the contractors was
better than any other proposed He said that it
was not impossible to prevent the temporary roof
from leaking IN rainy weather. W nile some dust
might fly around, 1t impossible, said Mr. Rue,
by any system to have digging without dust. lie
pointed out that the chief point to be considered
was the blocking of the city's streets by carts.
On account of Fulton-sts particularly congested
condition It not practicable to have carts in
that street in the daytime BY the temporary roof
method this would be avoided. The plan to be |
adopted i'll Broadway. so far as excavating was F.
would be on the same lines as that /
which had been followed in Park Row opposite |
the Postofice