New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-15
SUBWAY ROUTE HElDUp
COMBUSTION REPORTS.
Calls William Street LooptDanger>
Ous-ApprOUes Other Lines.

A new complication in the question OF loops "a
connect the Manhattan terminals OF the East Rivsr
bridges yesterday in the report OF cornnis-
sion of three the Appellate Division OF the SUI
preme Court refusing approve subway under
William street.
A week ago Saturday the Board OF Rapid Transit
Commissioners substantially approved the plans
for bridge loop submitted by John p. McDon-
aid. which provided for sutsways connecting the
Manhattan terminals OF the williamsburg and Mans
haitian bridges and for a subway running down
Nassau street, well Tor a comprehensive SUBJ
way system connecting the two bridges IN Brook.
Ign. The only amendments made 20 the Mcdonald
plan by the commissioners in their report to tho
Board OF Estimate and AppOnJlonment was ona
recommending that the downtown spur OF the Man.
haitian loop under William street instead %
Nassau street Controller Merz. who left the meet
ing angry because he could not set the commits
sion to indorse his scheme of elevated loop, fe
is thought may seize the opportunity TO bring
his plan forward again.
The three commissioners who reported yesterday
were appointed by the Appellate Division OF thu
Supreme Court consider four proposed subway
routes. which comprise the so-called Manhattan
and Brooklyn loop lines, and have already mes
with the approval Of the Board of Estimate and
Apporuonnent- They Charles 3. HubbelI
harry w. Alden and Warren Leslie. They ap-
proved of the proposed bridge loop railway. which
is planned to up Centre street, connecting thu
Williamsburg and Brooklyn bridges and to have
spurs running across Manhattan 10 West street to-
the Manhattan terminal OF the Manhattan Bridge
and TO Beekman street; OF the Beekman street
railway. which is 10 connect with the present SUBJ
way az City Hall Square, and with q subway, now
being onsidered by the Brooklyn commission al
n point under the East River. and OF the Maiden
Lane railway which IS to~connect with the pro.
posed 18th street system ar Maiden Lans and WILL
lam street, and with proposed subway runntns
to Jora!emon and Fulton streets. Brooklyn The
William street subway, the fourth OF the proposed
subways under its consideration which was to sx-
tend under William street from the Beeknan sresa
spur of ths bridge loop. at William and Beekman
streets. 10 Old Slip. and thence under the river
70 g. connection with one OF the proposed subways
being considered by the Brooklyn commission, did
not meet with the commissions approval
While disrnissing briefly its approval OF the drs3
three routes. the report deals length Wits
its reasons for not approving the plans for
William street subway. chief among which Is tbs
danger TO property which would be caused by
tensivs excavation In the auicksand and saturated
sol which undsriies the street The Kuhn-Loeh
Building and the building at No. IS William strees
were thought 10 be especially open TO injury by
the engineers consulted. as these buildings all
though new do not rest upon caissons sunk through
the quicksand 10 bedrock or hard pan. but upon
floating or spread-foot foundations resting upon
the unsubstantial upper soil Both these founda-
lions and the piles upon which most OF the cider
buildings in the street would be seriously
weakened. the engineers thought. by digging near
them In the serni-Hquid earth. and this weakentng
addition 10 great damage TO the pDperty Of tbs
street. which is assessed the report says, n $751;
000. 600.
"A minor reason given by the commission for It's
disapprovel OF the William street line is Is
viction that this would add little TO the
yenience OF travel, since IL would connect with 4
subway leading to Joralernon and Fulton streets,
Brooklyn, the being the proposed terminal
for the Beekman street and Maiden Lane Ines
which are planned 10 reach practically the same
territory.
the 18th street system with which IL is proposed
the Maiden Lane railway shall connect. has been
approved by another commission II Is planned
to run under L.th street. thence south along tina
West Side and thencs through Liberty street 70
Maiden Lane
| The chief engineer OF the Board OF Transit Com
rnissioners has estimated -ha1 the four routes
| which considered in the present report would
cost all together. 81. 2Si 75S. Oeductng his est
mate OF $4,000 for the WiIan street. line. this
all the routes approved Of By the commission ss OF
40 As the city had October i 1876, an
estimated margin OF S65.57O.z1 05 applicable TO sub
way construction and other municipal improve
ments the commission asserts that the necessity
for the subways should warrant their con-
struction.
Subways extending down Pearl street and dsvn
Nassau and Broad streets have already been 40
proved by a commission similar 10 the one winch
/ reported yesterday, and this approval mas been
confirmed by the Appellate Division