New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-01
GREAT FREIGHT TUBE
TO ENCIRCLE THE CITY
". j. Wdgus Would Do A1oay softh
Surface Traffic.

4 plan for carrying on all the freight traffic OF
railroads in this city by means Of subways to
encircle the waterfront, connect with railroad
terminals in New Jersey and eliminate trucking
for the larger factories and business houses was
submitted TO the Public Service Commission
Yesterday by the Amsterdam Corporation OF NO.
165 E2-oadv-ay The President OF this corpora
ton is W. J. wilgus. formerly one OF the VICE
presidents of the New York Central & Hudson
River Railroad Company. who was retained
last NAV by the commission TO formulate
system for the removal of the New horK Ceh-
trails tracks from the West Side
As announced in yesterdays Tribune, Com
missioner Rassett said that since Mr.. Wtlsus
had become interested in the future business de-
velopuent Of the plans he had been preparing
the commission thought it proper for him to re-
sign as adviser. Accordingly. Mr. Wilsus re-
turned the $4,000 retainer he had received from
the commission and given back his elao-
crate plans.
Yesterday the plans OF Mr.. Wilgus were SUD-
rn:tted by his corporation, with the request
that IT, after public discussion, the commission
should favor them the New Amsterdam Corpora
ton he permitted to present proposition by
which # might be made effective through the
granting of franchise. Such a system as out
lined would effect the object for which Mr.
Wjlgus was retained by the commission 1t
provides for an electrically operated four-track
subway in place Of the CentraIs tracks on the
West Side as part Of a complete belt line SUD-
way for express and freight traffic running com
pletely around the waterfront Of the city.
This subway is to connect with the New York
Central freight tracks at Goth street and the
North River. TO run thence south along the
North River to the Battery. thence north along
the East River 20 a connection with the New
York New Haven & Hartford Railroad in The
Rranx: crosstown line below 42d street to con-
meet the east and west lines would form COM
plete circuit and would connect by tunnel under
The North River with q freight classification
yard hack Of the Bergen Hills IN New Jersey
where the freight could be assembled and
handled by the railways terminating on the
Jersey side OF the North River.
The whole belt line IS to be built beneath the
sidewalks Of the business district Of Manhat-
tan and connected by high speed routes with
tbe principal rail and water carriers Of the
port
The plan includes line from the classical
ton yard in New Jersey connecting by a surface
belt line with the Pennsylvania Railroad, the
West Shore Railroad. the Erie Railroad, the
Delaware Lackawanna & Western Railroad, the
Iehigh Valley Railroad the Central Railroad Of
New Jersey and the Baltimore & Ohio Railway
From the river front subway freight belt line
would extend under the SIDEWALKS direct to the
buildings occupied by receivers and shippers Of
freight Incoming freight would be transferred
in the classification yard IN New Jersey into
IO-ton cars electrically operated These lotion
cars Passing through the tunnel under the
river and along the main belt line. would enter
direct by carriage tunnel the building Of the re-
ceiver Of the freight.
The .,lan submitted by the Amsterdam corpo-
ration is accompanied by statistics as TO the
congestion Of commerce, and attention is drawn
TO the following:
In 1885, out OF a total of S2eOooOOoo0 foreign COM
passed through the Port Of New York In 1900 II
per cent OF the total value Of the manufactured
New York According 10 testimony before the
nual tonnage OF New York exceeds 100000 tons
After taking up the expense of breaking bulk
and ightering freight, Mr.. Wilgus declares that
his plan presents the following advantages:
Solves the West Side problem. securing TO the
CRY the benefits Of IN elimination OF track at grade
and tie betterrnent Of the park districts .
Renders feasible rail connections to industries and
avoids Interference with the Of the marginal
ways for passenger railways
Relieves the city streets from vehicuIar traffic,
thus reducing noise cost Of pavement repairs.
sreetcas and cost OF street cleaning and disposal
- Relieves congestion and uncertainties Of tarbor
navigation
Makes practicable the access to Manhattan Island
Of all railroads by rail connection direct shippers
Releases docks and piers from railroad uses thus
permitting their occupation for the expansion of
water carrier traffic and thereby facilitating the
commerce Of the port.
a somewhat similar system Of subways is in
use in Chicago. although on small scale It's
construction the result of the great team
steers strike IN that city. and business men ad-
vocated it because it relieved them 10 great