New-York tribune., 1908-01-14
FGR LARGER SUBWAYS
p. S. {. Uants Them To Be -4bte
to accommodate Railroad Cars.

1ook,nr 10 the future and believing It would
be unwise 10 construct any more suowass the q, r,
nlensons OF which would debar any existing ran
road from competing for their operation. the PUP
liz Service Commission has decided some I'M
ror,ant changes in the Centre street subway loop
This loop which planned by the oio f'apiu
Transit Commission and is now under construc-
tion All; connect the Brooklyn Manhattan ana
Williamsburg bridges.
As the Board OF Estimate has already approprl-
eted money for this loop. the commission has suh
rnit.sd the proposed changes for Its consideration
The cost will be less than under the old plans II
pipe galleries are not included, and more IL th'S
feature is added.
7yhe ,-gncinal changes are an increase in the
head room from Is feet inches 10 "A feet inches
an abolition OF some Of the grades and decreaSc
in others The increase in head room WEI permit
the operation Of such as are used III the SUD
urban service OF the Long Island Railroad ms
increased head room has recently been added 10
the plans OF the Fourth avenue subway in BROOK
lyn-
After saying that the changes will promote TIE
more rapid safe and economical operation OF trans
Chairman Wilcox of the commission shows tha'
the Fourth avenue subway trains are to oe run
across the Manhattan Bridge, and that II large
cars are used there il would be necessary TO stop
them at the subway loop unless the latter was in
creased in size also There is just suggestion IN
II all that possibly the Long Island Railroad may
be bidder for the Fourth avenue line.
The original plans called for double decked sub
way and grades frequently as steep as per cen'
end in SOME cases as steep as So per cent.
In the opinion of the Public Service Commission
sai6 Chairman Wilcox in his letter TO the board
of Estimate these grades would greatly increase
the cost Of operation. limit the number of trains
and increase the possibility of accident Henry r.
Seaman our chief engineer after careful study Of
the rrobiem has found that 81 is possible TO modify
The plans so as 20 increase the height Of the tun-
mel modify the grades. to decrease their number
ane TO do away with the double deck stations and
tracks
To r,ake these change. it will be necessary 70
alter two Of the stations. and It is proposed to
unite the Leonard Franklin and the Howard-Cirahd
stations intc at Canal street In sendlns MS
letter Chairman Wilcox says
double track railroads instead Of one four-track
road hut with crossoverS he used in case OF
accident or when needed fo- the shuntlns OF uans rs
Eventually this might lead TO the confleIloi -!
Williamsburg Bridge with the Brooklyn Brluee.
which would naturally serve the purposes OF tle
elevated ROADS IN Brooklyn, which connect Wltl
The other tracks would be operated IN con
down William Nassau street crossing the East
River by tunnel and connecting with some lutui
serve the Fourth subway and coulQ oe
operated conjunction with or entrely 1noe-
pendent o the loop previously described g,
This modification simplLheS a very Conlpl!c;iteu
plan: eliminates two double deck statlons nlakils
all tracks on level; would Work IN con n
with propoSed future line across Canai street 10
thu North River. and thereby connect with ali
norrhbourd and southbound routes which would
intercept II with the Fourth avenue SUBWAY ana
Manhattan Bridge and would increase very ma,
rerially the safety of operation II Is estlinate9
that The operating caracity would be Increased
fully . per cent i'm addition TO proposed tunnel
connections and also that the time OF consirucoii
would be materially decreased.