Year: 1868

AN UNDERGRoUNp RAuRoAD.-A few weeks
ago TIE TRIBUNE published an elaborate article On
the various steam and horse railroads pfancnius ou
from the business centers of the city, ana oA'o"e
into the surrounding districts, and showing ~" -"
York constantly pushing out l's iecioiS IA e'I.i
OF new localities where its people, no" cIo"uine %
unpeasanty on one another may be permitted 10 De"o


eer and he less limited in space. But as the conhgura
top Of Manhattan Island is peculiar and admits OF
expansioD IN but directiOn-toward The North-the
question recurs How may the unoccupied lands in the
ppper sections Of the city be made available, so that
builders may be induced to erect dwellings upon them'
and the abong thousands whose employment lies south
Of Canas which is not than mile and quarter
removed from the southern limit, be enabled TO occupy
them builtl At present, the horse railroads 40 So'
afford the needed facilities This mode OF uahsi. 70 wv
slow, and working and women cannot ahoru 70 o'
two and three hours OF each day. under the most
bic circumstances and an indefinite time III auNeiso
weather out Of their working hours, IN oruer " .n
even healthy place Of abode near the o'Hci eAV'
OF New-York, or the intermediate points Oh Inv
and avenues where they might sleep III qncl' "i" '
from tbcr beds rested and nyigOraed anu III PiopeI
,s IN engage In another day OF toll When horse cars
began running in this city Twenheths was lar uptown
cot This locality is ful half hour distant from the CITY
Hall and the habitatiOns Of the aDoIlng classes arc
already in that locality on both sides OF the CITY, rs
deusely crowded as downtown dwellings. And this den
sy OF population pIocludes the use Of steam to obtain
more rapid conveyance which is prohibited now by
local ordinances What is wanted and the sooner 1t Is
provided for the people the better is an Underground
Railroad-nOt deeptunneled, but sub-suriace The he
cesity for such structure admitted by every citizen
who recognizes the unparalleled growth OF New-forS
within the past 10 or Is years who comprehend the
probable increase Of population to take place In future
An underground railroad would afford rapid and cheap
transit TO the uermost limits Of the island ana speed
and cheapness considerations not TO be ignored III
connection with any improved means for travel III New
York II such are designed be Of practical utility In
addition however to these specified reasons why an un
derground railroad should be at constructed is
easy TO see that such work would afford great increase
OF Accommodations, and the packing, and erowdng ana
crushing the daily experience of each person who
Obliged to ride IN the overground railroads, would he
avoided. which is abundantly proved by the immense
numbers (about 2OOOOOO yearly carried on the London
lines Broadway might not be the best place TO begin
this required Improvement, but Ihcre is room for two
such railroads and railroad under Broadway would
certainly be OF general use for passengers.


One objection advanced against the use Of Broadway Is
that 1t is too narrow and from above Eighth-s runs
rather across the city than through it. plan to use
Ffthave which appears perfectly feasible, to the
unsked in such matters is probably Of the best yet
proposed The Arcade Railway Is simply an under
surface railway which contempates the OF the entire
width Of the streets and avenues under which passes
exclusive Of the five OF allotted to each build
ing Let this plan be applied TO Fitthaye extended as
designed through Iaurens-st and West Broadway to the
Battery and we would have underground street 100
feet WIDE which would give "a feet for sidewalks and 52
feet for three double lines Of ralsone for accomnoda-
tOn trains wheefrOm passengers could be set down at
any place desired and others taken necessary; one
for through trains stopping only at designated points;
and through freight trains and still there would
be "a feet left for track which could be freight
accommodation train. By such means Of transit freight
could be received every block and carried TO grand
distributing depot at st. Johns Park from whence


~ .4fvnV, Tn Ito
freight could be received at this depot placed
board Of the cars and borne without delay, and at
triang cost, either the through or accommodation
trains and in this way relieve the streets OF large pOr
ton OF the trucks and carts that cucumber them
II the surface road constructed along the line Of the
streets mentioned the trade of the city could continue
undisurbed Nor would such work the value Of
property on Fifthave for dwellings stores 1t would
greatly enhance the present price and would immensely
increase the valuation of property on Laurens and ADA
cent streets and Laurenst could be widened while the
Arcade Road being constructed. Some Of the advan
tages be obtained by completion Of the proposed
new railway are that the city would have two broad and
straight streets extending from the Battery to Harlem
River. and the under would be dry and warm in
Winter, and cool in Summer without dust, or mud, or
that may be appreciated in view Of
the condition Of the streets at the close OF last week and


at the beginning OF the present BY it, also passengers
could be landed at the Central Park IS minutes after seat


ing themselves in the at the City Hall Thus, IL
be readily seen how the upper part OF the city would be
built up without delay because Of the demand that would
necessarily stimulated for residences away from the
tumult and turmoil OF the business portion, and
estate in this way alone would appreciate in price fully
tOOOOOOO All parts of the city, likewise for passengers
and freight would be brought into immediate connection
with railroads ramifyng all parts Of the continent,
by q completion OF the Arcade Railway and indeed not
one OF the least advantages that may be reasonably
pected TO result its construction is that opportu
nifty will be afforded TO begin perfect system OF drainage
OF the CITY, by laying waterdrain properly through
the city beneath the rails least enable the autho
tes comparatively trihng expenditure 10 lay add
tonal Waterman, which is already required, not to con
sder great necessities Of future years At all events
let the Legislature give us Underground Railway be
fore they adjourn.