Year: 1874




Mr. Thurlow Weed was visited last evening az
his house in West twelfth street oy u HERALD
representative. In order that his views might be
obtained on the much vcxed question OF rapid
transit, and further that some indications might
be gathered In regard TO the policy likely to be
pursued oy tho Third Avenue Railroad Company.
OF which be is one OF the directors. Mr.. Weed in
answer 10 numerous questions put 10 him, said -
There appears to DE notion abroad among the
people o! New York that the Third Avenue Rail-
road Company have obtained charter rom the
Legislature authorizing them to construct a rapid
transit road. This Is altogether mistake, for We
have no such charter. We applied for one last
year, but did not succeed IN getting 1t passed. It
was passed by the Assembly, but failed to go
through tn, Senate. We applied for this charter
in perfect good faith and, had we Obtained IL.
should nave without doubt constructed a road. OF
course as to whether 1t would pay as TO construct
and run such road is a matter OF great uncer-
tanty for


RAPID TRANSIT IS 4 PROBLEM


which has yet to be solved. The application on
our part was made, in the first place. to protect
our own interests and property, which is OF great
value: and, second. 20 meet the views oi the
public. Had We succeeded IN getting our bill
through both houses and it had tecome law the
road would undoubtedly have been built. Tor it
was only after the most earnest and mature
Deliberations on the part o! the directors and
others interested that any steps were taken in
the matter. what would have been the plan or
construction am not prepared 10 say, ior that
was matter which was not fully determined
on nor has II been discussed with Us since.


PROBABLE ACTION THIS YEAR


we nave ,ately had an entire change 10 the ad.
president has been elected, and, in iact a new or.
der OF things has been established. ThiS change
cannot IN my opinion but lnure 10 the general
Icing the case, there has been but little opporiu-
nlty ior the Board to thoroughly discuss what
upon any such important matter as the cou rse
to be pursued in reference to the position when
can say that am very mucn in favor OF another
Application beng made to the Legislature Ior a
charter There Is TO oe a special meeting OF the
strongly advocate some action. But what would
be the best plan on which to construct road Is q
matter which would require great elaboration,
and at the presen moment am not prepared to
give any dehntte expression OF opinion. AZ far
asi nave considered toe question | am rn,her
inclined 10 believe tnat an elevated or


A SUSPENDED ROAD


built something Ike suspension bridge would be
of my own, ana would have to be delibe rated on
and considered In a multiplicity OF bearings such
teres's involved. That the city is in great need
OF some ROAD bv which quick travel can be made
there cannot be the slightest doubt, but there Is
grave doubt as to whether such an enterprise
would pay. There have been, know, nany
charters granted Tor rapid transit roads. but SO


F sy sass 0ssa SseSs Sts'sai aa, nis %os
OF these schemes are impracticable,
owing to the heavy cost Of the construe.on rms
these proposed roads from obtaining the neces.
sary capital with watch they could alone proceed
into he matter, readily discovered that the ex-
pense to be incurred would preclude any idea Of
e the case in sesard to the Gilbert Elevated ra"d
and the Beacn Underground road. II Is true the
putting down few loundatlon stones 6ut this
was merely TO comply with the terms oil the cnar-
ter and TO prevent II from apsing. Tne proposed
Beach Underground Railway look upon as
AN IMPRACTICABLE PROJECT,


for the reason that they could never build It,
owing to the diiticulies TO be encountered tun.
nclllng through tue middle and upper portions Of
the city, which Is composed OF q strata OF hard
nlnt rocks, every loot Of which would nave to be
drIed and blasted out. OF course their plan Is
all very good so lar as the lower section OF New
York is concerned where nothing but the soft
sand has 10 be encountered; but unIor unat tely
Tor them this foundation Is only to be met with up
to within snort distance above Canal street. AZ
q PROOF that there Is bat little to look for
ward to the building OF these roads already char
tered. merely repeat what have previously said,
that they have not succeeded In getting togeth
the required capital, notwltnslanolng that they
have all made strenuous Efforts to secure II among
American capitalists as well as among similar par.
ties III Europe. There is the


NEW YORK ELEVATED ROAD,


which Is now running up as lar as Thlrtv-fourth
street; TINS Is the 9ny road which has thus lar
OF tneir charter, by putting into operation por-
ton OF the proposed line. they have the right to
double track, but question whether II would ever
pay. Tor the reason thar strongly fancy people
line when looks so fraIl as TO convey strong i'm
pressl0n OF insecurity and danger. IL may, now
ever oe most secure but should not care to ride
on 1t myself, and there are doubtless thousands
and thousands OF people In the city who have the
same opinion Of 1t that have.


THE VANDERBILT ROAD,


when the cutting Is finished along Fourth avenue,
Will furnish good rapid transit TO and from Forty
second street, but this scarcely meets all the re-
quirements Of the case, Or what Is wanted Is a
means Of getting, say from the city Hall to the
Harlem River IN reasonably short space OF time,
and II one mad to ride III a horse car as Iar as
Forty-second street. then wait lor a train there,
but little would be gained.


For the present do not see what Is to be done (;
but there Is time before the meeting Ot the Legis-
lature Tor discussion oi the suuJect and Tor some
deliberate plan TO oe adopted ana pressed through
~ completion. For my part shall earnestly at
vocate some actlon being taken by our road.
Furtaer, must say AIN greatly III iavor for tae
present OF some sucn pan oeiug put IN force as
HERALD to-dag-viZ., OF a third track ior express
cars on our road and the Second avenue.
the meeting on Monday. ana hope some action
VIII be taken IN rega 10 H. Sucn a line by wnicn
ing and up town IN the evening when the crush is
greatest would undoubtedly pe great boon,
especially as these ears would only be allowed TO
stop AZ stated intervals like steam cars. There
are, OF course, many details 10 be considered and
discussed before such an improvement could be
put INTO tangible shape. think, however giving
q nasty opinion as DO now. that our directors
will approve OF the idea ana Will endeavor TO put
1t into practical shape. such track would be oi
immense service 10 the company as well as 10 the
public. for the tranc along our line OF road
is now great that we scarcely
accommodate IT, Let me say, TOO, that should we
succeed IN obtaining u charter tor rapid transit
road we should SIM Commune our present line, so
as TO meet the demands OF the local iraflc.


In concluding the conversation, Mr.. Weed said
he did not consider that the general traflc on
Third avenue need be interrupted very greatly py
the building Of RAPID transit road, which need
only. he thought. occupy the centre or the street
but stlll an, avenue through which any rapid
transit road might run would nave TO be more or
less devoted TO IT, preventing as IL were. anything
but the sraic OF freight. wagons and loot passen-
gers.