Year: 1879

The difficulty at junction is increased tenfold
when the trains Of different and possibly rival roads
meet there. Such will be the case if the proposed
junction at Beaver and Pearl streets is used by the
Metropolitan and the New York IL trains. What
will add still more the danger is the joint of
the tracks northward to Chatham square by the two
companies. Both roads will be compelled to
trains often enough to accommodate passengers,
and unless some arrangement is made such
that recently proposed in the HERALD. by which the
joint use Of any junction or section of road by the
two companies can be avoided, the most dangerous
kind of confusion will inevitably arise The familiar
street blockade would fall into utter insignf-
beside interruption to the operation of rapid
transit on the two roads if q Metropolitan north
bound train was to break down from any cause when
it crossing from Beaver street to the main "up
track on Pearl. All the tracks "up' and down"
would then be effectually blocked at this point


THE DIFFICULTY AT CHATHAM SQUARE.


This has been fully explained in recent issue Of
the HERALD, wherein it also suggested that a
compromise between the Metropolitan and New York
IL" companies regarding the division OF the traffic
might solve the problem. The accompanying dia-
gram shows-frst, the tracks Of the New York IL"
as they at present laid direct from the Bowery
across Chatham square to and down the New
Bowcry, also the City Hall branch road via Chatham
street second the line of the Metropolitan IL" which
running through Division street is proposed to join
that of the New York H. at Chatham square, and
use the sections between Chatham square and the
junction at Beaver and Pearl and to City Hall in
common with the New Yord L." third the COM
promise plan by which the Metropolitan IL" will
have separate road all the way to its southern
minus at the Battery. and the New York IL" the
exclusive of the City Hal road through Chatham
street. The lines laid down the diagram
are rot arbitrary ones, and practically they must
depend the new arrangement of supporting
columns to carry the weight of four tracks and
possibly of four loaded trains at the same point.
But there is other way out of the dfculty. unless
the routes be changed materially and through
some private property. Tho present station at Chat
ham square must be moved northwnrd in order
to give safe and sufficient platform accommo-
dation to the New York III" up trains. This latter
work is by no means dinicult but the whole scheme
may involve the suspension for short time Of the
operation of the New York IL" road south of Chat
ham square This. however. rests with the en-
gneers. who, by temporary trestework. may be able
to carry the tracks lines while the work of
change is being pushed on in Chatham square.
SUGGESTIONS FOR RAPID TRANSIT ROUTES TO


AVOID DANGER.


NEW YonS, March l. 1879.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD


The rapid transit crossing problem can be
solved very easily, and here it is in nutshell Let
the Metropolitan IL" go ahead with its work on
the east and west sides in the routes originally laid
out by the commissioners, with the exception of
continuing on First avenue up to Thirty-rourth
street instead of Twenty third street. mentioned
in your columns lew days ago, which was. indeed
splendid suggestion.


Now for the New York 'I." Let their tracks on
Third avenue and the Bowery remain as they are.
aud let them continue with their City Hall branch,
which is greatly needed For the main line pro-
pose the following Starting from South ferry the
Same as with pending improvements), the west
line to so through Greenwich street without chang
ing route but the east line, after going through
Front street Coentes slip instead of turning there
toward Pearl street. now, IL should turn toward
tho river and continue mp South street, as
far Oliver street. and then through Oliver street
TO Chatham square and 80 on up the Bowcry. These
routes will give but crossing of the two roads,
and that at Chatham square, where there is plenty
for laying the necessary tracks and switches.
and the approach hing trains not hid from each |
other by buildings they certainly Will be at the
junction OF Pearl aud Beaver streets.
The Metropolitan IL must. OF course, abandon |
its proposed Chambers street branch. such branch
being OF no practical use whatever and its construc
ton only u useless waste OF money. The tracks OF
the companies at Chatham square can I've 50 ar |
ranged that they need not interfere with one an- |
other las already suggested 10y youl. and the |
change OF route of the New York IL" from |
Pearl 70 South street avoids tho using OF |
the track by the two companies at any one |
point and will not cause a difference OF three |
minutes time. The Metropolitan will have Pearl |
street then all to itself and there will be no lives |
lost In changing route from one already existing
the companies must pledge themselves to remove |
any structure already erected but not In actual


EAST SIDE.