Year: 1875

OF AN ELEVATED RIVER MARGIN RoAD-IN-


TERvIEw WITH coAiNIssIoNER-AN ABUN-


DANCE OF CAPITAL oFFERED-sUGGEsTIoN


AS TO ROUTES.


The questions TO route and plan for a rapid transit
road now to lie between representatives of the
Gilbert Greenwich street and Cornell corporations.
Nearly the whole of yesterday, it is understood was
occupied in discussions to the relative merits Of
routes and plans submitted by these persons Messrs
Schuyler and Newton also explained their respective
propositions. The former a depressed and partially
underground plan, and has already been described
the HERALD 1t is asserted that the plan will be deter
mined and announced by the Commissioners within
three days after tho selection of route, both Of
these important considerations closely allied. 1t is
useless TO speculate present upon what plan will be
adopted. Tho majority of plans submitted de-
! scribed as visionary and impraccable. 1t then be-
! comes the duty of the Commissioners TO originate
proper scheme from the mass Of designs sent before
them. They have able engineers, Messrs. schreve and
Newton to assist in their deliberations and the public
will expect a simple and economical plan, which will
pay capitalists and encourage them build the road
rapidly possible.


An argument has been sent in to the Commissioners
by Mr.. Robert H. Arkcnburgh n large real estate
the side, in favor of elevated river margin
plan The gentleman is member of the West Side





thought He talks to the commission as follows:-


1t is matter of mathematical calculation that belt
line of elevated railway along the river street will bring


lar greater number people nearer their respective
places of business from their houses than will any
tal line The margin of this city is entirely given up
to business. Everything that consumed or used or
sold in this city must to and go from wharves
We looking forward To rebuilt piers and bulkheads,
TO wide river street and ireproof warehouses Along
the Harlem River and all along the shores OF tins island
ships viii load unload The past reveals the future
growth and the coming grandeur of this commercial
city Rapid intercourse between distant points and tho
distribution and movement OF merchandise ana the car
ryng of n vast number of people Is necessity. rms
necessity has been recognized and your commission has
been appointed to solve the problem as TO now Is 10
be done The people have waited so long for
rapid transit that the route and plan now adopted
should be perfect and ample for all time to
come We want now short-sighted economy the
best must be selected and the structure be built
durable and strong Ii must be q freight road well
passenger road and with tracks enough to accom-
modatc all the traffic which may come to IT, Nowhere
else than river street such route be found or
should such structure be built.


This margin road would be grand public improve
mcnt IN utility and in appearance Instead of marring
the city would beautiIy 1t in the day time and in the
night time. IL would increase the value of property
along its entire line and rapidly extend the business
limits The noise would be OF no importance where all
is noise and bustlc and other evils that would be
disastrous elsewhere need be considered 1t would
accommodate people living opposite Manhattan Island
people in Brooklyn, Long Island, Jersey, lower West
chester, &c. proper system of connecting cross
town lines of horse cars and omnibuses would prove
wonderfully convenient IN more ways than in merely
reaching the different stations of the elevated railroad


II an avenue central street is selected route
for an elevated road what will be the resutY Why
the will be unbearablc; the light and ventilation
OF the will be the value of property
greatly decreased A large majority of property own
to bo in favor OF rapid transit but every
wants the line located ut some distance from his nd
vdual property. Fifth avenue is exempt-whyy Be-
cause that street is deemed too beautiful to cucumber
with elevated road Fourth avenue, above Forty
second street. Is exempt-because the Vanderbilt in
tercss did not want IL there Broadway Is exempt
because the property holders along that WELD
powerful an influence to permit such road Is there
any along which the of one half The
property holders could be obtained the requires?
No The assent of the local authorities must also be
obtained Can this surely be counted on? The late
proceedings Of the Common Council render this
trt mey uncertain. do not think any company would
invest the road without the approval of Common
Council Court commissioners are an available way for
the liking OF the route Then what? The might be
established in some streets and avenues where the
adjoining property is worth hundreds OF millions of
dollars IT property injured by the location of the
road the owners injured ought TO be compensated.
The opposition OF property owners along centrally
selected route is inevitable. The moment the route Is
proclaimed proceedings will be begun courts pre-
vent the road being built Injunctons will be granted,
combinations will be made by horse interests &C,
ana money raised to defeat the road and deprive the
city OF rapid transit.


margin road will be free from all these obsaces
II will interfere with vested rights, and instead Of
destroying values will appreciate them II capital
be attracted to the budlng OF road the company
not be embarrassed with legal distractions. The profit
able character of rapid transit road cannot be
questioned The statistics of city travel show
that there will be enough business to pay
large dividends. 1t is matter of simple
calculation and reasonable hope and confidence
IN the future to prove its financial success to every nan
of ordinary intelligence No other equal length rail-
road can be selected in this country where the trans
pOraon of passengers and freight will equal the busi
of this margin railroad The supcrstructurc would
be very expensive to build but there is right of way
to he paid for, and comparatively little grading and
filling TO be done There is heavy burden of
bogus debt in the way of paid up stock TO lcgisa
tors and lobbyists for the charter IL may take
time TO properly build and equip the road Such road
should he built in sections, miles the first year.
and IN use, and lve miles each year thereafter until
completion. 1t has required six years TO build
our Post Once, and that building has been pushed
rapidly possible. Other might be cited show
that all stable improvements require proper time
which to do them This railroad Is a permanent work
next only in importance TO the Introduction Of water
system OF sewerage or a supply Of gas.


To your wise decision the subject Of rapid transit
the people OF New York look with eager expectancy.
! You originating onward movement that will give
the metropolis life and increased prosperity You
initiating revolution IN city travel well built
and amply appointed steam railroad is to replace the old
and slow methods of horse transportation In tire work
of building thousands Of idle mechanics and la
borcrs To participate-a boon to the industrious
classes You to select that route that promises the
greatest amount of traffic. and, all things considered,
the largest convenience to the citizens. The plan
selected should be the safest and most practicable offered
for the purpose A splendid opportunity has been
placed your hands Of advancing the interests of the
city by conierring the people cheap and effective
system Of rapid transit


| have no hesitation in pronouncing in favor of
elevated margin railroad and will aid IN its consruc-
tion.


PROPOSED SCHUYLER ROUTE


! Mr. John Schuyler, engineer Of tho depressed plan,
already described yesterday submitted tho proposed
route. Commissioner Brown is understood to favor
this plan. The route specified is as follows:-Com-
moncng at point the north side of Chambers street.
west of Centre street and Of Broadway and running
thence through the blocks and the Streets
of Elm street and Of Benson Court
land alley to and under Canal street, thence through
the blocks and under the streets between Elm and
Crosby Streets to and under Prince street. and under
portion Of Marion and through the block to and under
| Marion street, thence between Crosby and Mulberry
J streets, through the blocks and under the cross
streets to and under Beecker street; thence
through the blocks and under Bond and Great
Jones streets to Lafayette place; thence under Lafay
ee Asor place and Eighth street; thence through
block to and under Fourth to Ninth street
thence under Fourth avenue by tunnel to and under