ropular Science Moiitlili/ 



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present marrcfl by an unsightly gash, is 

 to be restored through the complete 

 roofing of the railroad cut and the park- 

 ing of the reclaiined area. 



The city authorities insisted that the 

 railroad company should turn most of 

 its line into tunni'ls, and in most cases 

 where tunnel construction is impossible 

 on account of the slope of the land, should 

 put the tracks in a covered subway care- 

 fully adjusted to fit in with the topogra- 

 phy of the park. The design is such that 

 it will allow effective parking along the 

 entire right-of-way. As part of the set- 

 tlement the railroad company agrees to 

 pay a sum sufficient to restore the park 

 to the edge of the river. Within the 

 covered section of the area above 

 Cathedral Parkway the railroad will 

 construct a yard to take care of the 

 business needs of the Harlem section. 



Electrifying the Clam- Shell Bucket 



ACLAM-SHKLL bucket opened and 

 closed by an electric motor is an 

 improvement in loading machinery now 

 offered by a New York firm. The motor, 

 an integral part of the bucket, opens 

 and closes the two halves through the 

 aid of hea\y chains. Should the bucket 

 catch on a large stone in closing, a 

 multiple-disk clutch comes into opera- 

 tion, and by slipping prevents the 

 stalling of the motor and injury. Cur- 

 rent is supplied through the use 

 of a heavy electric cable, which 

 is kept out of the way and taut 

 by the use of an automatic wind- 

 ing drum, situated at a con- 

 venient point on the crane, or 

 derrick. The drum has a series 

 of springs inside and operates 

 like a shade-roller, at all times 

 supplying just enough tension 

 to keep the power wires well out ■ 

 of the way. A controller of sim- 

 ple design operated by a lever 

 convenient to the hand of the 

 operator regulates the amount 

 of current supplied the motor. 



The advantage of mounting a 

 motor on the bucket lies in the 

 greater simplicity secured. Only 

 one block and tackle is needed, 

 and that simply for raising and 

 lowering the bucket. Ordinarily, 



In the lower elevated section the tracks 

 will be placed so that there will be ami)lc 

 room between the new line and the 

 steamship piers to build a two-track 

 structure for the use of other railroads 

 later. These tracks may form part of 

 the proposed cit\'-built West Side termi- 

 nal. It will also be possible to provide 

 railroad connections between the ele- 

 vated structure and the second stories 

 of the proposed new steamship piers. 



The improvement represents an ex- 

 penditure to the railroad company of 

 something like fifty million dollars, and 

 the city's loan contribution averages a 

 little more than six million. When the 

 park system is finished Manhattan 

 Island will offer to the visitor within her 

 gates the most highly improved and one 

 of the most beautiful and costly pieces 

 of land in the world. 



additional tackle is necessary to control 

 the opening and closing. Of course the 

 motor dispenses with this arrangement. 

 Another advantage is that the bucket is 

 quickly detached from the hook. 



Note the motor on the clam-shell bucket. It opens 

 and closes the two halves of the bucket with the aid 

 of heavy chains. A multiple-hook prevents slipping 



