746 Transactions of the American Institute. 



I must therefore, and I most cordially do, accord to him the most 

 perfect honesty in all he says, not only in advocacy of his own ele- 

 vated way, but in objection to my tunnel way. 



"While he confines himself to the advocacy of his own way, I can 

 walk with him in comparative harmony, for I should feel myself 

 unjust if I did not admit that his method is plausible, his arguments 

 are cogent, and his points *re generally well made. 



There is, perhaps I ma}' say, but one fear which I have in regard to 

 his elevated railway. It is a fear which I entei'tain in common with 

 many others, with whom I have conversed, viz.: The danger, or 

 rather the want of entire safety in a way so high. If the general can 

 argue me out of this fear, I shall be " almost persuaded," and per- 

 haps quite persuaded not only to be a christian in point of charity, 

 but an advocate of his elevated way. 



But in what he says of underground ways, we do not so honestly 

 agree, but we honestly diifer. In the pamphlet lie gave us, of which 

 his expose was a pretty faithful reiteration, he says: "The London 

 tunnels, including right of way, stations, and equipments, cost about 

 $5,500,000 per mile. Can one," he asks, '* be put through Manhat- 

 tan island any cheaper ?" " K^ot if it bg done under the supervision 

 of a metropolitan commission. At that rate a tunnel from the Bat- 

 tery to Harlem would cost over $45,000,000." " We have faith," he 

 says, " in the power and skill of engineering. It can be done. It is 

 within the limit of possibilities." But vnll it be done ? 



In another plan he says : " We assert, that no double track railway 

 tunnel can be constructed and operated from Bowling Green to Har- 

 lem in less than ten years." A wide difference this in our honestly 

 entertained opinions ; his, a double track way in ten years, and mine, 

 a quadruple track way in half a year, or at farthest, in two years. 

 But how happy are we in knowing that we are all honest in all these 

 differences. 



And now, to be serious, I am disposed to admit that two or three 

 niiles of track, of the elevated railway, may be consti'ucted in the 

 time and at the cost of every one mile on my plan. And I honestly 

 believe that three or four miles upon my plan can be constructed in 

 the time and at the cost of one mile of the arcade way, advocated by 

 Mr, Gardner. 



I have listened with much satisfaction for several evenings patet to 

 the discussions upon this important subject. They have been in the 

 main harmonious and instructive, though at times seasoned with 



