908 Teansactioxs of tite American Institute. 



Manhattan island, with Central Park occupying a large space midway 

 of the North and East rivers, renders it practicable that most of the 

 up and down town travel could conveniently be made along the 

 margin of the city. Tlie first obvious suggestion presenting itself in 

 reference to any new plan, is that the details shall be such as to 

 appear practical in operation, not too expensive in construction, and 

 offering a sure inducement for the investment of capital. The diffi- 

 culty is acknowledged, the public seek a remedy. 



The accompanying illustrations present several views of a system 

 for constructing an elevated railway and pneumatic despatch com- 

 bined, as proposed by me, for operation along the margin of the city, 

 in a continuous circuit from Harlem to the Battery, and thence to 

 Manhattan ville, with one or more crosstown lines, passing near all 

 the railway depots, steamer landings, markets and ferries along the 

 route. I have here shown an elevation of the road in front of ware- 

 houses or stores and over a cross-street, a car upon the track, and an 

 entrance to one of the stations, which are provided in the second 

 story of adjacent buildings, at convenient and frequent intervals 

 along the line. I hfive also drawn the plan of bracing and strength" 

 ening the superstructure, the roof of a car, and the balcony floor in 

 front of the station ; the introduction of the pneumatic tube, made 

 of light wrought-iron about twenty inches in diameter, and placed 

 within the rails, girt, at every six or eight feet with an iron rib or 

 saddle, having strong arras connecting to and supporting the rails at 

 the same intervals, renders their alignment almost perfect. This 

 tube is made with flanges at the top and bottom, and further pro- 

 vided with light longitudinal ribs of T or L iron, giving great sup- 

 porting strength, and with diagonal bracing, rendering the whole 

 structure a stiff" net-work, from which it will be impossible for cars 

 to be thrown by accident. 



In another figure is shown a cross section of the road and car at a 

 station, and a temporary frame for supporting telegraph wires, if any 

 are encountered on the route. 



Advantages of the Plan. 

 The following advantages are claimed for the plan : 

 1. The corrugated' wrought-iron columns combine great strength 

 with simplicity and symmetry in construction, and will occupy no 

 more space than is now taken by a\vning-posts, lamp-posts and tele- 

 graph poles. And with the elevated railway built, all those encum- 



