Becker's Plan for Connecting New York and Brooklyn

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By the adoption of this mode of traveling, the greatest boon would be conferred ; passengers would be relieved from all the dangers of collision, or any other of the accidents so liable to occur on the water. Durine the mwerress of the construction of the works, there need not be the slightest impediment to the navigation of the river or any other kind of traffic. The soil excavated from the tunnel could be removed by barges to any place determined upon. Annexed is a full estimate of the cost of such works, including the purchase of rolling stock, wear and depreciation, and every expense and outlay for working cars, maintenance of track, c, showing a profit of SJ5 per cent per annum for the entire amount disbursed, and leaving a residue of $4,987 19 yearly. COST OF CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNEL. From Fulton Ferry to Brooklyn, 731 lineal yards of excavation and brickwork, at $411 75 per yard,.......$300,989 25 Side entrances for cars, goods, passengers, c, excavation and brickwork, 810 lineal yards, at$209peryard, - - 1G9.290 00 Sinking two shafts on either side to remain permanent, 25 feet in diameter, excavation, 574 cubic yards, at 50 cents, - $287 00 Brickwork, including all materials, 193 cubic yards, at $1 75, 337 75 624 75 Culvert through center of each tunnel for drainage, 731 cubic yards, at $1 25, 913 75 Rails for double track, 50 lbs. per yard, 65.25 tuns, at $60 per tun, - 3,915 00 Merchandise road paved throughout and concrete bottom, 731 lineal yards, at $5, 3,655 00 Longitudinal timbers, continuous bearings for track, 1 cubic feet per yard forward for double track, 4,386 cubic feet, at 20 cents, - 877 20 Transverse ties in every two yards lineal, 548.25 cubic feet, at 20 cents, - 109 65 Screws, fang bolts, joint plates, screws in rails, one every foot, 2,924—fang bolts, 1,168, joint plates, 1,752—total, 5,844, at 6 cents, - 350 64 Construction of permanent track, 34 chains, at $40, ... 1,360 00 Extra work, contingencies, ,___.__ 5,000 00 Two stationary engines, 50 horse power each, at $125 per horse, - - 12,500 00 Four ropes, 1,464 fathoms, at $1 75 per fathom, - ... 2,562 00 Ten passenger cars, .------- 30,040 00 Total cost of construction and rolling stock, .... $530,187 24 COST OF WORKING WHEN FINISHED. Consumption of coal yearly, 730 tuns, at $7, .... $5,11000 Engine drivers and firemen per year, - 7,000 00 Oil, grease, cotton waste, contingencies, c, yearly, ... 500 00 Keeping paved road in repair, yearly, - - - - - 410- 00 Maintenance of double track, yearly, - . - 525 00 Wear and tear, rolling stock, machinery, yearly, - - - 862 00 Depreciation of engines, rolling stock, yearly, 10 per cent on original outlay, 4,254 00 Gas, 549 lights, at $20 per light yearly, ..... 10,980 00 Extras, ......... 4,000 00 Wear and tear, depreciation of rails, fang bolts, screws, timber, c., . 1,095 00 Total cest of working, yearly, c, c, ----- $34,73600 RECEIPTS. Passenger traffic, yearly, 7,008,000, at 2 cents, - - $140,160 00 Wagons, carts, c, yearly, 130,400, at 25 cents, - 32,600 00 $172,760 00 Deduct working expenses, c, c, - 34,736 00 Surplus revenue yearly, ...... $138,024 00 Twenty-five per cent per annum of cost of construction, maintenance, cost of working rolling stock, c, ..... 133,036 81 Balance yearly, ------- $4,987 19 GUSTAVUS BECKERS, C. E., Blossburg, Pa.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 42This article was published with the title “Becker's Plan for Connecting New Yore and Brooklyn” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 42 (), p. 336
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican06261858-336b

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