71 
 
 V 
 
 SKATED D£ SCfi/Pr% 
 
 OF TUB 
 
 BROADWAY 
 
 Underer omul Eailwa 
 
 WITH 
 
 Explanatory Details and Engravings 
 
 OY TJiK 
 
 ATMOSPHERIC MACHINERY, PNEUMATIC PASSENGER-CAR, 
 PNEUMATIC POSTAL DISPATCH, UNDERGROUND 
 TUNNELING MACHINE, ETC. 
 
 NEW-YORK : 
 
 ^ PUBLISHED BY THE BEACH PNEUMATIC TRANSIT CO. 
 
 s 
 
 •ft 
 
 4 
 
 S. W. Green, Print er, 16 and.18 Jacob Street, New-York 
 
THE CHAMPION SPRING BED. 
 
 From Scientific American, Nov. 4, 1871. 
 
 The sum total of human experience on the subject shows that the bed 
 question is one of great importance to every body, and that upon the wisdom 
 of one's choice of bedding material depends much of comfort, health, and 
 even the prolongation of life. A badly composed bed is too often but the 
 breeding-place of contagion and disease. 
 
 Good feathers and curled hair, in abundant quantities, make good beds ; 
 but their organic substance renders them unhealthy, and the best medical 
 authorities discourage their use. A capital substitute for them has been 
 found in the elastic properties of metals, and the subject of our illustration is 
 the very latest improvement in this line — the Champion Spring Bed — which 
 rivals in its softness the old-fashioned down and hair, embodying, likewise, 
 all the good qualities that experience has shown to be desirable. 
 
 This bed is composed of eighty-eight beautiful steel springs, comprising 
 over eight hundred coils, drawn and tempered with accuracy, yielding and 
 pliable like watch-springs, the helices united by leather bands, and the whole 
 so arranged that pressure, applied upon any one portion of the surface of the 
 bed, is equally distributed and sustained by all of the springs. This imparts 
 to the bed an even elasticity and general softness, which is a peculiar cha- 
 racteristic, preventing that sinking down of the bed in one spot, and that 
 down-hill feeling of the surface, or sloping toward the place where the 
 greatest weight rests — defects that are common to most of the ordinary 
 spring beds. 
 
 Another striking advantage of this bed is its remarkable flexibility. As 
 shown in our engraving, it may be rolled up like a blanket, forming a con- 
 venient package for transportation ; and it may be lifted, turned, and carried 
 about the household with the \itmost facility. 
 
 Its extreme lightness is a distinctive and important quality, the total 
 weight of a first-class double bed being only 25 lbs. A child may carry it ; 
 any woman may lift it with one hand. Housekeepers will appreciate this 
 quality, for they can remove and place the bed wherever they require, as 
 easily as if it were a bolster. 
 
 Another excellent feature is its perfect security against corrosion, the 
 Springs being inlaid with a firm water-proof fire enamel, which renders the 
 bed serviceable in any climate, hot or cold, dry or damp. 
 
 Both sides of the bed are alike, it can be used either side up, has no 
 attached frame of wood or slats, but is soft, yielding, and flexible in every 
 part. In summer-time it forms a cool and luxurious couch ; no under-bed be- 
 ing required, a blanket thrown over its surface being sufficient. In cold 
 weather, a mattress of only half the usual thickness is needed. 
 
 This bed is noiseless and durable. It is also economical in price, the full - 
 sized double beds of this pattern being retailed at $12 — the smaller sizes for 
 less. Rolled up for transport, as shown in our engraving, it forms a light, 
 compact bundle of steel springs, which may be sent to any part of the world 
 without risk of damage. Such are some of the merits of this invention, as 
 claimed by the makers, and they appear to be well founded. [See engraving 
 on next page of cover.] 
 
SEYMOUR DURST 
 
 -t ' 'Tort nteuw isim/terdam, oj> Je Madia-tans 
 
 FORT NEW AMSTERDAM 
 
 (NEW YORK), 1651. 
 
 When you leave, please leave this book 
 
 Because it has been said 
 "Sver'thing comes t' him who waits 
 
 Except a loaned book." 
 
 Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library 
 Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library 
 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BROADWAY UNDERGROUND RAILWAY, 
 
 iEOLOR, TUNNELING-MACHINE, ATMOSPHERIC CARS, PNEUMATIC POSTAL 
 
 DISPATCH, ETC., ETC. 
 
 The present experimental section of the Broadway Under- 
 ground Railway was constructed by the Beach Pneumatic Transit 
 Company, under the provisions of their charters of 1868 and 1869, 
 giving them authority to convey letters, parcels, and merchandise 
 through tubes not to exceed fifty-four inches mean interior dia- 
 meter. It was ascertained by the company, alter careful investi- 
 gation, that the cost of laying down two tubes of the above size, 
 constructed together, would be but little more than that of 
 building a single tube. It was also ascertained that the quickest 
 and best method of construction for the two tubes was to bore 
 under the streets, below the water-pipes and sewers, and erect a 
 masonry shell or tunnel large enough to inclose both of the fifty- 
 four-inch tubes. It is a portion of this outer tunnel that has 
 been erected ; and as it proved to be strong enough and large 
 enough for the transit of passengers, the company laid down 
 therein a railway track and provided a passenger car, for the 
 purpose of temporarily illustrating, by an actual demonstration, 
 the feasibility of placing a railway under Broadway, without 
 disturbance of the street surface or injury to adjacent property. 
 
 This experimental section of railway passes below the founda- 
 tions of some of the heaviest buildings; and although constructed 
 upon a reduced scale, it has proved to be large enough to show, 
 beyond question, that a first-class, double track, passenger 
 

 
 RAILWAY MAY BE READILY CONSTRUCTED BY THIS COMPANY, EX- 
 TENDING fro^i the Battery under Broadway to Central 
 Park and Manhattanville ; with branch at Union Square, 
 
 EXTENDING UNDER FOURTH AVENUE TO HaRLEM ElYER. 
 
 By the construction of this railway our citizens will be enabled 
 to travel between the City Hall and Central Park, West side 
 and Harlem River, in fifteen minutes, riding in comfortable cars 
 brilliantly lighted with gas. 
 
 The company only wait the grant of proper legislative authority 
 in order to proceed with this great and important work. The 
 company's application to the Legislature is supported by large 
 numbers of the most prominent citizens of New- York, while 
 their routes and plans are approved by the most eminent archi- 
 tects, civil engineers, and railway constructors. 
 
 ENTRANCE AND TICKET- OFFICE. 
 
 The present entrance to the Underground Railway is on the 
 west side of Broadway, opposite the City Hall, at the south- 
 west corner of Broadway and Warren streets, through the base- 
 ment of Devlin's building. 
 
 Descending a few steps from the sidewalk, the visitor enters 
 the ticket-office, where the attention is at once arrested by the 
 aeolor or blowing-engine, which generates the air-blast by which 
 the pneumatic cars are propelled. 
 
 This immense a?olor is by far the largest machine of the kind 
 ever made. It consists of a great shell of strong iron, 21^ feet 
 high, 16 feet long, and 13 feet wide, containing two pairs of 
 massive wings, geared together by cog-wheels, and so arranged 
 that the air is drawn in upon one side of the machine, carried 
 through between the wings, and forced out on the other side. 
 
 The seolor is capable of discharging over 100,000 cubic feet of 
 air per minute. The machine makes 60 revolutions per minute, 
 and discharges the air through an opening *5 feet square with a 
 velocity of 60 miles per hour. 
 
 The upper portion of the seolor, as seen in the ticket-office, is 
 beautifully decorated, and j^'esents no outward indication of 
 being the great reservoir of power we have just described. To 
 
• ) 
 
 o 
 
 realize this fact, we must go down-stairs and look within its 
 rapacious mouths. 
 
 Leaving the ticket-office, and passing the oeolor on the left, we 
 enter the 
 
 WAITING-ROOM OF THE BROADWAY UNDERGROUND RAILWAY. 
 
 This is a large and elegantly finished apartment, commencing 
 
 INTERIOR OF THE ..PNEUMATIC -PASSENGER-CAR. 
 
4 
 
 at Broadway and extending down Warren street for a distance 
 of 120 feet, built wholly under ground. The walls are adorned 
 with interesting pictures, while comfortable settees, saloons for 
 ladies and gentlemen, and other furnishings, render the place at 
 once cheerful and attractive. 
 
 At the east end of the waiting-room we descend a half-dozen 
 steps, and find ourselves upon the railway platform, near the 
 portal of the tunnel, and at the door of 
 
 THE PNEUMATIC PASSENGER-CAR. 
 
 One of our views shows the interior of the car. It is of cir- 
 cular form, brilliantly lighted, and very comfortable, with seats 
 for 22 persons. 
 
 - The wheels of the pneumatic car are provided with separate 
 axles and springs. The general construction is such that the 
 floor of the car stands below the axle centres, an arrangement 
 which tends to produce steadiness of motion and security from 
 accident. Powerful brakes are placed at eacli end of the car, so 
 made that the brake-shoes press upon a central rail, laid on the 
 floor of the tunnel, and thus quickly bring the car to a halt. 
 
 One of the advantages of the Pneumatic Railway for city 
 transit is, that the cars may be run either singly or in trains, 
 without additional machinery or cost. The more frequently the 
 cars run the better are the public accommodated. On ordinary 
 steam roads, if the cars are sent singly, a locomotive must accom- 
 pany each car, which would be expensive ; hence, the practice 
 is to run the cars in trains. It is probable that pneumatic cars 
 could, for the same expense, be dispatched through a Broadway 
 tunnel much oftener than locomotive trains could be run. 
 
 THE TUNNEL UNDER BROADWAY, 
 
 the portal of which, massive and ornamental, of circular form, 
 stands before us as we face the east. 
 
 We will follow the railway track into the tunnel, and explore 
 the underground mysteries of Broadway. The rumbling noise 
 of the vehicles which pass in endless procession, directly over 
 our heads, can be distinctly heard. 
 
 The tunnel commences at the curb-line of Broadway, and 
 
5 
 
 sweeps on a graceful curve a little beyond the centre line of the 
 street; thence on a straight line down Broadway to a point a 
 little beyond the south side of Murray street. The bed of the 
 tunnel is 2 If feet below the pavement. The interior is painted 
 white ; it is lighted with gas ; the atmosphere is pure, and a 
 
 PORTAL OF THE BROADWAY TUNNEL. 
 
 walk through it will be found interesting and instructive. The 
 length of the tunnel is 312 feet, of which the curved portion, 
 60 feet, is built of iron plates, the interior diameter being 9 feet. 
 
6 
 
 Standing upon the track platform, at a little distance from the 
 tunnel, and looking within the portal, the iron walls, with their 
 net-work of gracefully curved ribs, present a very pleasing 
 appearance. This method of erecting iron tunnels is the inven- 
 tion of Mr. Joseph Dixon, the secretary of the company, long 
 known for his persevering efforts to establish the underground 
 railway in New-York. 
 
 The iron track, of the usual T pattern, rests upon longitudinal 
 beams of wood, secured to the brick walls, and fastened cross- 
 wise at intervals bv flat oirders of cast-iron. 
 
 In summer time, the tunnel is the coolest place in the city. 
 When the thermometer stands at 95° at the surface of the street, 
 it indicates only 65° in the tunnel. In winter, the temperature 
 in the tunnel is usually warmer than the external air. 
 
 Telegraph wires extend along the walls of the tunnel, which 
 are so arranged in connection with the track that the wheels of 
 the car, when ihe latter reaches the ends of the tunnel, send back 
 a telegraphic signal to the engineer, who shifts an air-valve, 
 which reverses the air-current and causes the car to move back 
 to its starting-place. Proceeding down Broadway to the end of 
 .the tunnel at Murray street, we come to the 
 
 GREAT TUNNELING MACHINE OR SHIELD, 
 
 by which Broadway was bored without any body knowing it, 
 with all the omnibuses and other vehicles traveling directly 
 above the heads of the workmen. 
 
 We present two views of this novel mechanism, one of which 
 shows the workmen ewgaored in driving the machine ahead : the 
 other, a perspective interior view, showing the main details of 
 construction. The machine consists of a large cylinder, open at 
 both ends, with the shelves arranged within the front end to re- 
 ceive the earth and prevent it from falling too rapidly into the 
 front end of the machine. X is the bank of earth through which 
 the machine is being pushed. At the rear of the machine, placed 
 around its periphery, is a series of powerful hydraulic rams I, 
 eighteen in number, all Connected with a single water-pump A. 
 From the rear of the machine, and passing entirely around it, ex- 
 tends a band of sheet-steel D v two feet wide, and one eighth of 
 
7 
 
8 
 
 an inch thick, termed the hood. The brick tunnel W is erected 
 within this hood, which at all times covers the end of the ma- 
 sonry, and prevents the earth above from falling upon the work- 
 men. The operation of the machine is as follows : After a section 
 of the brick tunnel sixteen inches long has been erected within 
 the hood, the pump is operated, which causes the rams I to slide 
 out, and push with great force against the front edge of the tun- 
 nel, driving the machine forward into the earth X. As the ma- 
 chine advances, the earth presses through between the shelves, 
 and falls down upon the bottom of the machine, whence it is re- 
 moved in barrows and cars. As soon as the machine has been 
 advanced sixteen inches, its movement is stopped, and a new sec- 
 tion of the masonry tunnel is erected within the hood. The ma- 
 chine is then again pushed forward in the manner described. By 
 means of this machine, tunnels of all kinds and sizes may be quickly 
 constructed under rivers, also under the streets of cities, without 
 disturbing the travel of vehicles over the surface. The machine 
 may be readily moved around curves or on grades. By means 
 of the present machine, this railway tunnel was constructed and 
 turned on a radius of 50 feet ; the exterior diameter of the tunnel 
 is 9 feet 4 inches. Where tunneling at any considerable depth 
 below the surface is required, the use of this machine saves a 
 large amount of labor. The first machine of this kind, of smaller 
 dimensions, was put in operation under Broadway in 1868, and 
 with it a tunnel of some 5i feet in diameter was constructed. Its 
 success was so complete that tfte company determined to con- 
 struct the large machine shown in our engravings. The machine 
 here illustrated was designed by Mr. A. E. Beach, of the Scien- 
 tific American. In 1869, a similar machine was put in operation 
 in London, and with it a tunnel under the Thames River, known 
 as the Tower Subway, was constructed. This tunnel is 1600 feet 
 in length, extends from Tower hill to Southwark, and was con- 
 structed in less than eight months working time. 
 
 HOW THE MACHINE AVAS STEERED. 
 
 The machine was steered around the curve and down Broad- 
 way by turning the stop-cocks of the water-pipes belonging to 
 the hydraulic rams, thus changing the pressure from side to side 
 
9 
 
 as occasion required. During the [progress of the work under 
 Broadway, the exact course traveled by the machine was deter- 
 mined by compass and survey in the usual manner, and the lines 
 were from time to time verified by driving jointed rods of iron 
 up through the roof of the tunnel to the pavement. 
 
 THE UNDERGROUND TUNNELING-MA CHINE. 
 
10 
 
 HOW THE CARS ARE OPERATED. 
 
 Having presented a general description of the tunnel, the cars, 
 and the seolor or blowing-machine, we will now briefly describe 
 the manner in which the cars are operated. To do this intelli- 
 gently, reference should be made to the engraving of the general 
 plan. 
 
 Two air-valves will be noticed, which operate in connection 
 with the air-passages of the blower or seolor. When the blower 
 is in motion, an enormous volume of air is driven through the 
 tunnel, which drives the car before it like a boat before the wind. 
 On arrival of the car at Murray street, the car-Avheel strikes a 
 telegraph connection and sends back a signal to the engineer, 
 who shifts the position of the two air-valves, thereby reversing 
 the air-current bv causing the blower to suck the air from the 
 tunnel, and to discharge it into the area- way of the building. In 
 this process of suction, the air is drawn in through a tempo- 
 rary ventilator at the south end of the tunnel, and passes 
 through the tunnel to the blower at Warren street, the pas- 
 senger-car being swept by the force of the current back to 
 Warren street, where the wheel again strikes the telegraph wire, 
 gives a signal to the engineer, who again shifts the valves, and 
 back the car moves to Murray street. 
 
 The mouth of the temporary ventilator is covered by a large 
 iron grating, located on the east side of Broadway, within the 
 grass-plot inclosure of the City Hall Park. A large air-shaft, 
 of masonry, extends obliquely from the grating, passing under 
 the sidewalk and carriage-way to the south eud of the tun- 
 nel, a distance of 78 feet. When the car is in operation, the al- 
 ternate discharge and suction of air through the ventilator is 
 readily perceived by persons who approach near to the grating. 
 
 The car runs so easily upon the track that only a few grains of 
 atmosphere pressure to the square inch are sufficient to move the 
 car with a considerable velocity. 
 
 The ride under Broadway is a novel and enjoyable experience. 
 The air is always fresh and pure ; there is no dust or other an- 
 noyance, and the car moves along with smoothness and rapidity. 
 
 The air presses directly against the end of the car, like a sail- 
 
11 
 
 WARREN ST 
 
 GENERAL PLAN. SHOWING THE ARRANGEMENT 
 OF THE MACHINERY, THE AIR-FLUE, THE TUN- 
 NEL, AND THE MODE OF OPERATING THE PNEU- 
 MATIC PASSENGER CAR. 
 
 boat before the wind. A car mounted on 
 a track is moved much easier than a boat 
 upon the water, because the vessel encoun- 
 ters great resistance in displacing the wa- 
 ter, while the ear merely has to overcome 
 the friction of the wheels, which is only one 
 four hundredth part of its weight. There- 
 fore only a small air pressure is required to 
 drive the pneumatic car. Many thousands 
 of persons have enjoyed the atmospheric 
 car-ride under Broadway, and the com- 
 pany's establishment forms one of the most 
 interesting: attractions of the city. 
 
12 
 
 THE PNEUMATIC POSTAL DISPATCH. 
 
 Among other interesting objects to be seen at the Broadway 
 Underground Kail way Works is an operating section of the 
 Pneumatic Postal Dispatch. 
 
 This consists of a long air-tube, six inches in diameter, which 
 
13 
 
 curves about in various directions, in the sub-basement of the 
 establishment. A receiving letter-box is attached to one end of 
 the tube, and the box is also connected with a blowing-wheel, 
 the arrangement being such that a strong suction of air is main- 
 tained through the tube. If, now, any letters, etc., papers or 
 packages, are dropped into the air-tube — for which purpose open- 
 ings are provided — they are instantly swept along through the 
 tube into the receiving-box, and are there delivered into a suit- 
 able receptacle. 
 
 • The practical operation of this novel apparatus is very interest- 
 ing to the visitor. The receiving-box is provided with glass 
 sides, so that the ingress of the letters and papers, as they come 
 from the air-tubes, may be readily observed. Letters are sent 
 through at a velocity of from forty to sixty miles per hour. 
 
 These postal tubes are designed to be laid under the streets, 
 and to communicate with the various lamp-post letter-boxes and 
 postal stations. The air-current being maintained in the tubes, 
 all letters or packages that may be dropped into the lamp-post 
 boxes will fell into the air-tube beneath, and be instantly swept 
 along to the post-office or nearest postal station. 
 
 A complete and effective system of pneumatic city postal col- 
 lection and delivery has been planned, by which it is believed 
 that letters may be sent from one part of the city to another, 
 within a distance of three miles, in from five to ten minutes. 
 The introduction of such a system would greatly add to the 
 convenience of the public. 
 
 THE BROADWAY UNDERGROUND RAILWAY. 
 
 The greatest interest in the success and progress of the work 
 has been expressed by the press of New- York, Brooklyn, and 
 adjacent places. The almost universal desire of the press and 
 the people is, that the Legislature will give the company the 
 right to carry passengers, and thus insure the speedy extension 
 of the Underground Railway through the whole length of the 
 city. 
 
 The route and plans proposed by this company are the only 
 ones that have ever been generally approved. They entirely 
 meet the wants of the community, and they satisfy the best engi 
 
14 
 
 neers. They are undoubtedly the best plans for Rapid City 
 Transit that have been placed permanently before the public. 
 
 We might cover many hundreds of pages with extracts from 
 editorials and reports of the various newspapers commendatory 
 of the Broadway Underground Railway, but our limited space 
 permits us to make only a very few selections: 
 
 From Frank Leslie's Newspaper. 
 
 THE BROADWAY PNEUMATIC TUNNEL. 
 
 The series of engravings pertaining to the Pneumatic Railway 
 which we tins week present illustrate the progress of a remark- 
 able work, planned and executed in a remarkable manner. Our 
 great metropolitan thoroughfare has been bored, arched, and a 
 track laid down, by a corps of sappers and miners, who have 
 operated with surprising rapidity and success. They have not 
 only tunneled Broadway, but have done so with the surging 
 throne: of humanity, animals, and vehicles marching in endless 
 procession directly above their spades. No outward indications 
 of activity below the ground have been exhibited, and, until 
 quite recently, the public has had no knowledge of the matter. 
 The works are hidden by the granite pavement of the street, and 
 but for our engravings, taken from the subterranean structures 
 themselves, it might be difficult to satisfy our readers that we 
 have above stated only the facts. 
 
 The Underground Railroad, the highway for rapid city transit, 
 long needed and pressingly demanded by the inhabitants of 
 New-York, has at last been commenced, and a short portion has 
 been put in actual operation. We trust it will not be long ere 
 we shall be able to chronicle the full completion of the work 
 from the Battery to the Harlem River. It is evident, from the 
 example now before us, that the construction of an underground 
 railway in this city is not a difficult nor, necessarily, a tedious 
 operation. Six months or a year's time is quite sufficient, the 
 ways and means being provided, with enterprising men as con- 
 ductors. 
 
15 
 
 From the New- York Evening Mail. Feb. 3G. 1870. 
 
 THE GREAT BORE. 
 
 COMPLETION OF THE FIRST SECTION OF THE BROADWAY UNDER- 
 GROUND RAILWAY A GREAT SUCCESS. 
 
 The problem of tunneling Broadway has been solved. There 
 is no mistake about it. Even as we write, a comfortable passenger- 
 car is running smoothly and safely between Warren and Murray 
 streets, demonstrating beyond contradiction that it is only a 
 question of time and money to give us rapid and comfortable 
 transportation from the Battery to Harlem and back again. 
 Nearly three months ago, the Evening Mail was the first journal 
 in the city to announce the existence of this great bore beneath 
 Broadway. In our columns were then described the progress of 
 the work and enough of the plans of the projectors to give a 
 clear idea of what the public were to expect from them. Since 
 then the work has been pushed vigorously on by competent 
 workmen, under a thoroughly competent superintendent, whose 
 name is Dixon. May his shadow increase for evermore ! This 
 afternoon, pursuant to invitation, the completed section of the 
 work will be prospected by the mayor, and other members of 
 the city government, and the leading capitalists of the city; and 
 that this visit will be followed by a general hallelujah no sane 
 man doubts, who has sat in that cozy car over twenty feet 
 beneath the surface of Broadway, and been whiffed from Murray 
 street to Warren before he had time to say, " God bless you !" 
 ****** 
 
 We have said that the bed of the tunnel is 21J feet beneath 
 the surface of the street. It will then be understood that it is 
 below both sewers, and water and gas-pipes, and so far below 
 them as neither to interfere or be interfered with. 
 
 The completed section illustrates satisfactorily that- there is 
 nothing now to be done but give this company such a charter as 
 will enable them to go on with the passenger-carrying scheme. 
 We can afford to wait awhile longer for the parcel-tubes much 
 better than we can bear the increasing discomforts of the surface 
 railroads. 
 
 It is truly most gratifying to see how admirably successful 
 
16 
 
 the affair has been carried out so far, and so quietly as to excite 
 no comment. There is the capacious waiting-room, 120 feet long, 
 for passengers, as perfect in its appropriateness as if it had been 
 the starting-place for up-town for a dozen years. There is the 
 snugly upholstered passenger-car, illuminated with the brilliant 
 lime light, the tunnel nearly 300 feet in length, the engine and 
 the monster fans — all under Broadway, and " nobody a bit the 
 wiser," one might say. 
 
 From the New- York Herald, Feb. 27, 1870. 
 "UNDER BROADWAY." 
 
 PROPOSED UNDERGROUND RAILROAD A FASHIONABLE RECEPTION 
 
 HELD IN THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH THE GREAT BORE 
 
 EXPLORED. 
 
 ''Up Broadway" and u Down BroadAvay " are familiar routes, 
 familiar not only to Americans residing in New- York, but by 
 description to all the inhabitants of the world. " Under Broad- 
 way" for 294 feet, right away, in a thoroughfare well lighted, in 
 a scrupulously clean avenue, is not quite so familiar. Yesterday, 
 hundreds of our citizens, including State officers, members of the 
 Legislature, city officials, and members of the press, walked 
 along a part of Broadway they never were in before, and more 
 enjoyable than if they had been on the sidewalk of the icell-known 
 thoroughfare of the Empire City, instead of 21 feet below it. 
 
 An engraved invitation note asked those who had the good 
 fortune to receive it to attend an " Under Broadway Reception," 
 at the office of the " Beach Pneumatic Transit Company," 260 
 Broadway, from two to six o'clock yesterday. 
 
 Descending an ordinary basement " dive," under Devlin's cloth- 
 ing store, the visitors found themselves in a comfortable office, 
 and a few steps lower there teas a kind of Aladdin 's cave opened 
 to view, in ichich there was more to be seen than the eye could 
 take in at once, and therefore we must ask the reader's attention 
 to a few particulars. 
 
 First of all, let us explain the reason why this descent was 
 
17 
 
 made into the bowels of Broadway, and why all these important 
 representatives of the public had been asked to come and gaze 
 and wonder. Legislative power has been obtained to construct 
 a pneumatic tube- way from Warren street to Cedar street, for 
 the purpose of " blowing*' small and large parcels — indeed, all 
 kinds of " express business" — between these two localities. The 
 promoters had not proceeded far with their work before they dis- 
 covered that it would be very little more expense to construct an 
 underground railroad for the " blowing 1 '' of passengers as well as 
 freight. Acting upon this hint, they have applied to the Legis- 
 lature for power to construct this underground railroad / and if 
 the calm, settled, and earnest approval of their plan by the repre- 
 sentatives of the scientific and executive ability of the city be an 
 earnest of their success, it will not be difficult to obtain the sanction 
 of the Legislature to their bill Virtually, therefore, yesterday's 
 reception was the opening-day of the first underground railway 
 in America. 
 
 THE TUNNEL AND THE BORE. 
 
 The length of the tunnel already open is 294 feet ; the iron por- 
 tion of it is 57 feet; the brick, 237 feet. It is whitewashed and 
 lighted with gas, has telegraphic wires running alongside the wall, 
 is about 12 feet high, and formed a very pleasant promenade. 
 The roar of the Broadway traffic was plainly heard overhead, and, 
 until the ear got familiar with it, sounded very strangely. This 
 294 feet takes the tunnel to Murray street, on the south side, 
 nearly flush to the post-office fence. 
 
 The visitor to the tunnel is shown very clearly how this tunnel 
 has been made, and how it is that the work has been carried on 
 in a mole-like manner without attracting the observation of the 
 Broadway pedestrians, and without interfering in any degree 
 with the traffic. Havino; first obtained an entrance from the sur- 
 face in Warren street, and gone deep enough to be out of the way 
 of sewers, gas and water-pipes, a cylinder was introduced, which 
 in shape resembled a barrel with the ends out, forced by 18 hydrau- 
 lic rams. This forces itself through the earth, and to moderate 
 the fall of the earth, a number of wooden shelves are placed 
 within the cylinder for the earth to drop through; and as the 
 
18 
 
 earth deposits itself, it is shoveled up and carted away. In the 
 course of the travels of this cylinder, it came upon the remains of 
 an old stone building, vvhicli was believed to be an old Dutch 
 powder-magazine. The stones were not too large to come through 
 the shelves, and they were carted away with the earth. The 
 cylinder has a projection in the front of it of steel, both broad and 
 sharp, that finds no difficulty in cutting its way along. In the 
 rear of it, there is a thin piece of sheet-iron, 16 inches broad, 
 upon which the brick-work of the tunnel is built up ; and when 
 finished, the cylinder moves on again its earthy way, to have 16 
 more inches of brick-work added. 
 
 From the New- York Times, Feb. 27, 1870. 
 THE BROADWAY TUNNEL. 
 
 OPENING THE BORE TO PUBLIC INSPECTION — SUCCESS OF THE 
 UNDERTAKING GREAT CROWD OF VISITORS. 
 
 Certainly the most novel, if not the most successful, enter- 
 prise that New- York has seen for many a clay is the Pneumatic 
 Tunnel under Broadway. A myth or a humbug it has hitherto 
 been called by every body who has been excluded from its inte- 
 rior ; but hereafter the incredulous public can have the opportu- 
 nity of examining and judging of its merits. Yesterday the tunnel 
 was thrown open to the inspection of visitors for the first time, and 
 it must be said that every one of them came away surprised and 
 gratified. Such as expected to find a dismal and cavernous re- 
 treat under Broadway, opened their eyes at the elegant reception- 
 room, the light, airy tunnel, and the general appearance of taste 
 and comfort in all the apartments ; and those toho entered to pick 
 out some scientific flaw in the project, were silenced by the com- 
 pleteness of the machinery, the solidity of the vjork, and the safety 
 of the running apparatus. 
 
 The entrance to this tunnel is on Broadway at the corner of 
 Warren street. At the bottom of the steps is the entrance to an 
 office, and the apartment of the u rotary blower," a huge paddle- 
 box-like affair, neatly frescoed on the outside. To the right a 
 door leads into a long hall, down a few more steps, and directly 
 
19 
 
 under the Warren street sidewalk, which is the "depot" of the 
 establishment, and is handsomely fitted up with a fountain, 
 paintings, and seats. This hall opens toward Broadway to the 
 tunnel, at the entrance of which stands a car ready for passen- 
 gers. Adjoining the depot is the machinery for pumping the air 
 in and out of the tube, which is worthy of an examination. The 
 tunnel-way itself, how it looks, how it is bored out, has been so of- 
 ten described in the various daily journals that only a brief account 
 of it need be given here. The tube is 8 feet in diameter, arched 
 all the way round with brick painted white. From the bottom 
 of it to the surface of Broadway is 21 feet, and it is therefore be- 
 low all pipes and sewers. After curving around the corner of 
 Warren street, the tube is perfectly straight. On the bottom is a 
 track about 4 feet wide. The car which runs upon this is about 
 half as large as a street-car, cushioned, lighted, ventilated, and 
 elegant in all its appointments. The contrivance that bores out 
 the tube is a huge iron cylinder, sharp at the end penetrating the 
 earth, and is forced along by hydraulic pressure. The dirt is 
 then shoveled out. So far — the tube now being complete 120 
 feet, or as far as the south side of Murray street — the excavation 
 has been through sand only, and not a difficult matter. - Yester- 
 day, the gentlemanly engineer of the company explained the 
 whole construction of the tunnel, over and over again, to the 
 visitors that kept coming and going. 
 
 Such, in brief, is a description of the various compartments of 
 the mysterious underground Broadway tunnel, begun but a few 
 months ago. The enterprise is controlled by the " Beach Pneu- 
 matic Transit Company," who propose to run their tunnels in 
 every direction eventually, and make rapid communication be- 
 tween distant parts of the city. They claim that their cars 
 can run one mile a minute with perfect safety by the pneumatic 
 process. 
 
 The opening yesterday afternoon was a very pleasant " occa- 
 sion." It is was intended specially for dignitaries, legislators, 
 aldermen, scientific men, and members of the press, and scores 
 of them were present. Mr. Beach himself was conspicuous, mak- 
 ing his visitors explanations, and entertaining them like princes. 
 Judge Daly, members of the American Institute, city officials, 
 
20 
 
 and many prominent citizens were observed among those who 
 came. In the " depot," or reception-room, a first-class subterra- 
 nean lunch was served continuously from two o'clock until six 
 o'clock, and was continuously appreciated. The " health" of the 
 tunnel was not forgotten. At nightfall, the unique occasion was 
 over, but the " Transit Company" had made a host of friends and 
 supporters. 
 
 From Harper's Weekly, March 12,' 1870. 
 
 UNDER BROADWAY. 
 
 The Pneumatic Tunnel, now in process of construction under 
 the principal thoroughfare of New-York, commences in the sub- 
 basements of the spacious marble building of Devlin & Co., cor- 
 ner of Broadway and Warren street, and extends, at present, to 
 a point a little below Murray street. One of our illustrations on 
 this page gives an interior view of the tunnel, looking south from 
 near the entrance.' It is 8 feet in diameter, built of solid mason rv, 
 is dry and clean, painted white, and lighted with gas. The tun- 
 nel passes under all the gas and water-pipes and sewers ; but, 
 though so far below the surface of the street, the rumbling of 
 wheels and the tramp of horses overhead can be distinctly heard 
 by one standing within it. 
 
 The tunnel is constructed by means of a shield, consisting of a 
 strong cylinder, something like a barrel with both heads taken out. 
 It is pushed forward by 18 powerful hydraulic rams, and makes a 
 bore of its own diameter through the sand. The loosened sand, as 
 it falls through the rear end of the cylinder, is carried back through 
 the tunnel in cars, and delivered upon an elevator on Warren 
 street, where it is raised to the pavement and carted away. As 
 fast as the cylinder advances, the tunnel is arched with masonry. 
 By means of this machine, which was designed by Mr. A. E. 
 Beach, the tunnel is pushed forward without any interruption to 
 the business of Broadway. 
 
 Another of our illustrations shows the mouth of the tunnel and 
 a passenger-car, as seen from the station, which is a nicely-finished 
 underground apartment 120 feet in length, lighted from the War- 
 ren street sidewalk. Another illustration shows the interior of 
 
21 
 
 the passenger-car, which carries 18 passengers, has very com- 
 fortable seats, and is lighted with oxyhydrogen gas. The cars are 
 
 BROADWAY UNDERGROUND RAILWAY— THE EXPERIMENTAL SECTION. 
 
22 
 
 to be propelled by the atmospheric system, consisting in driving 
 through the tunnel a strong blast of air, which presses against 
 the rear of the car and carries it along like a sail-boat before the 
 wind. This air-current of course secures perfect ventilation 
 within the car. The air is driven into the tunnel by means of an 
 immense blowing-engine operated by steam. Mr. Joseph Dixon, 
 long known for his efforts to establish the underground railway, 
 is the superintendent of the work. 
 
 As soon as the necessary authority can be obtained from the 
 Legislature, it is the intention of the company to proceed to con- 
 struct a first-class underground railway, with large cars, to run 
 from South-Ferry under Broadway to Central Park, and above 
 that point ; together with a Fourth Avenue branch to Harlem 
 River. They will be able, when their arrangements are complete, 
 to transport more than 20,000 passengers per hour each way. 
 
 
 
 From the New- York Post, Feb. 26, 1870. 
 
 THE PNEUMATIC TUBE. 
 
 A RECEPTION UNDER BROADWAY. 
 
 • 
 
 For the first time in the history of New-York a reception with 
 all the accompaniments of furnished saloons, champagne, and 
 salads, was held under Broadway this afternoon. 
 
 The following invitation was issued a few days ago : 
 
 " UNDER BROADWAY RECEPTION. 
 
 " To State Officers, Members of the Legislature, City Officials, and Members of 
 the Press : 
 
 " You are respectfully invited to be present on Saturday, February 26th, 
 1870, from two to six o'cloek p.m., at the office of the Beach Pneumatic Tran- 
 sit Company, 260 Broadway, corner of Warren street. 
 
 " Joseph Dixon, Secretary. A. E. Beach, President." 
 
 Owing to the lateness of the hour, we are able to give but a 
 general outline of the enterprise. 
 
 On descending the steps at the corner of Warren street and 
 Broadway, the visitor finds himself in a neatly oil-clothed room, 
 on the left of which appears the top of the rotary blower neatly 
 
23 
 
 painted. Advancing a few steps, the visitor turns to the right 
 and descends three more steps, when he finds himself in a hand- 
 some and brilliantly-lighted saloon. In the centre is a fountain 
 with jetting water and gold-fishes swimming in the basin. The 
 ceilings and side walls are hard-finished, and with neat striping 
 about the gas-brackets, present an attractive appearance. The 
 floor is covered by oil-cloth, and the windows are hung with 
 damask curtains and cornices. The surbase is of alternate 
 stripes of walnut and white-pine, and about the room are arrang- 
 ed settees and easy-chairs. A piano also adds to the attractive- 
 ness of the apartment. 
 
 Having reached this floor, the guest turns toward the City Hall 
 Park, and descending another flight of steps, finds himself at the 
 entrance of the tube, in full view of the vast machinery to be 
 used for propelling the cars. 
 
 The top of the tunnel is surmounted by a keystone of pressed 
 brick, over which are the letters in German text, " Pneumatic 
 (1870) Transit," and encircling this is a row of gas-jets, covered 
 by alternate globes of red, white, and blue. At either side, on a 
 pedestal, are bronze figures upholding a cluster of gas-lights. 
 , The next feature which strikes the spectator is the graceful curve 
 of the tube into Broadway. The curved arch is supported by 
 iron plates, and after a straight line is reached, the tunnel is con- 
 tinued down Broadway by arches of brick. The interior is paint- 
 ed white, and the entire length is lighted by gas. The track is 
 supported by a bracing of hard wood. 
 
 The present length of the tunnel is 294 feet and 6 inches, and 
 fifty-eight days and ten hours were consumed in constructing it. 
 The track is 21 feet under the surface of Broadway, and the only 
 circumstance which would indicate that the visitor is under a 
 busy thoroughfare is the constant rumbling of vehicles overhead. 
 The car is built to conform to the shape of the tunnel, being 
 semicircular in form. It has comfortable accommodation for 20 
 persons. The machinery is of immense power, and of very fine 
 workmanship. 
 
 The visitors to-day were handsomely entertained by the of- 
 ficers of the company. 
 
24 
 
 From the Express, Nov. 18. 1870. 
 
 THAT "BORE." 
 
 By this system of traveling, the oars are impelled by com- 
 pressed air only. The air is nncontaminated by dust or gas, 
 the track is not crushed or damaged by heavy locomotives, and 
 all the discomforts of steam travel throuo-h tunnels are eliminated. 
 
 CD 
 
 From the New-York Herald, Dec. 2, 1870. 
 SECRETARY ROBESON UNDER GROUND. 
 
 The Secretary of the Navy, accompanied by Admiral Smith 
 and a distinguished party of ladies and gentlemen, visited the 
 Broadway Underground Railway yesterday morning, and rode 
 back and forth under Broadway by atmospheric pressure. The 
 secretary was much gratified with the success of this simple method 
 of locomotion, examined every part of the novel machinery with 
 great interest, and expressed the hope that the system would soon 
 be extended throughout the city. 
 
 After the riding, he visited the air-chamber of the great blow- 
 ing-machine and enjoyed personal experience of the mechanical 
 hurricane which sweeps under Broadway and gives motion to 
 the car. 
 
 The Pneumatic Postal Dispatch was then set in operation, and 
 the secretary witnessed the transmission of a large mail of letters 
 and newspapers, at a velocity of sixty-three miles an hour, 
 through the atmospheric pipes. The velocity is so great that the 
 letters look like mere specks as they issue from the air-tube into 
 the receiving-box, and it is only when the hopper at the bot- 
 tom is opened and the letters drop out, that the fact of such rapid 
 transit is realized. 
 
 These tubes, it will be remembered, are to be placed under the 
 streets in connection with the lamp-post letter-boxes, the ar- 
 rangement being such that all letters when deposited in the 
 boxes will slide down into the tubes and be instantly carried for- 
 ward by the air-current to the post-office or sub-post-office. This 
 will effect a great saving of time in the collection and delivery of 
 city letters. 
 
THE 
 
 3J^utual]3enefit pavings 2 an ^T 
 
 "\ 166 Nassau Street, 
 
 SUN BUILDING, 
 Opposite the City Hull, New- York. 
 
 Six per Cent Interest Allowecl, 
 
 Commencing on the First of every 
 Month, with participation in the 
 profits on the Mutual plan. 
 
 ON SPECIAL DEPOSITS 
 
 Interest is paid on daily balances, 
 and checks paid at sight. 
 
 Persons residing in the country can send deposits by express, draft, 
 money order, or registered letter, and a book will be sent as requested. One 
 Dollar will commence an account. Send for a Circular. 
 
 OFFICERS. 
 CHARLES K. GRAHAM, President. 
 
 A. L. PRITCHARD 
 RICHARD VOSE 
 
 G. H. BENEDICT, Secretary. 
 THEO. W. MORRIS, Chairman Exec. Com. 
 
 H. EDWIN TREMAIN, Counsel. 
 
 Vice-Presidents. 
 
 TRUSTEES. 
 
 JAMES TURNER, Turner Bros., Bankers, corner Pine and Nassau Streets. 
 
 SILAS C. HAY, Banker and Broker, 80 Broadway and 7 New Street. 
 
 A. L. PRITCHARD, Sec. and Treas. Chicago and Northwestern R. R. Co., 52 Wall Street. 
 
 RICHARD VOSE, Vose, Dirfsmore & Co., Car-Spring Manufacturers, No. 1 Barclay St. 
 
 THEO. W. MORRIS, D. S. Schanck & Sons, Glass Importers, 27 Chambers Street. 
 
 MARTIN B. BROWN, M. B. Brown & Co., Printers, 201 and 203 William Street. 
 
 CHARLES K. GRAHAM, Civil Engineer and City Surveyor, 119 Broadway. 
 
 GEORGE W. WHITE, Firm of Charles White & Co., foot of West 40th Street. 
 
 NOAH A. CHILDS, Water Purv eyor. Department of Public Works, 235 Broadway. 
 
 LORING IRGERSOLL, Ingersoll, Watson & Co., Chair Manufacturers, 71 Bowery. 
 
 JOSEPH DIXON. Secretary Beach Pneumatic Transit Co., Broadway, corner Warren St. 
 
 J. P. DINSMORE, Manufacturer and Proprietor Medicines and Carter's Ink, 36 Dey Street, 
 
 H. EDWIN TREMAIN, Tremain & Tyler, Attorneys-at-Law, 167 Broadway. 
 
 G. H. BENEDICT, Secretary, 166 Nassau Street. At the Bank from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., daily. 
 
 EVERETT H. KIMBARK, M.D. Residence, 313 East 19th Street. 
 
 JAMES O. WEST, West, Bradley & Gary Manufacturing Co., 364 Broadway and 233 West 
 29th Street. 
 
 COURTLAN DT PALMER. Office, No. 858 Broadway ; Residence, 247 Madison Avenue.