From the Kearney Files
Sydney 1921
Letter Elfric and his Australian representative Mr. H. W. Booth re Mr. J. Davis contact.
Letter dated November 23, 1920.
The Agent - General of N. S. W. has requested Mr. Davis to inspect working model, appointment made with Mr. Davis to see iron November 25, 1920.
Letter dated November 26, 1920:---
Mr Davis and his assistant, Mr. E. W. Brown, met me at workshops yesterday and inspected model. I had a long talk with him. He was well satisfied, and was surprised that I had such a well worked out scheme.
Mr. Davis further said that, in his opinion the Kearney system would do very well between Circular Quay and Milson's Point.
Mr. Davis considers that a tube would deal with the traffic in a way impossible by a bridge.
In letter dated November 30, 1920, Mr. Kearney says:--
Since writing you on 26th, which I confirm, I have again seen Mr. Davis. He knows local conditions very well, and arrived at with his knowledge and mine combined, and has undertaken to look up much more information regarding the sub - structure of the ground.
Letter, dated December 15, 1920:---
Mr. Davis has just been in to see the plan. He was very pleased with it and thinks it will provide all the necessary information. He obviously thinks the scheme is a good one and is making another visit to the workshop to put models through various tests.
Letter, dated April 20, 1921:---
Mr. Davis assures me that if bridge was an accomplished fact the tube would still be required and would be much more expeditious.
From the above you will see that all my statements have been made in good faith and can be substantiated.
The tube would be identical in every respect, except that it would be a quarter of a longer than the one which has been designed for and accepted by the corporations of East Ham and Woolwich for the Woolwich tube, forum under the Thames.
Several people have asked me why the Kearney system has not been taken up in England. Vested interest is so strong that whenever a scheme had been started they have risen up and killed it. * Lord Ashfield himself, who is chairman of the London Underground Railways, told Mr. Kearney that the first Kearney Tube would put the whole of London railways out of date.
* More on the relationship between Elfric and Lord Ashfield in later articles, suffice to say Lord Ashfield was a major player in using his influence to stop the adoption of the Kearney High Speed Railway for over 40 years.
Sydney 1921
Letter Elfric and his Australian representative Mr. H. W. Booth re Mr. J. Davis contact.
Letter dated November 23, 1920.
The Agent - General of N. S. W. has requested Mr. Davis to inspect working model, appointment made with Mr. Davis to see iron November 25, 1920.
Letter dated November 26, 1920:---
Mr Davis and his assistant, Mr. E. W. Brown, met me at workshops yesterday and inspected model. I had a long talk with him. He was well satisfied, and was surprised that I had such a well worked out scheme.
Mr. Davis further said that, in his opinion the Kearney system would do very well between Circular Quay and Milson's Point.
Mr. Davis considers that a tube would deal with the traffic in a way impossible by a bridge.
In letter dated November 30, 1920, Mr. Kearney says:--
Since writing you on 26th, which I confirm, I have again seen Mr. Davis. He knows local conditions very well, and arrived at with his knowledge and mine combined, and has undertaken to look up much more information regarding the sub - structure of the ground.
Letter, dated December 15, 1920:---
Mr. Davis has just been in to see the plan. He was very pleased with it and thinks it will provide all the necessary information. He obviously thinks the scheme is a good one and is making another visit to the workshop to put models through various tests.
Letter, dated April 20, 1921:---
Mr. Davis assures me that if bridge was an accomplished fact the tube would still be required and would be much more expeditious.
From the above you will see that all my statements have been made in good faith and can be substantiated.
The tube would be identical in every respect, except that it would be a quarter of a longer than the one which has been designed for and accepted by the corporations of East Ham and Woolwich for the Woolwich tube, forum under the Thames.
Several people have asked me why the Kearney system has not been taken up in England. Vested interest is so strong that whenever a scheme had been started they have risen up and killed it. * Lord Ashfield himself, who is chairman of the London Underground Railways, told Mr. Kearney that the first Kearney Tube would put the whole of London railways out of date.
* More on the relationship between Elfric and Lord Ashfield in later articles, suffice to say Lord Ashfield was a major player in using his influence to stop the adoption of the Kearney High Speed Railway for over 40 years.
Comments
Post a Comment