The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
RAPID TRANSIT.

ANOTHER TRIP TO HARLEM ON THE THIRD AVE-
NUE. RoAD-THE PUBLIC OPENING DELAYED
WORK ON THE METROPOLITAN EXTENSION.
The Harlemtes who expected that Mr.. Cyrus W.
Field would make them welcome Christmas present
by opening for the public travel the Third Avenue
Elevated road to Harlem yesterday looked in vain for
the familiar trains above Eighty ninth street. Only
one train run to Harlem yesterday. and that was
devoted exclusively to number OF friends Of the
managers Of the road, among whom the fair sex
formed majority. The train started at eleven o'clock
in the morning and, luckily, not being detained as
much by delays as the train which was run for the
benefit of the press Christmas eve, it made much
better time and reached 10th street station in three
quarters Of hour. The ladies delighted with
the trip and did not exhibit the slightest timidty
when the train entered upon the hitherto
unused track above Eighty-ninth street. When
the Harlem flats passed. of the party face
tously cried out Harlem fiat bouquet, and signi.
cantly shifted in the fragrant odor Of that delightful
region The return trip made in an equally short
time. and all the party were unanimous in declaring
that rapid transit to Harlem was indeed welcome
present to the people for the new year. Colonel
that the road in good running order 10
Harlem the schedule time would be reduced from
forty five to forty minutes
THE PUBLIC OPENING.
It was decided yesterday morning that 1t would be
II
arranged as to run trains with sufficient regu
arty and to avoid complaints, and for that reason 1t
was concluded to postpone the public opening for
few days. 1t is to be remembered that II the road
be even not fully opened until New Years Day-next
wednesday-the welcome event will have taken
place much sooner than most people had anticipated
It looks however il the opening will very probably
take place before next Wednesday. Until the central
car depot at Ninety ghth street is finished and
be used trains will only to 125th street, the four
blocks from 125th to 10th streets being required for
the laying up Of engines and cars. NO stop VIII De
aisvbf ba
that for the first few weeks only three stops will
be made above the present terminus at Eghty-ninth
sreet-namey at l0oth 116th and 125th streets For
tunately the buildings at these three stations are
nearly completed that passengers will not be ex
posed to the cutting winds and singing cold OF this
decidedly 'fresh" region.
THE METROPOLITAN EXTENSION.
While the east side now has virtually secured tho
much coveted boon of rapid transit to the Harlem
River the west side is also rapidly advancing toward
that hitherto far distant goal The work Of dig
cling excavations on the Metropolitan extension
beyond Eighty third street has been pushed during
the past and present week with vigor and energy
which recall those famous scenes on West Broadway
and sixth avenue of last winter when the nights
illumined with tho blazing lanterns OF hundreds of
workmen. Mr.. Conover. who has had personal
charge Of this primary stage of the undertaking. was
ordered to put 225 men the very day the contracts
were signed, and already the work has advanced up
to l20h street. All the people of the vicinity speak
in terms of wonder of the marvellous rapidty with
which the work has been pushed forward in spite of
hundred men will be hard at work on Ninth avenue,
from Eighty-third to 10th street. and on Eighth
avenue from 10th to 10th street. aud next week Mr.
Conover thinks he will be able to set up the
iron bases upon the foundations. Meanwhile the
iron columns and Orders are being manufactured in
Phnnxville Pa. and soon as they begin to arrive
the force OF aborcrs will be increased to 900 work.
ing all the way between street and 10th
street. II will be remembered by many who Curl
ously watched the progress of last wners work how
fortunate the company was in being interrupted so
little by sushy or muddy days, and 1t now looks as
if they will be equally fortunate this winter In having
clear aud bright though probably very cold weather.
RAID TRANSIT TO EIGHTH AVENUE.
The residents of the upper part Of Eighth avenue are
also soon enjoy the benefits OF direct rapid transit
to their thoroughfaro The Fifty -third street con.
necton between the Sixth and the Ninth avenue lines
oil the Metropolitan Elevated Railway is rapidly APP
preaching completion. and work is progressing also
very rapidly upon the commodious and handsome
station which the Metropolitan company have placed
at tho intersection of Eighth avenue and Fifty-third
street. II is expected that soon after New Years
trains will be from Rector street to this point