New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-04
R.1PID TRANSIT FOR BOSTON.


SvHWAYS TO BE CONSTRUCTED FOR THE ELEC
TRIO CARS NEED OF WIDER STREETS
Boston Feb CSpeciaD long delay and
proractrd discussion. Boston is about TO solve ~
partially solve. the rapid transit problem. Boston ;
narrow streets and narrow sidewalks hav, become
SO congested 10y the Increase in population AMI
business that longer To- delay In making an effort
10 secure relief cannot be tolerated \ bill was
passed by the last Legislature enabling the city ID
bIll a short subway through Tremont-st. to the
Northern railway stations and also providing for
the construction Of new thOrOughflre from
the Northern Railway stations ont to RoXbury.
cutting in between fremont AMI WASHINGTON SITS
this to be usel by the street cars al
most exclusively. This was regarded by many as
the best scheme, as 1t would afford relief 70 both
Washington AMI fremont SIS Its cost. however.
was found on Investigation 10 be too great for the
city 10 undertake.. a. n would necrsstate the de-
struction Of much valuable property. ana Boston
was not quite liberal enough 10 eNpeni 50 much
money in one big lump even TO promote enter
prise that would give - the city a metropolitan
air and increase her commerce ard beauty.
This season the subway scheme has been con-
silcrrl and modification and extension OF last
years plans has appealed To a majority OF Boston
business men SO strongly that 1t Is probable work
VIII be- entered upon b within a short pcrod-as
soon as the necessary permission can bc obtained
from the Legislature. and the plan can be drawn
Mayor Matthews appointed subway commission
on January l. consisting of Thomas T. Gargan. George
f.. Swain and Charles II. Dalton. After cons.dcra-
ton the commission has mdturel plan which
seems TO meet with general favor. Last season )
bin provided for tunnel 800 feet long at an es-
tlmatel cost OF S1.00o."0 The new bill asks for per-
mission 20 make 4 tunnel ip,c., foot lon. NJ an es-
timated expense. Including land damages. OF 5000
90
The chief difficulty in agreeing upon rapid tram
sit scheme has always been provide for the great
volume of travel between the RoXbury and Dor
chester wards and the business part of the city
Hence it is proposed begin the subway at the
junction of Shawmu;-ave. ana Tr"mon' -st the sur
face for Jamaica Plain. Forest Hills. Eagles
ton square and other contiguous portions OF Rox-
bury. we'll the Tremont-st lines entering
the tunnel At this point. "a double track road being
constructed as far as the intersection OF fremont
and Boyleston SITS \ subway will be begun at the
corner of Charles and Boyleston SITS. and will enter
the main subway at fremont for the accOmmldl-
ton of the Back Bay. columbus-ave, Brookline
Cambridge and brighton ears. From the corner of
Boylston and fremont SITS to the Northern Rail
way station there will be four tracks The northern
entrance To the tunnel Will be opposite the new
Union station OF the Boston and blaine ana Fitch
burg railroads.
The cartracks viii be eighteen feet ho,ow the
surface OF the streets. There Will be entrances at
ST. and the Park Street church, at Scollay square
and at llaymarket Square. 1t Is also possible that
the tunnel from their easements. AS the cars Will
be. as now. run by c, ctricity and : the tunnel
Will be lighted by electricity, the ventilation OF the
tunnel VIII be perfect. The sides of the tunnel will
be- lined vita white p)rcrnin-ficpd bricks and
there will be tile drains and iron roof Mir
Olmstead will have charge Of the approaches and
the entrances and that viii insure an artistic an
pcarance. Sidewalks Will be run in the subway.
which win be popular in stormy or warm weather.
The bill also provides for the construction of
duits in the tunnel for electric wires, water and
gas mains, and sewers. 1t is estimated that two
years Will be required 10 complete thc work. which
win be done In sections. The West End Street
Railway Company will be required to pay for the
use OF the subway. and the charge IL Is
pected will be equal 10 a moderate interest the
cost of construction.
This project. II carried out proposed. will be
the beginning only of the solution of rapid transit.
IL Will be more popular than an elevated road,
but 1t must soon be followed by other schemes to
relieve the congested condition of Washington and
other streets The sidewalks on Westinghouse. for
more than mile are so narrow that the pedes-
TRANS overflow into the street every hour between
a. m. and D. m. \ big stretch of WASHINGTON
st. all of School Winter. Bromheld Cornhil. Court
West and other streets are little II wider than
the sidewalks on Fourteenth and some other streets
in NewYork.