Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-01-07
eosToN's GREAT SUBWAY.
Runs Under Boston Common TO Relieve
the Crowded Streets.

Runs Under Boston Common to Relieve
the Crowded Streets.
The manner In which Bob.on Is solving
Is rapid transit problem is interesting to
lll other cities which may have to solve a
similar problem for themselves IN tho near
future. Boston is so situated as to be De.
suliarly in need of rapid transit from its
business center TO the outlying wards and
suburbs, but the obstacles to be overcome
are especially great The business part of
the city Is compressed into a small space,
| Ind the streets leading out of it are mostly
| crooked, narrow and crowded with traffic.
In the early forenoon the travel is almost
wholly toward the business center, and in
the late afternoon it is as heavily the other
/ way Street blockades are of frequent oc-
ourrence and obstruction to travel Is con-
sequently serious
Many methods for overcoming this situ-
alton were suggested and put aside as i'm
practicable. The building of elevated roads
and the widening of streets were among
the plans proposed, but the chief objection
to both of them was that the relief they
offered could be only temporary. Tho only
scheme which held out the hope of giving
permanent help was the subway and tun-
mel plan, and as this would mako it neces-
sary to disturb the historic Common and
to encounter many sewer, gas and water
pipes it met with strenuous opposition.
Sentiment and the freedom the city had
shown In granting underground privileges
to private companies seemed to form an
impossible barrier to any advance One or
both of these obstacles had to give way to
the pressing needs of the city or its bus-
ness and growth must stop where they
were.
All other plans having been shown to be
impracticable, public opinion gradually
centered on the subway plan, and in 1898
the legislature created board of subway
commissioners to investigate the subject
and report as to the best method of build
ing. The work then passed into the hands
Of the Boston transit commission, which
has carried out the project. The legislature
limited the cost to 1900, 900 and allowed
five years In which to perform the work.
As planned the road will start from the
old Boston and Maine Railroad station
situated in what is known as the north
end of Boston. 1t will then run through
Washington, Cornhill and Hanover streets
to Scollay square thence under fremont
street to the corner of Boylston street,
where the subway branches into two
stems, one continuing under fremont
street to Pleasant street and the other fol-
lowing Boylston street to the Public gar
den.
Any one familiar with the streets of
Boston will be able to follow the routes
laid out, and to those not acquainted with
that city nothing but map would make
the plan intelligible. There will be double
tunnels and subways, and to avoid inter
secting tracks sub-subway will be con-
structed for one track, or one track will be
dipped" below the other. The two track
subways will be "a feet wide and 16 feet
inches high, and the four track subways
will have the same height, but 4S feet
wide. The work is of the most enduring
character. The walls are almost as solid
as rock, and the arched cover is guaran-
iced to Withstand any amount of traffic Of
the streets above it. This great engineer
Ing feat, the largest of its Kind now being
carried on within the limits of any city,
has proceeded with scarce any inconven-
enco to business and without the knowl- ,
edge of most of the people of Boston.
The question of disposing of the subway
Is now being discussed. As it Is built by
money borrowed by the city, it is thought
'hat it should return enough to pay inteT-
sst on the sum it cost and to create sink
ng fund to wipe out the principal, but
whether this should be accomplished by
easing to one company or by the city re-
aiming control and charging rental per
nile of car track is the question Probably
| short lease, with the rights Of the city
veil protected, will be the plan adopted.
rhe city may be able in this way to regu-
ate street car fares. The undertaking will
oon be completed and put in working Or
ler. 1t may prove an object lesson for
ther cities in determining how they sLall
olive their rapid transit difficulties. =
0htladalnhia prass