New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
UyDERGROryD PIPE GALLERIES.

1t is gratifying to learn that the municipal
authorities and the Rapid Transit Commission
ers approve the general idea of constructing pipe
galleries beneath or alongside of the under
ground roads, and that the Commissions chief
engineer has been directed to estimate the addl-
tional cost of building such conduits from the
City Hall to Thirty -third-st. The continual rip
ping up of the streets Of this city for the pur-
pose of repairing the pipes beneath the surface
or installing new ones is prolific source or loss
and ANNOYANCE to the entire population. In fact,
ii might be described without undue warmth as
an internal nuisance. 1t seems impossible that
il can go on indefinitely and the first chance OF
initiating reform in this particular Ought to be
eagerly improved. Some doubt is expressed rs
10 the power of the Rapid Transit Commission
TO provide for pipe galleries in connection with
the tunnels which Mr.. Mcdonald has contracted
TO build but If authority TO do 1t is not vested in
the Commission the city presumably could I'M
dertake the work. and in any case II ought to
be easy TO obtain such legislation as might be
deemed convenient for the purpose. An un-
precedented opportunity to accomplish an ex-
tremely desirable object is now offered, and
there will be long regret if it is declined.
Such subways ought TO he constructed, even If
the only thing to be gained by a large expendi-
ture were relief from present conditions. But,
expenditure would be required if the work were
done simultaneously with and TO some extent as
an incident of the tunnel construction. Within
a week or two Mr. Parsons will be able TO deter
mine the cost pretty accurately, but he and
others whose opinion is valuable believe that
comparatively small outlay will produce what is
wanted. In the second place. there is good rea-
son 10 reckon on handsome revenue from the
rental Of space in the proposed pipe galleries
II is pertinent 10 recall the fact that the two
chief objections to accepting the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company's offer for the under
ground franchise q year ago this month We're
that the company-or. technically, its chief own
ers-demanded a perpetual franchise and the
untaXed possession of the conduts- which 1t
planned to build. Perhaps the former stipula-
tion the principal cause of the general hos
tity 10 the Metropolitan proposal, but the lat
ter was likewise strenuously opposed Among
the first 10 point ont the enormous prospective
value of subways for the distribution of light
heat and power was Controller Coler who then
first appeared al an earnest advocate of under
ground roads. Indeed, he did not hesitate to
say that he believed the conduits would ulti-
mately become more profitable than the rail-
road. while the action of the company left. no
doubt that Its shrewd managers put high esti-
mnte on their value.
We are glad to observe that Mr. Orr and his
colleagues and influential members OF the city
government are responding TO the appeal OF
our esteemed contemporary THE NewYork
Times for a careful consideration of this mat
ter 1t ought TO be determined as soon as pos
sible what. II any. new powers are required for