New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-22
RAPID TRANSIT PROGRESS.

The report made to the Rapid Transit Com
mission on Thursday by its chief engineer is
on the whole gratifying If not entirely SAUSAGE
tory When the contract was awarded to MI
McDonald. on January 16, 1t was doubtless ex-
pected by the public. and probably also by the
Commission that more work would be done IN
the ensuing eight months than Mr.. Parsons is
now able to record: but that was largely be-
cause the multitude, and perhaps even the few
most familiar with the undertaking, did not
comprehend the immense amount Of labor in
volved in organizing the necessary machinery
TO carry it through. Considerable time was re-
ouired at the beginning for the formation of the
construction company and the completion of the
bonding arrangements; and the adjustment OF
multiplicity Of details relating to sub-contracts
was slow and difficult process. Some delays
have occurred which might possibly have been
avoided if they had been foreseen and which
in any case are TO be regretted but this pro
tracted period of preliminary operations now
seems to have passed, and the official expecta
ton is that henceforward the work will proceed
smoothly, continuously and rapidly.
Mr. Parsons's account of the existing stu
alton which is commercially sober and conserv-
alive in tone, appears 10 Justify this cheerful
forecast He reports that the actual work of
construction is under way for a total distance
contracted with the c~c2ption Of a single sec
lion; that all but one of the large sewers which
had to be changed or reconstructed are either in
hand or completed the total length actually
finished amounting to one mile; that the steel
contracted for is now coming forward steadily,
and that no further interruption Of shipments
is looked for. The chief engineer mentions
some additional details which relate rather to
the preparatory part Of the enterprise than to
its execution, but which it Is particularly pleas
ing to hear. The Commission enjoys the full
confidence Of the community, and the contractor
and his associates are men Of excellent repute;
but nevertheless every incident which reveals
strong sense of responsibility for the comfort Of
the public is most welcome. The building of
underground roads must necessarily cause great
Inconvenience and serious loss to many per
sons-in fact, we may say without much exag
geration, to the whole city The inevitable an
noyance might be indefinitely increased by care
| less, incompetent or constituencies work. On
the other hand. the possibilities in that direction
| can be reduced to an endurable minimum if
| those in control of the undertaking are resolved
| that they shall be.
| Some agreeable proofs that such is their deter
| mination are found in Mr.. Parsonss report.
! Thus he mentions the fact that on various sec
! tons the work of excavation has been post
| pOned until the arrival of the needed steel, IN
| order that construction may Immediately follow
digging. A bigger show Of activity might have
been made by the opposite course but more
would have been lost than gained A COM
| pressed air plant in Union Square will furnish
| all the power required on the crowded section
| of Fourth-ave. from Tenth to Thirty-frst St.
thus enabling the contractor to avoid the use Of
steam engines along that thorOughfare and
| similar facilities have been created elsewhere.
| Agreements with surface transportation compa-
| MES provide for joint work al several important
| points, so that the streets will have to be torn
| up only once. 1t has been feared that where the
| tunnels are to pass under Central Park serious
DETACHMENT and some permanent injury to the
| Park itself might be caused, but the promise is
made that this part Of the work will be done
with special care and that only n few trees of
minor value will have to be sacrificed. In con
clusion Mr. Parsons says that ''all the members
"of the staff are rendering most efficient ser
vice, and discharge their duties cheerfuly and
regardless Of hours and personal comfort" This
assurance means a great deal If such a spirit
prevails in all branches of the work from first
to last the community in general will bear its
part of the burden without undue repnng and
give little heed to unfair complaints.