New-York tribune., 1900-07-16
A CHAOTIC STREET.

The receiver of the Forty second Street Man
hattanvile and st. Nicholas Avenue Railroad
has been authorized by Judge Lacombe TO make
the necessary contracts for completing the
change Of motive power on the cOmpany's line
through Forty -secondst. from First-ave. to the
North River 1t is probable that many persons,
learning with some degree of pleasure that this
judicial order has been issued, have been moved
to wish that the Court possessed despotic pow
ers and would them to compel the utmost
haste in finishing Job which has driven a null
titude of citizens wellnigh distracted. There is.
we hope. some reason to suppose that the com
pany not being under such compulsion, may
nevertheless be induced by self-interest if
not by regard for the public, to be as expedi-
tiOus as possible, now that the financial OBJ
stacle has been removed.
1t is doubtful if anywhere on the surface Of
the globe there is another great metropolitan
thoroughfare in such a state of chaos as that
which has long prevailed on Forty second st.
The installation of the underground trolley on
the short but congested stretch from Park-ave
to Madison-ave. by the Metropolitan company
was the cause Of great discomfort, injury and
danger for a period which seemed unduIy pro-
tracted, but under the peculiarly difficult condi-
tons prevailing this may possibly have been
as short as could reasonably have been ex-
pected After a brief interval if there really
was any interval at all, operations began again
at the same point and, involving from time to
time a new section east or west on the cross
town line, have ever since dawdled along with
little prospect of completion. The judicial order
to which we have referred now affords some en-
couragement, so far as 1t goes, but unhappily it
does not go very far For Just about as the
substitution of electricity for horsepower has
been accomplished the Rapid Transit contractor
will probably start in to rip the whole street
up again from the Park-ave tunnel to Broad
way.
There is, however-or lately was supposed to
be-a possibility that this distressing hypothesis
may not be verified. A month or two ago Mr.
Mcdonald and the Rapid Transit Commission.
contemplating with some dismay the enormous
difficulties which existing sub-surface con-
structions at that point would put in their way,
were said to be considering the advisa blity of
running their tunnels beneath all these under
ground works. Such a change Of plan would of
course, require change of grade and involve
various incidental complications but 1t was sur
missed that the cost might not be increased and
that great deal of time and trouble might be
saved. Since the suggestion was first made we
have seen no allusion to It, and the idea NAV
have been abandoned as impracticable But we
hope it has not been careessly dismissed The
public expects ultimatel to derive great and
permanent benefits from underground roads
and is more than willing to accept the sacrifices
which their construction will necessitate though
a loud chorus of censure or at least of Iamenta-
ton, is pretty to arise as one part of the
city after another is embraced in the scheme of
operations. But the community will have lust
canse for complaint If any reasonable means of
mitigating the annoyance and damage incident
to the work is neglected