New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-16
CHICAGOWANTS ASUBWAY.
The STREET RAILWAY COMPANIES WILL
BUILD IT IF THEY MAY OWN IT
But THE MAYOR SAYS NAY.

y.
which It is designed relieve forever the con-
gested conditions that now prevail the surface
:: The streets In the downtown district Con-
servatlve estimates place tbs time that will he re-
ouircd for the completion of the work al four
years and its not less than 100000 mile
just where the funds will be forthcoming is not yet
decided one Of the two local street railway COM
panies has expressed q willingness TO meet one
half Of the expense. provided the other one Will
stand the balance and provided the city Will grant
the builders of the tunnel perpetual right to its
exclusive and viii forever restrain other street
railway concerns from using the surface of the
Of the district traversed by the subway.
Chicago shopping and business district Is con-
fined a small area. The completion of a special
loop in the heart Of the city for the four elevated
roads is unquestionably of the most remark
able traffic arrangements in the world 1t did
much relieve the congestion Of traffic in the
territory bounded the west and north by the
river and on the south by Van Buren-st. But
isting conditions such that Improvement
upon the intricate system Of loops now in use by
various surface lines is imperativey demanded.
When the subject taken up by the Council
committee J. NJ. Roach, president of the Union
Traction Company, which operates the North and
West Side lines. preached the subway scheme. His
idea A tunnel lower the tracks far below
the streets that the tangle OF underground pipes.
wires and conduits VIII be above the subway, and
10 have all Of the lines that the downtown
streets traverse the business section through this
subway. which viii have stations placed at
venient intervals. with central station Madi
son-st.. between State and Dearborn SITS. where
transfers may be made.
While favoring the subway scheme generally,
Mayor Harrison condemns some Of the features of
Roachs proposition He argues that were the
conduit confined to so small district it would
have tendency 10 still further contract the bust
district. which is already confined area
out OF all proportion with the volume OF business
done there each day, and he expresses himself
unaterabIy opposed to any arrangement which
would give the corporation building the subway
perpetual control of IT, apart from the guarantee
asked by Mr. Roach that rival lines be given
any privileges whatever on the streets above and
adjacent 10 the subway. He favors the municipal
ity building the subway at It's own expense, or if
funds for the purpose cannot be had the author
izing Of its construction by corporation with the
proviso that the city may at the expiration Of a
term Of years purchase the tunnel fair valua-
ton.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY.
Advocates Of Roachs proposition urge that his
FIRST objection is groundess. the underground
system Of Capitalization might be made cover an
area extending mile more north. south and
west Of the district outlined in the original plans
and the railway companies protest that they would
IN the event Of their bearing the enormous first cost
Of the conduit he entitled 10 no less than per-
petual franchise. Upon these differences hinges
the delay in the adoption Of a definite plan of ac-
ton. Should compromise be agreed upon the
city will doubtless delay the mandamus proceed
ings now under way To compel the street railways
such middle course is not improba BILE is evidenced
by the fact that the engineers of the city and of
me Two interested traction companies now at
thought afford temporary relief during The the fou is
years tnat VIII be required TO build the under
.,i StgPendops difficulties must be overcome if the
Ssoot Tunnel u s N me p5a "a suggesteda
street Levels no r,ea so 81 ieet pe5ow the
subway is cited criterion Of the Feasibility of
the project but it Is doubtful whether the aggre-
gate weight OF ali Of the buildings along the line
% % 9osJons mile ana half OF subway equals that
OF Chicagos proposed underground route More
nature to make undergro1nd i W 4ori5
foundation cTer s nI heTeb been struck by any
OF more than mediocre size are built upon piles
Two corporations have been bankrupted in efforts
% oulia an lnercepting sewer system the South
S5lae simply because they struck quicksands under
Iylng what appeared on the surface o be one Of
finite patience and expense were necessary before
III ValeI supply tunnels could be completed.
cGlties viii be encountered when the work on the
unity the lake far below the level Of WbfcB fb
mar nus 3e carried on viii make it imperative
Tor water is 10 be found at a depth Of a few feet
ooLIpltltu must ne strong enough to withstand an
enormous pressure. and must be absolutely water
The river VSouId he F6o5 1 ELS nov IN use under
twenty-four hours water that forces itsnIF
ia'2 them allowed TO accumulate for that length
Thai the proposed plan has in it vast possibilities
ior the betterment Of local traffic conditions Is nm
vehicles are to Traverse the down 19e nay Strd few
must he an exne spa5S pace and the pedestrian
thoroughfare before the baton Of bluecoat has
benefit We're the surface cars eliminated cor5i
Mons would be much improved for they non, fnrro
an almost uninterrupted stream from snr GM ITT t
forms Of traf1c ''ie'i' ana oeiay OF other
WHAT BOSTON HAS ACCOMPLISHED
Boston's subway has accomplished wonders in
this direction. Not only has 1t relieved the conees
Ton OF her downtown streets. but il has made nos
siole the daily handling of 50 per cent more mas
sengers over the surface lines in the same dts,ric+
and actually increased its daily average to tbo+ 49,
tent mat "a
Bos'ons tunnel, which is municipal propertv
cost $4,000 or $4,000 less than the original
esumates II is one and one-half miles in length
Inc land damages resulting from its construction
amounted 10 100000. Its proved capacitv ts $50
cars an hour but it could probably accommodate
three hundred. The old Tremont-st surface linz
SS9uld not handle two hundred cars an hour The
ssachpsetts Legislature authorized the constrc-
people Of Boston voted for the building Of he tune ue
1rerL W. oSIeeo IN the act Of Ihe Legislature and
OF the Boston structure are OF steel beams en1
s,sei "a CohcreLe supporting roof Of transverse
sLetl beams or Orders, with arches of brick ana
S9lcFete between them II is "A feet high snJ
there four tracks IS feef Grade T1ee where
aeo IN ITS construction. sub subWays heinz
The city Of Boston has leased it's subway, 20 H.
Boston Elevated Railway Company AT an snrus ag
the net Of the structure including tbd 5I on
gsIage ne nr=t cost OF the structure was pro
which IL is expected. will be paid At maturity bv
ZIG accumulated rental Of the subway which goes
fTHll-attyy INTO a sinking fund. although the CITY
Keeps the tunnel in repair. ' 'i'S
surface, the ground being filed in after the tIDnai
was completed. This method of operation oWinr