The sun., 1901-11-07
RAPID TRANSIT BUILDERS BACK.
Mcssrs. Belmont. Mcdonald and Others
Went Abroad 10 Get Ideas.

August Belmont and those associated
with him in the construction of rapid
! transit subway in this city, who have
been in Europe for several months inspect
| ing the underground roads OF London and
Paris, returned yesterday on The White
Star steamer Oceanic. In the party were
Contractor John B. Mcdonald, +. b. Bryan,
who will probably operate the road when
| IL Is completed S. l.. Deyo. the chief en-
gineer: l.. b. Stilwel. the electrical en-
gineer, and John Van Week, the mechanical
engineer.
August Belmont W as the only one Of the
party who would talk. The others said
that Mr.. Belmont had been agreed upon
as the proper man to say what should be
said OF the trip and its fruits. Mr.. Belmont
said that OH arriving in London the party
put up at the Carlton Hotel, where they
met and conferred with William B. Parsons,
the chief engineer Of the Rapid Transit
| Commission, who went over some weeks
ahead of the others and will not return
until next month. Continuing, Mr.. Bel
mont said
We made full inspection Of the under
ground systems in London and were ac-
corded every possible facility and courtesy.
We found a great deal which was both
useful and valuable and very interesting.
Neither the requirements nor the character
of tho construction and equipment are
parallel to ours, so that no direct com
paTson could possibly be made. Never
theless there was much that was useful TO
each one OF our party in his special de-
partment. We have made an arrange
mont for a full Interchange Of detail Of
operation, construction and cyprr men,s.
and an active correspondence viii b. nm
mediately inaugurated between ourselves
and the London companies and maintained
for the purpose Of mutual benefit
From London we visited Paris and made
a thorough inspection there, in like manner
receiving the most courteous attention,
and were afforded the fullest possible in
formati ion. We have also arranged a
mutual Interchange of ideas and results
with the Paris Underground. The Paris
system j., in some respects, somewhat
parallel 10 the requirements Of what our
local service will be-, and we found much
that will he useful as we did in London.
Il do not think il would be courteous for
us. after our reception and treatment
abroad, TO make comparisons ] vii say
however, that the people in New York may
expect the best underground road in eN-
istcncc, SO far a. We can at present judge,
Mr. Mcdonald and myself returned to
London three or four days before sailing
Messrs. Bryan, Deyo, Stillwell and Van
Week visited Baden, in Switzerland, 10
inspect the steam turbine and electric works
of Brown, Bouyerie 4 Co., in order 10 see
what point of progress had been reached III
the development of steam turbines, as
applied to electrical machinery
From Baden Mr.. Stillwell proceeded To
Lecco, Italy. TO inspect an electric road
operated 10y the most modern Of the GAM
systems IL does not bear direvtly upon
our work. because We are not going to use
it in the underground here, but the inspec-
ton was useful to us a. indicating that We
have not overlooked anything new that
might be- valuable. Messrs. Bryan, Dcyo
and Van Week proceeded TO Berlin TO in
spect the power houses and elect riCai equip
ment of the Allgcmeine Electricians Gesells-
schaft, and acquired much useful informa-
tlon.
we all met again in London on Tuesday,
the ?9th, and sailed on Wednesday, the
3Oth Work here will he pushed with the
greatest possible yigor. Mr.. Mcdonald
can give you his own assurances OF this.