The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-01
RAPID TRANSIT In GOTHAM.
The Subway Contractor Makes a
Remarkable Prediction.

From the New York City Hall to
Harlem in Fifteen sIinutcs-VVhat
Has Been Done on the Great Tuu-
EcI-Enormous Sums Expended
NEW YORK. oct. THE rapid transit
subway is oue-f0Urth finished Within
Jwr1ty-four months II the present rate
Of progress keeps up. the great under
ground line will be in operation During
the summer months. with double forces
of laborers on an sections. marvellous
strides were made. The question Of con
struction has ceased TO re the main con
sid,ration with those at the head Of the
great enterprise. Most OF the hard work
in digging has been accomplished, SO that
the problem now 10 be solved is that Of
operation.
For the purpose Of finding ont what
II, hcds are used I'm foreign capitals for
handling large crowds OF underground
lines August Belmont. who is az the head
Of the Rapid Transit Cons tructiou Com
Tany; John p. Mcdonald. William Bar
clay Parsons. Chief Engineer Of the Rapid
Transit Commission. with several assist
ant engineers, viii leave this week FOR
London.
As 20 what work has been done and his
plans for operation Contractor John p
Mcdonald made this statement yester-
day.
The construction Of the rapid-transit
railroad is making satisfactory progress.
and there is no reason TO doubt the com
pl,tiOn Of the work within the time fixed
Ly the contract. Work is now under way
at almost every point Of the line. the only
exception being the yiaduct work on the
west SIDE north Of Fort George. Some Of
the sections are well I'm advance while
on others. on account Of delay in installing
plant. change in plans difficulties Of con-
struCrOn. etc, the work is not so for
ward.
The site for the pOwerhOuse has been
selected. and this building will be one OF
the largest. If not the largest. powerh0use
in the world. In it VIII be installed eight
engines Of from 800 10 II 600 horsepower
and forty-eight 300 horsepower boilers.
These engines and boilers have been con-
tracted for. and plans are now well under
way for the construction of the power
house. which viii not only contain one OF
the largest power plants in the world. but
viii be so constructed as to be an Orna-
mcnt % the city. Meanwhile the cleo
trical equipment of the road has not been
neglected, and this all-impOrtant worI,
VIII soon be actually under way, so that
the equIpping Of the road viii proceed 81
simultaneously with its construction.
Seven thousand men are at work day
and night. and every effort IS being made
by the sUb-cOntractOrs to push the work
and TO conduct it in such a way as TO
subject the public TO the least possible
amount Of discomfort. OF course. in a
project OF such magnitude. covering a
strip tWcnJy-Oue miles in length. and run
ming through some OF the busiest and
most crowded thorOughfares of the city
y is Impossible 10 avoid annoyance to
those living, doing business. or travelling
along the route II should be said. how
ever, that the work has been greatly aid
ed not only by the friendly attitude of the
people, but also by the hearty cO-Oper4-
UAn Of all the city officials having char -
OF departments affected by the rapid
transit construction and by the earnest
and active support Of the Rapid Transit
Commission
The people Of New York may be as
sured that rapid transit has long ago
passed the stage Of doubt. IS already well
in sight, and viii be "A reality within the
time set for the running Of trains from
city Hall 10 kingSbTdge and 10 Bronx
Park. and the people may realize that
From the City Hall to Harlem IN fifteen
minutes IS at hand
Contractor Mcdonald did not care to
venture an exact prediction as 20 What
time the subway viii be ready for traffic.
II Is known, however. that both Alr. Nc
Donald and Chief Engineer Parsons be-
ieve that the tunnel will be In a complet-
cd condition about Christmas time, 1893
Mr. Mcdonald plans 20 make the com
plcted subway a holiday gift 10 the people
OF New York year after next.
He has already spent nearly $500 90.
An inspection Of the whole length Of the
rapid transit route by a reporter showed
that Of the 200 blocks along the main line
work is in progress on more thOn 200.
Very little has been done yet along the
elevated sections Of the line on the east
and west Bronx branches but the steel
IS on the ground and the job Of ConStruc-
uOu can be speedily accomplished. The
work most advanced is that in charge Of
the DcEnOu-McLean Company. extending
from the city hail To Great Jones Street
The tunnel is practically completed. as
far as the digging is concerned. save for
the cross streets in this section.
At Spring Street there is a completed
stretch Of several blocks. The earth has
been filled in again and street traffic re-
sumed- The loop in the City Han Park
has been almost completed. and save for
the laying OF tracks the stretch directly
In front Of the City Hall IS ready for the
running OF subway trains. The section
contracted for by William Bradley. from
SiXrieth street 10 one Hundred and
Fourth Street. Is the next advanced. Con-
tractor Bradley has completed a subway
station which. except for the staircases
and other minor additions, is in shape
TO be occupied This is situated at
the point where the most diff