New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-13
WOULD SAVE CITY $1,OOO,OOO.
THE BC7LDLNG OF AN EAST SIDE TUNNEL SHOULD
CLOSELY FOLLOW THE PRESENT WORK.


AS a result of the present agitation for an
East Side subway. it was pointed out yesterday
that if the construction of such an extension
was begun in conjunction with or Immediately
after the work on the present route the bulid-
ing of the eastern branch of the rapid transit
system could be done at a much lower cost than
If indefinitely postponed The chief reason for
this is that with the completion of the present
tunnel there will be large gangs of workmen
well skilled in this particular kind of work
who have been employed under Mr.. Mcdonald,
the chief contractor of the tunnel, in its con-
struction. A great quantity of special machin-
cry peculiarly adapted to the excavation of
subway will also be hand, which could only
be disposed of at sacrifice, but which could be
continued on the excavation of extension
without extra cost. Most of this equipment IS
owned by the several sub-contractors
According to the opinion of the members of
the Rapid Transit Commission the preliminary
work necessary before bonds are issued for the
construction of an East Side branch of the rapid
transit system would take about two years
The present subway is expected to he complete
and in running order year from next Christ
mas. 1t is thus seen that if the preparatory
steps are taken toward the construction Of an
East Side subway Immediately. these initiatory
obstacles hardly he overcome by December
1908. at the time of the expected completion
of the present route. 1t is thus evident that
prompt action on the part of the Board OF
Rapid Transit Commissioners in taking up the
East Side tunnel problem, in authorizing its
engineers to make surveys and prepare plans
for a feasible route To the east of Central
Park and in learning the cost of such an i'm
provement will ultimately the city a mill
ion or more of dollars, well as bring to the
hulk of the population north of Forty-second-st.
whose homes the East Side the privilege
of apd transit early date.
Ex-Mayor Thomas F. Gilroy, former Commits
sioner of Public Works. and president of the
Twelfth Ward Bank, of Harlem. who has been
active in his interest in the development of that
part of the city, laid special emphasis yester-
day on the fact that the preliminary work ante
dating the construction of a subway east of
Central Park would take as long as two years
Accordingly. he recommended that the Board
of Rapid Transit Commissioners take immediate
action in favor of such an Improvement. He
said:
PRELIMINARY WORK Is SLOW.
1t is fact. known to all OF from the his
tory of this city. that the preliminary work in
VOWED in great public undertaking consumes
more time than the actual accomplishment of
the Improvement. 1t Is for that reason that
heartily support the crusade which The Tribune
has begun for an East Side subway, and which
has awakened such interest among the
people of Harlem and The Bronx. An East
Side subway should have been built at the time
the present line adopted. AS all know.
the city was not able TO bear the expense of
building both sides of Central Park at the
same time. and the plan of eastern subway
laid aside. For that reason it seems to me
eminently proper that the Rapid Transit Com
mission should begin Immediately to find out
what is the best East Side route. and to bring
the subject before the public for discussion
by means of hearings. and. having decided on
a route, TO obtain the tentative consent of prop
erty owners Such procedure will take nearly
two years, and by that time the city ought to
be able to undertake the work. let the contract
and issue bonds for the cost of construction.
say cost although in fact ii would not cost
the city a cent if the contract for the building