New-York tribune., 1902-07-13
WORK IN ATLANTlC-AN +.
1T Is EXPECTED THAT IT WILL BE
COMPLETED IN APRIL. 1901


Work on the great Atlantic-ave Improvement
which is to remove all the tracks Of the Long
Island Railroad from the surface of that thor
oughfare is now being pushed rapidly ana IS
we'll up TO the schedule established. Beginning
with the turning of the first spadeful of earth
at Bedford-ave. with special ceremonies laS'
December the improvement. which for years
has been the dream of residents and properly
owners along and in the vicinity OF Atahuc-
ave one Of the broadest streets In BroohlyH'
will be completed April l, 1904 There are
four sections No. l runs from the tlatDush-
ave station. where connection will be maze
with the terminal of the rapid transit tunnel
10 Manhattan. to Bedford-ave. This will he
tunnel or a closed cut. the engineers term
st. Rising to the surface beyond Bedford-aVe.'
the tracks will gradually rise to an elevated
structure which will continue as far as Ralph-
ave. Beyond Ralph-aye. to the Eastern PARK
way the tracks will be underground again us
ing from there until they on another eleVal-
ed structure at Wiams-ave- This latter
structure will extend to Shepherd-ave' and the
tracks will then descend until they are on the
grade again at Atkins-ave. From the latter
point out to Jamaica the Long Island halroau
Company will construct four heavily ballasted
tracks for the accommodation OF the eX-
press and fast suburban service which VIII
he instituted From Flatbush-ave. TO At
1ins-ave there will be only two tracks
The work on section one. which presents the
most difficulties, is we'll under way between
Bedford and Franklin aves., the most trying
point. The excavation runs close beside ana IN
some parts under large 4s-inch water main
on the north side of the street To carry on the
work without doing damage to this large main
Is a most difficult job. and makes progress slow.
Where the main is exposed and undermined it
Is supported by big chains At first il was
thought that the water main would have 10 he
abandoned but this has been deemed unneces-
sary except between Carlton and Flatbush
aves Within these few blocks the tunnel will
cut across the street to run into the railroad
yards At Carlton-ave. the big main will be
tapped by q smaller one. which will be carried
10 the south side of the avenue, and will con-
tinue down to Flatbush and Fourth aves.. un-
der the sidewalk The big main in that part of
the work will then be abandoned.
In section one two other difficulties present
themselves in two large sewers that cross At
lantic-ave. at Franklin-ave. and at Grand-ave.
These will be depressed East of Bedford-ave.,
in section two the exit from the tunnel. consist
ing of concrete work in a cut. is being rapidly
constructed In the east end of the section the
excavating for the approach to the tunnel in
section three is being done. About one hundred
concrete foundations for the pillars Of the ele
waited structure between Nostrand and Ralph
aves finished.
Excavations are open along the entire line Of
Section 3. At the east end the concrete exit
walls are being built In Section the abut-
ments at the east end are all done and those at
the west end half done. All the pillar founda-
tions have been constructed Thirty-two four
inch ducts for the electric power will he laid the
entire length of the line Along Sections and
4. the elevated sections. these ducts are now
being laid in trenches under the surface and
are almost all in. In Sections l and these
ducts will he built into the walls of the tunnel
The Long Island officials have not yet decided
whether they viii use motor cars or electric
locomotives for the propulsion Of the trains
AS far as the steel contracts are concerned, no
difficulty has been experienced in getting prompt
deliveries. All the steel is on hand for the sub
way in Section 3 and one-third of the steel is
on hand for the tunnel in Section |. No steel
has been delivered for Section -. but two-thirds
OF the steel in all ready for Section f. which is
practically completed. except the erection of the
steel work. This erection will not be begun
until autumn. in order not to interfere with the
running of the summer train schedule. Whereas
one hundred trains over the street in
day this number will be cut down to forty in
the autumn: This section will be entirely done
IN May. 1908. year ahead of the subway.
The Long Island is paying for the entire work
IL goes along, and the CITY gives back 10 the
company one-half of the money expended. pay
fnents belng made. according to the law. in
equal sums of $1,000 SO far the Atlantic Ave
nue. Improvement Commission has drawn GER
tificates for 100000, which represents the COM
pletion of S400O00 worth of work on June
Since then 100000 worth of recepted bills have
been turned over by the railroad company show
ing the completion Of that much more work
II is provided by the act that the city's share
Of the expense shall not exceed 81 2J00O The
total cost of the Improvement will be So 800 600
The cost of the power houses rolling stock and
other equipments Will probably be additional
S1.-J00.O00.
The applicati ton made by the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company for injunction stopping
the work. on the ground that il would injure the
interests of the Nassau Electric Railroad Com
pany, which is the landlord of the Atantc-ave.
franchises. denied yesterday by Justice
Smith. so that cloud the horizon has been
oissipated. Another action which was intended
20 hold up the work is the mandamuS obtained
by man named Holmes. in Manhattan, re-
straining the Controller from paying out any
money for the improvement The argument on
the application to have this injunction made
permanent has been transferred to Kings Coun-
ty. and viii be heard within Z few weeks. Mean
while. however the work is not being delayed.
as the Long Island Railroad. which is paying
all the bills Of the contractors they are pre-
sented, is the only sufferer.