Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-13

- constructed in Chicago. II has
It4hRu three distinct and unusual fea-
- tures-it is unique in design,
Mammoth in size and the methods Of con
s~truction and ultimate use are decidedly
novel. When completed, nearly 100 miles of
tunnels will reach to all parts of the city,
and the traGlc problem will be solved, 50
far as relief from the congestion Of surface
travel Is concerned.
Chicago is a most peculiar city. While
II covers an area OF 1874 square miles, a
large portion Of which Is sparsely popu-
lated, the business interests are centered
in a district about three quarters of a mile
square. within these narrow limits are
the great Wholesale houses, banks, depart
ment stores, office buildings, t%heaters, rail-
way depots and steamboat docks. The re-
suit is IA bewildering confusion OF pedes-
trians on the sidewalks, while the road
ways are choked with street cars, delivery
wagons and heavy drays. All this within
a radius of six blocks from the corner of
state and Madison streets. the hub OF the
business section. Outside of this district
there is comparative ease Of movement for
both pedestrians and wagon traffic.
For years the people OF Chicago have
been seeking relief from this condition,
Until the inception Of this subway scheme
the only plan proposed was that OF sinking
the street car tracks, and to this the mer-
chants OF the downtown district made
strong objection. They said 1t would ruin
their trade by taking the people from the
surface OF the streets, and the mercantile
influence Is not to be treated lightly In
Chicago. Municipal Teformers clamored for
a depression OF the tracks at the expense
OF the street railways, with a view to
harassing these corporations into dispos-
ing of their franchises to the city; trade in
terests made strenuous objections, and be-
tween the two forces the city officials were
sorely belonged when a proposition was
made TO the council for an underground
telephone service that would rid Chicago
OF the Bell monopoly, 1t was received
kindly and a permit given to construct the
necessary conduits, Then opposition began
to show Itself. A clause was inserted In
the franchise forbidding the Illinois Tele-
phone aud Telegraph company tthe new
concern) to tear up a foot Of pavement. or
to disturb tho surface OF the ~roadways IN
any manner under pain OF forfeiture Of its
entire plant.
ChIcHEO's Mig surprise.
This was about two years ago. The OPP
pCnents OF tn project thought they had
enectually blocked the construction Of the
Conduits. There was no sign OF any work
being done, Not a foot of street pavement ha
been torn up, and when the word was given
out not long ago that seven miles Of large
5 zed tunnels had been built under the
business section OF Chicago aud were reads
for use, everybody except the men directly
Interested in the work was astounded. II
was pronounced an engineering impossi-
tility to construct such a system OF sub
ways without tearing up the streets
~. ~. .H.wl- hna IA.n dana Tho nFtm-
inal promoters Of the scheme surrendered
their rights TO an eastern syndicate. which
subscribed $40. 600, 600 in cash to begin
operations with. aud put Albert @, Wheele''
the man who built the Love and erground
trolley system in Washington, in charge
OF the enterprise. MIR. Wheeler associated
with him George w. Jackson, the engineer
Of the Pixies Peak railway, and between
them a novel plan OF construction WIS