The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-27
Future subway Construction In This
Town.

Town.
A discussion is going on among engl-
neers and in newspapers concerning inc
route which proposed extension OF
the subway shall take, whether up Broad
way or up Seventh avenue. Into that
controversy, so largely techn cal, we
shall not now enter; but of one phase OF
the question of the additional under
ground railway construction which Will
be necessary and inevitable in this
rapidly growing town The Sun would
speak very decidedly.
The subway construction now pro-
ceeding has caused much injury ana
ANNOYANCE to the public. Great avenues
of travel have been INSTRUCTED to very
serious extent or months together, trade
along those streets has suffered accord
ingly and property has been damaged.
OF this we shall make no complaint, for
il was an inevitable consequence OF
method of construction of new system
of transit which may be said to have been
experimental and therefore to have Justl-
fed reasonable economies in the excel
ton of the undertaking.
This experimental character OF the SUBJ
way system of transit has now given place
to virtual assurance that the under
ground railroads will be practically sue
cessful and financially profitab Q. The
doubt Of the undertaking VIII oh was in
dicated by the unwllingness of private
capital to 60 into it at the inception o
the project has passed away. NO sooner
was the underground road advanced
beyond the earliest stages Of its con-
struction than it was demonstrated that
the scheme would be successful in every
way. 1t was also made evident that this
was only the beginning OF system OF
subway transit which would eventually.
and even rapidly, be extended in many
directions.
That Manhattan Island is destined to
be bored with tunnels throughout its
length and breadth is now obvious, and
this engineering work will continue
without any considerable cessation for
many years to come. Are we, then, to
have as long continued experience the
blocking of streets, the undermining of
buildings, the interruption Of trade and
of the comfortable Use OF great and
crowded avenues, and the disturbance
of the water and sewage systems, through
which we have passed for several years
and are still passing
II these hardships were necessary as
an incident Of the development of New
York they would have to be tolerated.
Obv Gus Y the facilities for transit must
be in reased, and they cannot be increased
to any large extent except by providing
subways. Manhattan Island, more es-
pecially, is destined to be honeycombed
with railway tunnels. Already it is the
most densely populated area on the face
Of the globe, yet never was its population
increasing so fast as now.
What, then, is to be done? This Is to
be done, and it can be done without en-
countering any engineering obstacles
which practical experience has not shown
to he easily surmountabc. The further
extensions Of the subway system must
he accomplished without a repetition of
the street obstruction and interference
with trade, comfort and health through
which we have passed because of the
method Of construction of the under
ground road now in progress.
That is. future cxCa vatlons must be real
tunnels, dug 80 far beneath the level of
the streets and avenues through which
they pass that no obstruction of the sur
face and no interference with the water
mains and sewage system shall result
The work of construction must be SO far
below ground that it shall proceed out
of the sight of the people above ground
and without injury to their pursuits and
their free use of rhe streets.
That this can DO done has been dem
onstrated amply. II is an engineering
problem so fully solved that it would
he simply an exhibition OF Ignorance of
long established facts even TO discuss it,.
Such subways may cost more money
than would the digging Of another ditch,
but the matter of increased expense to
any company undertaking the same Is
Of no Importance as compared with the
right Of the public to be spared any fur
ther experience Of recent conditions.