New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-03
pTTCHES AND RESTNESs.

We have perceived no widespread demonstra-
tons Of dismay among those most concerned at
Eir. BelTnonts proposal 10 abandon the Broad
way subway scheme unless the work can be
Gone in ''cut and cover" fashion. On the con-
trary, the prevailing sentiment seems to be one
81 relief and satisfaction at that prospect Of
escape from an intoerable infection. There
has been no 'blufiing" IN the recent campaign
Of Broadway business men against the trans
formation Of that thor0ughfare into an open
ditch for an indefinite tine. They have been IN
earnest, with the earnestness Of men whose
prosperity was menaced. and Il the result Of
their opposition TO the ditch shall be that there
win he no subway at all, we have no doubt they
wiz say. $50 be it; it Is better So; and IN view
Of the horrors Of Forty-secoDd-st and Park
Row. they wiz be right
Fer "cut and cover construction on that part
OF Broadway would inevitably be worse than
Oh those other streets; as much worse as Broad
way is more important than the others. True,
Il is said that "cut and cover" would not pro-
coed rs u did on Park Row. hut rather as It Is
proceeding * present on lower Broadway. But
we have recently heard the contractor complain
Ing OF the impracticabity OF the lower Broad
way system, and intmating that if ever the Job
Is finished the street must be ripped wide open.
EFen IL the method now pursued be successful
There however, it would be quite inapplicable
10 The upper part OF Broadway; for there is a
radical diherence between the two places Be
tween The Postofice and Bowling Green NJ
night Broadway is almost entirely deserted II
is then possible 10 tear II open or blockade II
az VIII without injury or inconvenience TO the
public, so long as il IS restored TO fits normal
condition IN the morning. But between Forty
second-st- and Union Square Broadway IS as
populous Until midnight as at noon. There ts
not an hour q the twenty-four when 81 &c ro+
much frequented. There is hardly an hour whom
the blockaoing or tearing open OF its roadway
would not be an tnsuferable nuisance
Neither are we Convinced that a subway tbera
IS absolutely essential 10 the completeness ot
our local transit system. We cannot have an
underground road along every street. with a sta
ton at every theatre, hotel and department
store. N there were a road under Broadway
the stations would be several blocks apart, ana
people would still have TO walk some distance
10 reach points midway between them. The
Fourth-ave subway is only block from Broad
way az Union Square, and the equivalent Of
two short blocks at Madison Square, and Il
comes Directly upon Broadway at Forfy-second-
- A subway on Seventh-Hve. would he about
the same distance away on the other side.
There are many people who think Broadway
could get along with tbose two roads far better
than Il could stand being transformed into an
open ditch For year or two. Moreover, IL is by
DO means certain that those are the only alter
natives. There are men not wholly destitute OF
3ntelligence who believe it possible 10 put sub
WAY under n street without making an open
s--ts4-Eaea aAa beIege that what has been