The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-24
TINE For CITY
UNDERGROUND
New York Is Going to Intro
duce Something New
ONLY LOGICAL RESULT
Over Crowding of City Will
Thus be Relieved
ONLY LOGICAL RESULT
New York. May 2a.-The New YOrl

New York, May Z5'-Ane Nc" AN
world says:
The time is rapidly approaching
when many thousands Of New York
ers viii not see The sun from
one months end to another. Nothing IS
going to happen to the sun, but some
thing win happen to New York.
TIE problem Of providing space for the
rapidly increasing population OF the
great cities of The world mas been but
innpsrfecIy solved. London has spread
out into overwhelming suburbs. Paris
preserves her wide boulevar3s and ele-
giant. airy spaces for her elect and hud-
dies her poor like rats into dark corner
Picking the elemental and colossal piles
her increase in ciose-packed layers on
the primitive theory that what is space
enough for one is space enough Tor two
OF three.
NtW York. the modern metropolis, has
been more ingenious. The four elements.
with The exception Of the one of caloric
dmpossibHGes. have been conquered and
utilized for residential space.
When the air was invaded by sky
scrapers and the surplus population sent
whiz2fng up among the birds in purring
elevators it was thought that the solu-
tion was reached Pu1 every minute
dies man; every minute one (and a
woman or two is born" The supply
OF space is short Of the demand.
The coming life of New York is the
Underground The carrying out Of the
gigantic subway transportation scheme
has set the restless pioneer Of progress
TO work figuring out the possibilities Of
subterranean expansion. The growth Of
the tree municipal has nearly reached
the limit Of trunk and branch and is
now spreading from the root.
The other day a shrewd prophet ap-
piled to the pennsylvania railroad com
pany for a space in connection with its
new entrance into the city by way Of
g tunnel under North river and its grand
terminal structure at Thi:ty-first and
Thi.ty-second streets and seventh ave
nue.. The prophet and pioneer proposes
to establish there a hrst-class under
ground theatre with all the accommo-
dations and facilities Of the best Broad
way houses
The plan will, no doubt, be carried out
sooner or later The novelty of the
thing viii be sure TO make it a success.
New York delights in the original, the BIZ
zarre and the audacious. Moreover, New
York is quick to follow Up suggestions.
The establishment of an underground
theatre viii mean the inauguration of a
new phase Of metropolitan life Plans
for the Improvement and the higher eX-
tension of sky scraper buildings may be
abandoned. Real estate VIII take on a
new value The architect must become
8 miner. lie will tax his ingenuity in
The study Of excavations instead Of ele-
vations. No longer win the New Yorker
emulate the birds and build his nest in
dark holes pierced in mountains Of stone
and brick. The mole viii be his precep-
tor and teach him to utilize the vast sub
terranean areas heretofore well-nigh
neglected.
There seems to be scarcely any limit
10 the possibilities OF underground ex-
pansicn. No obstacle can be perceived ia
the way to prevent the extension below
of almost every phase of surface life
And the advantages appear to be many
If an underground rapid transit tunnel
and a prospective theatre. why not ho-
tells. apartment houses. stores. churches
Offices and dwelling places that viii offeI
q welcome relief from the di7comforts Of
victims imprisoned in the either freezing
or baking flats above?
Already there is teeming life beneath
the streets and sidewalks of the city
il is a life that escapes the notice oil
the unobservant except when manifested
by puns OF super-heated air or by the
faint clank of engines and machinery
Down there everything is now sacrificed
10 utility. IN sitting engine rooms and
in damp and reekiug vaults and cellar.
a goodly proportion Of inhabitants pas,
the greater part of their time in foul
and unhealthy atmosphere. The new
expansion viii change all this
The more deeply one ponders over the
citys approaching downward expansion
the more attractive dc its poSsibilitie.
appear. y city below ground offers many
advantages. The first subterranean hote
-yill quickly M its rooms with crate
ful guests glad TO escape the roar ant
crash OF the elevated. the buzz and clans
Of the surface cars. the cl3tter of cal
wheels over the cobbies the cries Of tn,
vendors and the nerve-racking tumult O
the present life.
into these underground hsbitation!
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