The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-20
OLD TUNNEL UNDER BROADWAY
BUILT IN go, AND SHOWS WHAT
COULD BE DONE NOW.

G. r. Rmsth Recalls q Successful Expera~
mont OF Years Ago--py0hn ID. Mcdonald
signs for sight Of Rusy werkmen
Scattering Dirt AbOut tho street.
Looking from his office windows in the
Park Row Building yesterday, John b.
Mcdonald observed the workmen building
the bridge over Broadway at st. Paurs,
where one OF the shafts for the subway
In lower Broadway il being sunk. "Too
peaceful" he observed, II should like to
see men working there. l don't believe
in all this foolishness"
Contractor Mcdonald was asked if he
meant that the form of construction used
In other subway work to the Inconvenience
OF business interests was to be preferred.
He answered with a figure Of speech:
where there are so many berries there are
apt to be briers"
Mr.. Mcdonald wouldn't say what he
thought OF the project of boring tunnel
from Forty-second street to Fourteenth
street, as no said it would not do for him
to criticise the tentative plans of the chief
engineer Of the Rapid Transit Commits
sion.
Il don't think subway from there down
to the Battery along Broadway or Uni
Mcdonald. II have thought all along that
there should be three tracks in the upper
Broadway spur. These would help to
handle tho great traffic from the Grand
Central Station
Mr.. Mcdonald wouldn't undertake to
say whether three tracks could be put
down there without infringing on vaults,
cellars and other property rights.
The people don't want deep tunnels
In New York" said Mr. Mcdonald. "Tun-
nels could be bored down Broadway. Any
thing can be done In an engineering way
If the money is ready to gay for it.
Chief Engineer Parsons was asked II
he knew OF the organization Of business
men to prevent any kind OF an under.
as saying Yes, l have heard of that
plan. They did the same thing some years
ago and killed tho Broadway plan at that
time"
When asked if he thought they would
succeed again, he said: Perhaps they
avenue route is chosen, they will not get
the chance"
G. I. Smith Of 1913 East Sixteenth street
recalled yesterday that more than a
quarter of century ago tunnel was
built under Broadway and section Of
railroad Dullt and operated. This was
done without disturbing the surface of
the street. He said:
Il refer TO the experimental section Of
railroad in Broadway between Warren and
Murray streets which was constructed by
Mr.. Alfred Beach, the editor Of the Scientific
American, and Moses Beach This tunnel
was constructed by forcing perforated
steel shield ahead through the soil and fol-
lowing this progression with brick work
The earth removed by this process was put
into canvas bags, and at night carried out
through the basement of the tailor shop at
the corner Of Broadway and Warren street
where the entrance to the tunnel was.
Not until the cars were running and the
machinery for their pneumatic propulsion
was operating did the public become
awSre Of the work that had been done te-
meath Broadway, and had the pleasure OF
making the first report. This was private
enterprise. and, II am not mistaken, that
tunnel is there yet. an object lesson TO show
that there IL really no necessity for dis
turbing the surface Of the street in con-
structng an underground road. This Sec
ton OF railway was built in 1859, before we
had men with the experience possessed BY
Engineer Parsons and Rapid Transit
Commission"