The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-28

strength and durability, while the sta
tons are treated in color schemes with
ceramic thing. Each station has its
own distinctive color idea, and the dec
orative scheme is varied in each. This
was done not only for decorative ef-
feet, but in order that the prevailing
color may indicate the locality to the
underground traveller, whose usual
means of knowing his Whereabouts are
not available.
Electrical Throughout.
The stations are commodious and
brilliantly lighted, and the finishings
are all of bronze, brass and other
metal, woodwork being eliminated as
far as possible. The system is cleo
trical, one great power house develop
ing the required energy. The cars are
Of the latest type, being especially de-
signed for the system, and are either
copper or steel sheathed.
Every known device and every idea
suggested by skill and experience.
have been provided to insure safe
transportation A complete signal sys-
tenn is in operation, and for weeks
the trains have been running regu-
larly in order to train the motormen
and guards in their duties and ia
miliarize them with the road. When
WI. AC1Olldlu SGCuIGu the Contract
for constructing the subway, a. group
of capitalists organized the New
York Rapid Transit Construction Com
pany with a capital of Sc, 100000. This
concern furnished $4,000 900 of Mr..
McDonald's $5,000000 bond to the city,
the other 81 900 being placed in Sc
curity companies. Two years later
the company formally took over Mr..
McDonald's contracts, and it is under
it that the subway will be operated for
the fifty years provided in the agree
ment. g.
viii Garry 9OO,OOO.OOO Passengers
Annually.
The rapid transit system, of which
the subway opened to-day. is but the
first stage. when completed will make
New York unique among the world S
cities. It's twenty-sK miles of under
ground tracks, elevated structures and
viaducts, over which will run express
trains at nearly mile a minute, will
reach the city's northern and southern
limits, and diving under the East riV-
err, make the extreme eastern skirts of
Brooklyn as accessible to the great
business districts as the apartment
house crowned nights of Harlem. 1t
is estimated that over this vast sys-
tenn, and those of the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company and the
Manhattan Elevated Company will
pass annually more than 900,000,000
of passengers.
The Subway's Connections.
Crossing this huge system of public
utilities will be the great $4,000. 900
private tunnel of the Pennsylvania
Railway Company, which. crossing the
Hudson river from the Jersey shore
to Manhattan Island will go under
the city, dive under the East river
and furnish an exit to the great Long
Island country. Other links in this
giant system are the New York and
New Jersey Railroad tunnel, the Hud-
son and Manhattan Railroad tunnel
the New York and Queens tunnel, the
New York Central Terminal tunnel
the Williamsburg bridge, the Manhat-
tan bridge and the BlackwelPs Island
bridge, involving all told an expendl-
ture of about $205 .0000 900.
The rapid transit system proper,
however, which includes the present
subway and its extensions already au-
thorized, is owned by the city of New
York. 1t has not Expended dollar
In it's construction. but, as has been
said loaned the money for the con-
struction, and the terms provide that
it shall be operated by the contracting
builders for a period of fifty years
with the privilege of renewing the
lease for twenty-five years longer.