Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-10-27
New York Subway
Formally Opened
CONTINUED from Page ID

West Side branch OF W tracks con-
tinues north from l03rd Street 10
Hillside Avenue and 18th Avenue,
where Il energies from a tunnel and
IL continued upon q viaduct to 10
terminues at. Spuyten Duyyil, nine
miles OF this total OF about fourteen
were ready for traffic today. but IT
In expected that the East Side divi
sion and the remainder OF the West
Side line will be ready In about three
months. The recently authorized
line from City Hall under the East
River TO Prospect Park. Rrooklyn.
will not be completed for about three
years. With that and other lines I'M
der construction and authorized.
Greater New York will have between
twenty-five and twenty-thrce miles
Of subway and allied lines.
Ground was broken for the tunnel
on March rs, 1900. after years of agi-
tation and legislation out OF which
the present project grew. 1t had
been decided by a municipal ballot
that the city should own the system,
but that II should be constructed
under private contract on money loan.
ed by the city, TO be repaid by tho
contractor with interest. II required
six years TO lay ont the route and
plan the size and character OF the
tunnel and the viaducts, the work
being under the supervision Of a
commission OF which Alexander r.
Orr was president and William Bar
clay PaTsons irhief ensInder. This
accomplished, bids for the gigantic
work were issued. There were but
two responses. that Of John b. Nc
Donald, a New York contractor, being
the lowest at $s5, 900 900. In spite
Of the splendid franchise involved,
the enormous difficulties Of driving
q great tunnel under the crowded city
the blasting and inevitable suits for
damages for injured property and the
possibility. deferred all others than
Mcdonald land Andrew O~ndcrdonk.
whose bid was four millions In excess
Of the successful bidder. The On.
tract under which Mcdonald under
took the work provided that he
should construct the subway road In
four years at a cost Of t35, 600. 900:
that he should have the right TO opc-
rate IL for fifty years. with 4 right
OF renewal for twenty-five years;
that the city would furnish him with
936. 600, 900 by an issue OF bonds bear
Ing q IL per cent. interest, and that
In fifty years he should repay the
&35 s000, 900 and interest by annual In.
stallments. The entire property
would belong to the city, and at the
end Of the lease the city should re-
lease the system on it's " terms to
whom IL pleased. The contractor
was to make his profit out Of the con-
atrnction and operation Of the road.
The construction Of the tube has
Involved difficulties Of a character
probably never before facedj In such
a work. Portions Of It passes under
skyscrapers. involving costly and
specially designed supporting sys-
TENS. and practically its whole length
lies under a crowded city requiring
the solution OF such problems as those
involved In the displacement OF hund.
reds OF sewers. many OF them great
main trunk conduits, masses of intri-
tricate and interiaced electric wires,
gas, water and IA pipes, and all
without seriously i~nterrupiing the
services OF these essentials TO the
life Of a great city. Ore foundations
were encountered IN unexpected
places and quick sands. strongly
flowing springs and long forgotten
streams frequently called into play
every device OF modern engineering
genius 10 meet perilous emergencies.
About three million cubic yards OF
excavation were made for the tunnel.
one third Of which was stone. IS this
required blasting another serious Oh
stacle was encountered In deyising
means for the safe use Of explosives.
particularly In those PORTIONS " the
work which were in tho form u npen
excavation, or ditching. In preserg.
ing the grade the depth OF IN" tnarel
underground varies largely. Aotahly
along upper Broadway where 81 was
driven under the middle Of The street
Here the roof OF the subway Is bat a
few feet under the pavement. The
detailed work OF constructing the tun.
mel was done by means OF sub con
tracts. the route being divided into
sections which were advertised by the
chief contractor. As extensive Dor.
ings had been made along he enure
route. the contractors Of excavation
10 be made, but in some 81 the sub a.