New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-20
PLEASED WITH SUBWAY
THE MAYOR INSPECTS 1T.
Mcdonald Shoes to PARTY of Sirty
That 1T Is Nearly Done.

At the last meeting Of the Rapid Transit
Commission John B. Mcdonald. the contractor
told them that the work of subway construction
would be finished on August 1. Without In
dicating any doubt to his statement the COM
missioners said they would like to look at the
subway. Mr.. Mcdonald promptly invited them
TO take trip throught 1t yesterday. The in
spection not official. No official inspection
will be made until the whole road is completed.
Including newspaper men and photographers.
nearly sixty men travelled through the subway
on two fiat drawn by an old-fashioned
elevated road engine. Mr. McDonaId's guests
included Mayor Mcclellan and his secretary.
Mr.. OBrien; Alexander E. Orr. John II. Starin.
Charles Stewart Smith and Woodbury. Lang
don. of the Rapid Transit Commission: Presi-
dent Fornes OF the Board of Aldermen. Justices
O'Brien and Hatch, of the Supreme Court; Paul
d. Cravath. H. H. vreeland Richard Delaheld
John B. stanchfield President Underwood.
Of the Erie system: John WhaIen. j. Edward
Simmons. George W. Young. Victor j. DowIing.
William E Curtis. H. B. Piatt William H. Ten
Eyek. John ]. Ryan, John P windolph. j. w.
Smith, Harry D. Reed. H. d. Lyman r. ~ c.
Smith Perry Belmont. Charles a. Coffin How
ard c. Smith. DR. Andrew Fl. Smith. H G.
King, E. P. Bryan. ce-president and gem
eral manager of the InterbOrough and Frank
Hedley.
H. NJ Hamilton engineer Of maintenance and
way OF the Interborough. had charge of the
train IS L. F. Deyo. chief engineer of the
construction company. and George S. Wright.
acting chief engineer of the Rapid Transit Com
mission, went along TO help explain things.
The party left the City Hall station at 1:4O
p. m and reached One-hundred- and f1fty-sev-
enth-st, the west spur OF the system an
hour and twenty-seven minutes later. The
roadbed was in excellent condition. and. al
though the visitors riding on fiat cars
there was not even Jar. The temperature in
the subway was almost too cold. It was at
least 30 degrees below the temperature of the
street above. but. although cool. the air was dry
and not unpleasant. A little mustiness IN the
tunnel part of the construction. Mr.. Hediey ex-
planned. would leave it when a few trains had
gone through.
AT Twenty-third-st the first important stop
was made. This station. one of the largest on
the line. Is Mr.. McDonalds pet. The visitors
all dismOunted there. From Twenty -third-st-
the cars went straight their way. stopping
here and there. that Mr.. Mcdonald and the en-
sineers might point out the various difficulties
overcome. until the Murray Hill tunnel was
reached There the party saw where Major
Shaler met his death. Then they rounded into
Forty y-secOnd-st. where the deep foundation OF
the Belmont Hotel and it's subway con-
Columbus Circle station. at Fifty-ninth-st. and
Central Park.
At One-hUndred-and-fourth-s Mr. Orr. Mr.
Smith and Mr.. Cravath left the party. MI Orr
said he was delighted with what he had seen
but not surprised. He had always expect
ed. he said, that the subway would be finished
by the time set. and he not surprised that
Mr.. Mcdonald had beaten the time set by his
contract. Unforeseen labor troubles and legal
complications Mr.. Orr declared. had alone stood
in the way Of the completion Of the subway six
months ago. Mr. Orr was anxious to have it
understood that he looked on the subway so
far built only preliminary to a great sys-
tenn Of subways.
The party went TO One-hundred- and-fifty-sev-
enth-st.. practically the end of the completed
subway. although the engineers said the tracks
were laid as far as Fort George. So far the
engine had pushed the two ears. Now IL had
TO pull them back to Ninety-sixth-st.. to let tbs
party take the east spur. There was no way to
move the seats on the fiat cars. and everybody
had 20 travel backward AT observation-disclosures
forty-hfth-st- a short stop was made. that
the travellers could see the yards and storage
place for the cars and motors.
On the east spur the party went TO One-hun-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES At that point the
crOsStown cars gave them access 20 all parts OF
the city. There every one wanted to shake
hands with and congratulate Mr. Mcdonald
Mayor Mcclellan was asked if he would like to
say something about the trip.
Say that 1 was delighted" he said. "and most
enthusiastic. I enjoyed the trip very much. and
feel sure that all New-YOrk will appreciate the
tunnel when il is finished. IL looks now as if
the completion Is very near"
H H. Nreeland of the Metropolitan system.
was also delighted, although he would not talk
Il am much astOniShed he said in a whis-
per, that have lost my voice"
1t was explained afterward that Mr.. Vreeland
caught cold several days ago.
Mr. Starin put his arms around Mr.. Mcdonald
and congratulated him.
August Belmont president Of the road.
detained at home by a slight illness. His
brother. Perry Belmont. left the party at
Twenty-third-st. on the way up. pleading an i'm
pOrtant prior engagement.
What can I say?" said Mr.. Mcdonald when
he was asked for interview Il am not an
orator-and, anyway. this isn't the time for
speechmaking. l told the commissioners I
should be finished with my construction work
by August l.; 1 shouldn't have said II If I hadn't
felt of it If you want to say it again. I
say it, OF course, 1 am pleased that every body
else is pleased, but don't see how they could
helm