The sun., 1904-07-20
FINDS SUBWAY IN FINE SHAPE.
WILL BE READY BY SEPT. I. THE
MAYOR NOW BELIEVES.

With q Party, Including the Rapid Transit
Commissioners, He Makes . Long
Trip Through tho Tunnel-lnspects
the New 6pur-Cool Under Ground.
Mayor Mcclellan, the Rapid Tran sit
Commission and several city officials rode
through the subway yesterday from the
City Hall to 18th street The trip also in
cluded . run over the newly finished spur
which passes under the northwest corner
Of Central Park from Ninety-sixth street
to I.enox avenue and l26th street.
The trip was the result Of John B. McDon-
AIDS announcement some days ago that
the subway would be ready for service by
Sept. 1.
Suppose you let us take look and judge
for ourselves suggested one OF the COM
missioners. and the trip yesterday was
arranged for that purpose.
There were thirty-seven persons on the
special which left City Hall at $50 yester-
day afternoon Among Mr.. Mcdonald 8
guests were:
Mayor Mcclellan, President Alexander =.
Orr Of the Rapid Transit Commission. John
II. starin. Charles s. Smith. Woodbury. Lang
nSai %sn. tfsa' Jastices Morgan oRrieR and i: ".
Psy p csSSstb JsSn Paes
J. Edward simons, George ". Young, Victor
Ssrt ne%9t asg B. End Pe csar.s Ssha e. Comm p1es
dent of the General Electric Company.
The Mayors and commissioners' spe-
cial,' as some one named the train, con-
sisted Of two fat cars pushed by an h ancient sIIl
engine from the elevated. which had been
altered for subway use.
After the start, the train ran through a
short tunnel to the Bridge station, which lacks
more of completion than any other point
Any bad impression that the commissioners
was dispelled at Worth street, where the
full beauty OF the decorations was seen.
Mr.. Mcdonald stopped the train at twenty
third street, and the party alighted TO look
over the underground connections WIN tne
Office buildings which have been made there.
From Twenty third street the train took the
express tracks and ran without stop 10
15ith street. The tracks are laid all the way
TO Fort George, but the commissioners
decided that they had seen enough OF the
sixth street, where the spur to Lenox ave-
nue. and 125th street begins.
In the stop at Ninety-sixth street Mr..
MoDonald gave the commissioners an object
lesson in painting with the pneumatic spray,
an area OF wall that would have taken
several painters an hour to cover in the or
1T wastes paint" said Mr.. McDonald,
.but paint is cheaper than men these
days. ,. liz. so
at a considerable angle to the other tracks,
and for most OF the distance is cut through
solid rock Here the temperature dropped
to below seventy, and several OF the Know,
ing ones put on he overcoats which had
caused some laughter at the start; In fact.
through its whole length the subway was
surprisingly cool, and, with the exception
Of the tunnel under the Park. entirely free
from dampness.
A little north OF 116th street the main line
Of this subway runs into the open and along
a viaduct for about ten blocks. In the yaros
at that place were some 200 cars standing
on the side tracks ready for service. Con-
tractor Mcdonald pointed to the cars.
sI'll have them all in motion the first week
OF September he said.
When Lenox avenue and l2bth street
was reached the party climbed to the sur
face and started home by more ordinary
modes OF travel. All the Rapid Transit
commissioners Joined In praise OF the
work and expressed their belief that the
work could easily be completed by the date
agreed on Mr.. Vreeland said:
I'm so astonished I've lost my voice
I had seen small stretches Of the subway
before, but the work as whole is marvel
lous.'
Mayor Mcclellan said he had greatly
enjoyed the trip, -and believe, he added,
that Contractor Mcdonald will be able to
finish on the date set, and after all, thats
whot We cana tn And out"