The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-27

] and placed the cost Of construction at
| an impossibly small sum.
A bond of $6.900,o00 was demanded.
August Belmont, who knew Mcdonald
and had every confidence in him. or
ganiZed a company and furnished the
money. The city then loaned SIS, 000. 600
for the work of construction, the amount
to be repaid, with interest, and the en-
tire subway to revert to the city gratis,
at the end of fifty years, during which
time the company is to have the use of
it. No such advantageous terms as
these were ever before made by mu-
nicipality for similar work.
! The difficulties in the road of con-
struction might we'll have staggered
any man. More than 100000 yards Of
earth had to be dug out and 100000
yards of rock blasted and carried away.
Nearly &c, 900 men, skilled and unskilled,
We're necessary for the construction of
the subway, but through all the doubt
the chief contractor never faltered or
feared. He has given up every moment
of his waking hours to the problems in
volved, and has personally been many
times over every yard of the route.
During all of the four years he has
never permitted himself to make a pre-
diction that was not borne out, and
finally, at the very moment when even
Belmont himself was beginning to be
anxious, he astounded the directors of
the company and the city officials by
saying that in four months the system
would be opened to the public.
Mr.. Mcdonald is 60 years old, broad
shouldered, with magnificent physique
and ability to endure all sorts of ply
steal hardships He was born in Ire
land In 1874, and was brought to this
country three years later, his father, a
hard working peasant, coming to New
York as an enligrant seeking work. For
years during his younger life the boy
earned rs cents and 81 a day in the rock
cut of the Hudson River railroad, and
nd xxyFf fn in
school that was supported by private
benevolence.
When Mr.. Mcdonald was asked
couple of days ago to break his long
silence and say something for publica-
ton he replied:
There is nothing like the New York
subway in all the world. and / am proud
of the work L don't think would feel
any prouder if 1 were president of the
United States. 1t may be well to say that
had it not been for two years of labor
conditions hitherto unknown in this coun-,
try the subway would have been finished
Having shoveled and blasted this four
track subway. 81 feet wide, under the
the foundations of tall buildings on either
side of us, and tangled miles of water
All knds of electric cables and conduits
in our way-not to speak of the enormous
have demonstrated that the rapid transit
problem of any great city can be COM
pletely solved. 1t is now simply a queS-
ton of more tunnels AS far as New
York is concerned, there is not a street
in the city which can not be safely tun-
neIed.''
The scene in the tunnel strikes one at
first sight as being so entirely different
from anything he expected to see that it
takes long while to get over the sur
prise and to realize what the surround
ings actually are. The lighting effects are
most tasteful and for once in a great,
practically municipal undertaking beauty
has been made important element in
the work
Every station along the route has an en-
tirely different color scheme, in glazed
tiles and marble and in addition the walls
of each hold different devices appropriate,
wherever possible, TO their name. The
Astor station, for instance, is decorated
with the beaver in mosaie-the Aston en-
blem, and at Columbus Circle, the decora-
lions are caravelS.
1t will not be necessary for a passenger
going down or up town to strain his ears
so that he may understand what station
the conductor is calm gaTIe can look out
of the window and see the color scheme of