Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-10-27


a number OF deaths. entailing many
damage suits and financially running
the sub-contractor. who. to crown the
one dark chapter on TIE Subway sto-
ry, finally lost his life In a blasting
accident.
The history Of the subway Is one Of
pluck, skill and energy. Even with a.
full realization Of what It meant
when completed. New York has anath-
ematized It daily for four years when
blocked streets. dirt and all the thou
sand and one inconvenience and an.
noyances incident to a work OF such
magnitude, have been forced upon
them, but today when swiftly moving
express trains glide through the miles
OF brilliant, tile-lined tunnel, and the
dream OF From the City Hall to Har-
lem In fifteen minutes" is a reality,
there remains only the pride In the
accomplishment which was manifest
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The term tunnel with It's general.
~ conveyed meaning OF q dark under
ground passage. ~ lily applied to the
subway. Il Is not only a means OF
transportation, but a thing Of beauty.
In the whole project the esthetic has
been kept in mind, and 1t represents
the highest type OF such work.
Throughout IL IL lined with white glass
tiles, the iron work is tasty and as far
as possible has been designed with an
eye TO the artistic as well AZ strength
and durability, while the stations are
treated in color schemes with ceramic
filing. Each station has Its own dis.
t~inctive color idea. and the decorative
scheme Ia varied In each. This was
done not only for decorative effect
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, The stations are
commodious and brilliantly lighted,
and the ~fInishings are all OF bronze.
brass and other metal. woodwork be-
ing eliminated as far as possible. The
system Ia electrical, one great power
house developing the required energy.
The cars are Of the latest type. being
especially designed for the system and
are either copper or steel sheathed.
Every known device and every idea
suggested by skiii and experience.
have been provided to insupe safe
transportation. A complete signal
system liz In operation, and for weeks
the trains have been running regular
ly In order to train the motormen and
guards In their duties and familiarize
them with the road. When Mr.. Nc
Donald secured the contract for con.
structing the subway, n group of capi-
talists organized the New York Rapid
Transit Construction company with
a capital OF So. 00O, 900. This concern
furnished $A,000,0 900 OF Mr.. MELON
AIDS So, 1000, 900 bond TO the city, the
other million being placed in security
companies. Two years later the com
pany formally took over Mr.. Melon
AIDS contracts, and II IL under II that
the subway will BIO operated for ne
fifty years provided In the agreement,
The rapid transit system Of which
the Subway opened today IL but the
first stage, when completed will make
New York unique among the worries
cities. Its twenty.six miles Of under
ground tracks elevated structures
and viaducts. over which will run ex.
press trains at nearly a mile a minute.
will reach TO the elty's northern and
southern limits. aud dividing under
the East River. make tho extreme
eastern skirts of Brooklyn as accessi.
Bile to the great business districts as
the apartment house crowned heights
OF Harlem. II Is estimated hat over
this vast system, and those of the
Metropolitan street Railway company
and the Manhattan Elevated company.
win pass annually more than nine
hundred millions of passengers.
Crossing this huge system OF public
utilities will be the great $50, 900. 900
private tunnel of the Pennsylvania
Railway company. which crossing the
Hudson river from the Jersey shore to
Manhattan Island, will 90 under the
city. dive under the East River and
furnish an exit TO the great Long Isl.
and country. Other links In this giant
system are the New York and New
Jersey railroad tunnel, the Hudson
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 Blackweils Island
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