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

form of tubes, which were closed a
each end with water-tight covers.The
ture of iron and concrete, sunk to tn
river bottom and bolted to the ad
| vancing tunnel.
In certain parts of the route actua
mining operations had to be carried
on. At the highest parts of the hill
uptown, which reaches from one
Hundred and Fifty-Seventh street tc
Fort George, the tunnel is zoo feet be-
low the surface, and half a dozer
shafts were sunk in different parts OF
the rocky mass to facilitate the WORK
below. A shaft was sunk at One Hun
dred and Fifty-first street, and from
the bottom of each of them tunneline
workmen joined one another by break
ing through the rock between.
In many Localities where it was
found impossible, on account of the
on lower Broadway-to use the cut
and cover system In building the sub
way the subcontra ctors were ordered
to have their men dig in underneath,
like moles, and this was done without
a single accident. For seven months
lower Broadway was walked over by
millions of people, not one of whom
ever had an inkling that almost imme-
diately beneath his feet stretched a
great hole, thirty feet deep.
The whole subway passage tube is
surrounded by an entirely novel con-
structiOn designed to obviate the dis
advantages attendant on shallow cuts.
many of which leak badly. Top, sides
and bottom of this subway are con-
structed of concrete and waterproofing
in alternate layers, incased in a frame
work of steel beams. The roof is sup
ported by steel pillars, not more than
five feet apart and set in parallel rows
~, Ia fn Of fnr
tom The shallowness of the tube does
away entirely with the problem of ar
tificial ventilation. Enough air comes
in at the station entrances to keep
the tunnel fresh and sweet, and the
rush of cars will keep this air con-
stantly in motion.
1t is when we get to a survey of
the figures of the material used in this
work that we realize something of it's
immensely. Over 10000 tons of struc-
tural steel have been placed in posi-
ton, and the specifications calling for
an ultimate strength of from So, 1000 to
$4,000 pounds per square inch have
not only been held to, but actually eX-
ceeded. There was also a requirement
that every bar of this steel should
undergo the test of being bent cold
and set fiat upon itself, without sign
of fracture on the convex side.
The largest power house in the world
has been erected to supply the motive
power for the new system. The build
ing stands beweten Fifty-eighth and
streets and Eleventh and
Twelfth avenues, and is, in itself, a stu
pendouS work not by any means over
Swallowed even by the subway. The ma
consists of eleven engines, each
of 1900 horse power, and seventy-two
boilers of 600 horse power each.
For the purpose of sustaining the
weight of this great building and it's
enormous plant in safety, the founda-
ton was carried down to bedrock. From
this building thousands of wires and
ca bles reach to the various distributing
plants along the route of the under
ground road.
The lighting and power systems have
been kept entirely separate, and ingen-
ious devices prevent the possibility of
electric flashes about the cars.
Several hundred inspectors, appointed
under civil service rules, scrutinized
every ounce of material used in the con-
struction of the subway and audited all
the bills These inspectors, Furthermore,