Arizona republican., 1904-10-28
SUBWAY OPENED.
Continued From Page I.

means for the safe use of explosives. particularly in those portions of the work which were in the form of open excavation, or ditching. In pTeseTv- ing the grade the depth of the tunnel underground vn-ies largely. notably along upper Broadway where it was driven under the middle of the street Here the roof Of the subway is but few feet under the pavement The de- tailed work of constructing the tunnel was done by means of sub-contracts. the route being divided into sections which were advertised by the chief contractor. As extensive borings had been made along the entire route, the contractors were enabled 10 judge very accurately the character of excavation to be made. but in some of the sub divisions unexpected obstacles and conditions were found
 The tragedy of the entire work which up to date has cost about 120 lives, lies practically in the diviscion on Park avenue in the Thirties and For.jes. A series of misfortunes and l accidents refell this section, causing a number of deaths. entailing many da- mage suits and financially ruining sub contractor. who. to crown the ore dark chapter on the Subway s-ory, finally lost his life in a blasting acci- dent.
 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 anathema- tized 1t daily for four years, when blocked streets, dirt and all the thou sand and one inconvenience and an noyances incident to Q work of such magnitude, have been forced upOn ! hrr+ express trains glide through the miles of brilliant. tile-lined tunnel. and the l dream of Prom the city hall to liar
 lem in fifteen minutes" is a reality there remains only the pride in the ac- complishment which was manifested in the ceremonies of the opening.
 The term tunnel" with it's gener- ally conveyed meaning of a dark un- | derground passage, is lily applied to the subway. II is not only a means of transportation, but a thing of beauty i In the whole project, the aesthetic has ] been kept in mind. and it represents the highest type Of such work i Throughout, 1t is 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 as 1 strength and durability, while the sta l tions are treated in color schemes with 1 ceramic tiling. Each station has it's own distinctive color idea. and the dec ] orative scheme Is varied in each This l was done not only for decorative e. | feet, but in order that the prevailing | color may indicate the locality to the 1 underground traveller, whose usual i means of knowing his wherea bouts. IS not available. The stations are com modious and brilliantly lighted, ana the hnishings are all Of bronze, brass and other metal woodwork being eIiln- i mated IS far as possible. The systg- is electrical. one great power house de- l veloping the required energy. The cars are of the latest type, being espe-
 cially designed for the system, and ,.-e either copper or steel sheathed. Every known device, and every idea suggest ed by skill and experience have been provided to insure safe transportation
 A complete signal system is in opera l ton, and for weeks the trains have
 been running regularly in order to
 train the n,Otormen and guards in
 their duties and familiarize them with
 the road. When Mir Mcdonald se- 1 cured the contract for constructine the
 subway. group of capitalists organ
 ized the New York Rapid Transit Con
 struction company, with a capital of
 S6.O0O,0 0O0. This concern furnished s.
 0CO.00O of MT. McDonald's s5.CC0.OO0
 bond to the city. the other million be-
 ing placed in security companies. Two
 years later the company formally took
 over MT. McDOnald's contract, and it
 is under it that the subway will be
 operated for the fifty years provided
 in the agreement.
 The rapid transit system, of which
 the subway opened today is but the
 first stage, when completed will make
 New York unique among the worlds
 cities. Its twenty-six miles Of under
 ground tracks, elevated structures and
 viaducts, over which will run express
 trains at nearly a mile a minute, will ] reach to the city's northern and south
 ern limits, and diving under the East
 river. make the extreme eastern out
 skirts of Brooklyn as accessible 10 the
 great business districts as the apart
 ment house crowned heights of Har-
 lem. It is estimated that over this
 vast system and those of the Metro
 politan Street Railway company and
 the Manhattan Elevated company, vii
 pass annually more than nine hundred
 millions Of passengers. Crossing thi. ] huge system of public utilities will be
 the great S5O,O0O,OO0 private tunnel -ot
 the Pennsylvania Railway company which, crossing the Hudson river iron
 ilG jersey S1OTE 10 A1anuallan lSldlu will go under the city. dive under tho
 East river and furnish an exit to tn, great Long Island 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 tun- mel, the New York Central terminal
 tunnel the Williamsburg bridge. the Manhattan bridge and the Blackwell's island bridge, involving, all told, ar expenditure of about S2O5, ,C0O. GOO.
 The rapid transit system proper
 however which includes the presen subway and its extensions already au.