The Washington times., 1904-08-28
Millions of Dollars Have Been Spent to
Make Complete This Greatest of
Modern Engineering
Operations.
Completion Will Offer Relief to the Wear
led Suburbanites, Who Cling
YEARLY to Strap and
Leather
Operations.

The Democratic board OF estimate
under the authority vested in them by a
Republican Legislature have cheerfully
given all the money asked for by a
nonpartisan board appointed by the gov
ernor Of the State. The awarding Of
contracts and supervision Of the con-
tractors work has been the work o.
men prominent in the city's commercial
circles.
Fifty Millions offered.
At first a limit Of S5O.OOO.O 600 was eau
tiously placed by the Legislature on
the amount that the city might spend
for the construction of a municipal rail-
way system. That was nearly five years
ago and the proposal seemed radical.
There were then many predictions that
the 100000 would be poured into the
big hole in the ground without COM
pleting even the Manhattan and Bronx
road. which was the first planed.
The results have dispelled this dis
trust. The contract for the Manhattan
and Bronx system was awarded to Mr.
Mcdonald for $36. 10000. with allowances
for extra work not foreseen in drawing
the contract. With four-hfths Of the
work completed, there has been ex-
pended for this extra work 50. 733, 900
and there is no doubt that $4,000. 600 will
cover the cost Of the Manhattan-Br Bronx
road.
From time to time the commission has
announced plans for extensions Of tn,
system. One OF these. linking the Man
haitian subway by tunnel under the
East river with the Long Island rail-
roads terminal in Brooklyn, the com
mission felt justified in undertaking with
the Limitation of $5O,O0O.00O expenditure
still resting upon the city. they adver-
tised for bids and the syndicate Of bank
ers. headed by August Belmont, which
is back of Mr.. Mcdonald. in order to
annex this extension 10 the Manhattan
Bronx system. Of which their contract
gives them operating control for fifty
years. offered to build the spur for the
nominal" sum Of 100000 They Sc
cured the award.
Clamor for Branches.
BY this time every section Of the big
metropolis was clamorinR for branches
Of the subway close to its doors. and
there was no opposition Of Importance
when the last Legislature was asked and
agreed 70 let the city spend as much as
its municipal authorities found advisable
In this manner. restrained only by the
constitutional limit Of debt which they
may incur up TO 10 per cent Of the as
sessed valuation OF real property. Both
the mayor and the governor approved
this measure Of home rule. The power
thus granted was used at once to au-
thoriZe three more branches two OF
them extending the Brooklyn system
to FiatOush and Fort Hamilton and an
other designed 10 furnish a greater out
let for the crowded East Side toward
the green fields beyond the Harlem.
Contracts for these Will soon be adver-
tised.
The total estimated cost of the city's
rapid transit enterprise up TO date is
$50 900 600. divided as follows.
Rapid transit subway from Bat
terry to KinEsbridge and Bronx
Park NOW nearly completely $40 OOO, 900
Extension under East River TO
Atlantic Avenue. BROOKLYN
(about half finished), contract
price ...,......; ..................... s.O0o.O
from Forty-second Street TO
Harlem River under Lexington
Avenue contract authorized
but not yet awarded); esti-
mated cost. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 10 600 on
Two Brooklyn extensions ICON
tract authorized, but not yet
awarded); estimated COST. 1000 600
Much as one is impressed by the mag
nitude of the work as a result, il Is not
until the story Of the construction is