Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-02


road recently opened In New York In
fact, even in Chicago itself. few per
sons knew until two years ago that
such a work was under construction.
Yet over twenty miles OF the subway
will be opened Oh Jan I. and the total
length or the system Is nearly sixty
miles. The New York subway. ut pres
ent the longest underground railroad in
operation. i only about twenty-five
miles In extent Both this and the
chicago enterprise are remarkable feats
Of engineering. The most important
difference between them consists In the
fact that while the New York under
ground railway IL for passenger traffic
that In Chicago Is for freight.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing
about the Chicago subway + the quiet
way in which IL has come into exist
ence About four years ago n fran
chise was given to- n company for
building conduits for telephone wires
and other wires of corporations fur
nishing public utilities. Corporations
which scented opposition To their mo
BopOlies I'm the new project contriyed
Co have n clause inserted in the fran
chise providing that the company
should not tear up Il foot of pavement
or disturb the surface OF the roadways
in any manner on pain Of forfeiture OF
its plant 1t was supposed that this
provision had put an effectual quietus
on the new concern. No work appeared
TO he going on. Not 81 foot OF pavement
had been torn up. and there was no
sign OF anything being done. What was
the surprise Of the mayor and council
one day about two years ago on being
told that seven miles Of subways I'M
der all the principal streets OF the bust
ness district had been completed and
that they had been built large enough
not merely to- carry the wires Of tele-
phone and telegraph and lighting com
panies, but tn permit the operation OF
trains OF small cars for conveyance OF
freight.
The statement seemed beyond belief.
but tour through the subways soon
convinced the douoters. Down twenty
four feet or more under the heart OF
Chicago this work had been going on
for nearly two years. and not a sign OF
IL appeared OH the surface Surveys
under the centers OF streets so as not
TO conflict with the foundations OF the
skyscrapers. for which Chicago Is IA
nous. Easements were rented at inter
walls along the routes. and debris was
carried away at night through coal
holes In the sidewalk. 80 that IL did not
attract attention. The initial point OF
the system was At one OF the busiest
parts OF Chicago. and IL Is stated in H.
lustration OF the quiet way in which
the work was done that even the po-
Ilceman on the beat supposed IL was
Job OF repairing I'm n saloon cellar.
The right To- use the tunnels for
transportation Of freight was not east
~ obtained. but when won the mer
chants OF Chicago began To see the adj
vantage OF the system. Work was
pushed for the extension OF the tun-
neIs. aud n large number OF merchants
entered into contracts with the cam
pauy. The tunnels are Of two sizes
The trunk lines. which run along the
chief streets. are twelve feet six inches
high and n little over eleven feet wide.
and the branch lines. which run or In
TO intersecting streets. are six feet
wide and seven feet six inches high.
The tunnels run from twenty-four To
forty feet below the surface. Business
houses will have connection with them
80 as tn receive and discharge freight.
coal will be- delivered and its transpor-
tation through the streets above avoid
ed. and United States mails and news
papers will be distributed by the tun-
mel routes.
Merchandise will be deposited In the
Easements Of the railway terminals
direct from the underground roads.
The freight cars are a little more than
ten feet long and have a capacity of
fifteen tons each. and they are drawn
10y small electric locomotives. The cog
wheel and third rail system Is used
The Chicago Subway company. which
has recently taken over the stock OF
the company that built the tunnels. Is
capitalized NJ S5Q.QQQ.QQo. Another sub