The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-11-01
NEW YORK I SUBWAY Open
The New Underground Railway Nov
Open to Public.


Simple Ceremonies In the Aldernnnic
Chamber Of the city Hall Are OBJ
served with An oHlciaI Ride OF In.
spection Through the Tunnel AMER
wards--A Large Crowd in Attendance.
New York City New York's Iona
and fervent prayer. many times repeat
ed in the last decade, for rapid trans.
that is really rapid, was answered in a
measure when the main line Of the new
underground railway from the City
Hall to 145th street and Broadway was
formally opened to the public amid the
ringing OF bells and the footing 81
whistles ashore and afioat.
The Mayor started the first train
with silver controller bar Invited
guests of the marlborough Company
swarmed after brief interval into
trains behind and rode around seeing
the sights all afternoon. After an IN
terval Of five hours or so for this spe.
cial guest sightseeing, the public was
admitted at nickel a head, as 1t will
now be always.
Nine miles OF steel framed funnel
four-tracked for the greater paff of the
way, and equipped with every known
device for safety, comfort and speed
comprise the open section Of the sub.
way. Within a few weeks the East
Side branch, diverging from the main
line at Ninety sixth street and running
under Central Park and up Lenox ave-
nue. to 145th street, will be ready for
business.
BY this time next year it is confident
~ expected that the road will be built
to Inwood on the West Side and Bronx
Park on the East, and the new tunnel
from the City Hall to Brooklyn win be
in complete working order.
The opening ceremonies began In the
City Hall in the Aldermanic chamber
at | O'clock p. m.
Bishop Greer offered a prayer. and
Mr. Fornes introduced the Mayor as
the chairman of the meeting. The
Mayor told Of the progress Of rapid
transit in New York
Mr.. William Barclay Parsons the
chief engineer, who designed the road.
officially declared it to be completed.
President Orr, of the Rapid Transit
Commission, next spoke.
John H. Starin, Vice President of the
Rapid Transit Commission, made an
other speech.
And then came John B. Mcdonald.
the man who built the subway, and he
proved to be easily the hero of the day.
August Belmont, who was largely re-
sponsible for the financial end of the
enterprise, followed Mr.. Mcdonald.
That closed the oratorlcal part of the
program. When Mr.. Belmont had
finished the Mayor arose and said
II now declare the subway open.s
A roar of applause went up from the
audience Mr. Belmont stepped for.
ward with black box in his hands.
In it reposed silver lever.
Mr.. Mayor" he said. ''it gives NE
great pleasure to present to you this
controller. and with 1t / ask you to
start the first train"
The Mayor took the box with a smile
of thanks. Archbishop Farley pro-
nounced the benediction to close the
meeting. and the procession marched
out Of the City Hall through cross
fire of clicking cameras to take the
first official journey in the newly
opened road.
The special train in which the spe-
cially hidden We're carried up to 145th
street and back for what was officially
called an "ofiicial inspection" of the
property, was run in three sections.
eight cars to section, each car having
seating capacity for fifty-two persons.
It was notable that there was stand
ing room only in the first section.
The Mayor himself was the motor
man of the first section.