The Washington times., 1904-08-28

~ NE Of the greatest. If not the
greatest, feats Of modern en-
~ cheering is rapidly approach
ing completion in New York
city. II has become only a matter of
few days before the enormous surface
traffic that has congested Broadway and
the other central thoroughfares win be
relieved by the most effective system OF
underground rapid transit that the
world has ever seen.
The building Of the New York sub
way means that thousands Of persons
OF moderate circumstances will be
enabled to escape the iron grasp OF
avaricious landlords and the crowded
and unsanitary life Of Manhattan's fat
buildings to seek pleasant homes within
their means in the many attractive sub
urbs or the metropolis.
At first thought one jumps to the con
clusion that the relief promised is but a
brief respite For will not the exodus
Of the thousands to the suburbs mean
that these desirable localities shall in
evitably become even as the city and
assume all its disagreeable features and
crowded conditions? If the scope Of the
work were limited TO the eleven miles
OF tracks that are soon TO be operated
that fear would sssuredly be realized
But the plans Of the rapid transit board
extend beyond the suburbs. In a very
few more months electric trains viii
continue their rapid run under New
York's crowded streets beyond the out
skirts and diving swiftly through the
tunnel that has been bored below the
water Of the Harlem River. emerge
upon the mainland where lie the green
country and pleasant fields.
An Elderly Necessity.
During the past fifty years men have
talked of the necessity of devising some
method TO thin the crowds that block
traffic along the streets Of New York
It was realized that existing means OF
conveying the thousands up and down
the island were pitifully inadequate. As
the years passed by the situation be
came more alarming and the beginning
of the end was in sight.
A subway had been discussed, but the
scheme was time and again dismissed
as chimerical. To undertake such
work. said many, would not only mean
that enormous sums of money would be
poured into a hole in the ground, but
worse than that, the buildings along the
route OF the tunneling would be ruined:
the sewers and drains would be badly
damaged, thereby causing an epidemic
OF disease and reign Of filth; and the
necessary blasting would prove the &C
casion Of death TO thousands among the
crowds travelling daily overhead.
II has remained for John b. Mcdonald
10 accomplish this herculean task. In
four years time, with but slight inter
Tuption to the business along the streets
overhead and at an expenditure ~ less
than $4,000 900 the work has been done.
Yet 50 quietly has it gone on. and with
30 little OF the operation appearing
above the earth. that II is hard for even
those who inhabit the streets beneath
which Il extends to believe that the
much talked OF subway Is about - be
placed at the disposal Of the travelling
public.
No Breath of Scandal.
A noteworthy feature Of the work Of
construction is the fact that not
breath Of scandal has been uttered re
garding the expenditure Of the enor-
nous sums of money involved The
people OF New York have come TO look
upon Mr.. Mcdonald as a man too deeply
Interested in and proud OF his work TO
be assailed by temptation. The talent
ed engineer, John L. Parsons, shares
the esteem ana respect with which the
! contractor is regarded. The necessary
appropriations have been quickly voted
70 the commission responsible for the
work and without party opposition