The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-28
new YORK SUBWAY
OPENS FORMALLY
Vast Crowds Applaud the
Running of the First
Train

NEW YORK, Oct. ZI.-'C1ty nall TO
Harlem in fifteen minutes" became a
reality today, when the main artery of
Manhattan's great subway system was
opened to the public. The formal
opening exercises held in the city hall
this afternoon were attended by fnvit-
ed guests. Mayor Mcclellan presided,
and addresses were made by Chief
Engineer Barclay Parsons and others.
A special train left city hall for
the One Hundred and Fourteenth
street terminus carrying the invited
guests. The mayor 13Fned en- the cur
rent and the trip N5N made without
event.
The actual opening of the subway to
the travelling public took place tonight
Long before p. M, when the first
train was scheduled to leave the city
hall, the park surrounding the hall was
janmed Thousands of persons fought
with one another for the privilege of
purchasing the first ticket. Flying
wedges, center rushes and almost ev-.
cry means of progress known in foot
balls tactics were adopted by those
ambitious to ride upon the first train.
Squads of police were stationed at the
doors and they were compelled to meet
the onward rushes with similar forma-
tions
Promptly at o'clock the first of the
crowd were admitted to the station and
when the first train dashed in sight
around the loop a hearty cheer went
UP. AS soon as the five cars had been
filed the train was sent away. At
h7i5
had gathered and the initial train was
given vociferous reception. From sta
tion to station the train was heralded
with noisy acclaim. AS is proceeded
up town the number Of those who de-
sired to ride increased and when the
terminus was reached every available
inch of space was occupied. No soon
er had the rear lamps on the rear car
of the train disappeared in the shades
of the great tunnel when another train
drew into city hall station. And it was
just as quickly filled The second
train, too, received as warm welcome
as the first. The service was inaugu-
rated with a three minute schedule for
locals and two minutes for expresses
The outer tracks were given over to
the former while the two center tracks
carried the express trains.
The people turned out en- masse to.
christen the new road, and if is esti-
mated that nearly 10000 rode during
the evening. AS the trains swept into
the circular station at Astor place they
were cheered by the crowds At the
Fourteenth street station and again at
the Grand Central station the scenes
were repeated. AS the trains rushed
into the underground tunnels they
were visible only by the fftful gleanz OF
an incandescent lamp or a signal light.
AS they emerged the eyes of the pas
sengers were dazzled by the sudden
light. Er. ~ :
In the. shape of an irregular ", with
the stem resting at the city hall, the
tunnel runs north to Forty-second
street, where it bends sharply west to
Broadway and out that thoroughfare TO
One Hundred and Third street. This
portion of the tunnel is a four track
system, two tracks for local and two
for express train service. At. One
Hundred and Third street two tracks
dfverge in generally northeastern di-
rection, cross under corner Of Cen
trail park and on to the Harlem river,
under which it passes by means of
tunnel made famous by the engineer
ing skill called into play to complete
it. After passing under the river tt
continues to Third avenue and One
Hundred and Forty-fft street, where
the tunnel ends and the line is con-
tinued upon viaduct to Bronx park.
The West side branch of two tracks
continues north from One Hundred
and Third streets to Hillside avenue
and Eleventh avenue, where it energies
from tunnel and is continued upon
yiaduct to its terminus at Spuyton
Duyvil. Nine miles of this total of
about fourteen We're ready for traffic to-
day.and it is expected that the East side
division and the remainder of the West
side line will be ready in about three
months. The recently authorized line
from the city hall, under the East riv-
er, to Prospect park, Brooklyn, will
not be completed for about three years.
With that and other lines under con-
struction and authorized, Greater New
York will have between twenty-five
and twenty three miles of subway and
allied lines. Ground was broken for
the tunnel on March 26, 1900. The cost
of the whole project was $4,000, 600.