The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-28
MIGHTY SUBWAY
is IN OPERATION
WITH MUCH CEREMONY
GREAT ENGINEERING TRIUMPH
WAS FORMALLY OPENED.

Exercises at the New York City Hall
Were Held. when Speeches Were
Made-After That IA Special Train
Was Run, Mayor Mcclellan Turn
Ing on the Current-Great Crowds
Fought for a Chance to Ride on
the Sub Trains.
New York, Oct. 27.-"City Hall to
Harlem in fifteen minutes" became a
reality to-day when the main artery of
Manhattan's great subway system was
opened to the public. The formal open
ing exercises held in the City Hall this
afternoon were attended by invited
guests. Mayor Mcclellan presided and
addresses were made by Chief Engi-
neer William Barclay Parsons, Rapid
Transit Commissioners A. e. Orr and
John II. Sarin, Contractor John B. Nc
Donald and August Belmont, president
of the operating company.
Following the exercises a special
train left City Hall for the One Hun
bred and Forty-fifth street terminus,
carrying invited guests. The Mayor
turned on the current and the trip was
made without event.
The actual opening of the subway to
the travelling public took place to-
night. Long before o'clock, when the
first train was scheduled to leave City
Hall, the park surrounding the hall
was jammed with a good-natured
crowd. 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
ball tactics were adopted by those am
bilious to ride uDon the first train.
Squads of police were stationed at
the entrances, and they were compelled
to meet the onward rushes of similar
formations.
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 filled. the train was sent away.
At Brooklyn bridge an enormous crowd
had gathered and the initial train was
given a vociferous reception.
Nearly 100000 Rode.
The people turned out in masse to
christen the new road, and it is estimat-
ed that nearly 10000 rode during the
evening. The desire of people to ride
on locals rather than expresses caused
a great crowding in the stations in
the central part of the city, but aside
from a little deviation from the
schedule the opening was successful.
Hundreds of policemen had been
stationed along the route but the crowd
was so orderly that many of the re-
serves were sent back to their pre-
cinct quarters.
The subway is the consumma-
ton of years of study of the
transportation problem on Man
haitian Island and marks the compile
ton of the first stage of what will be
the most comprehensive system OF
rapid transit in the world.
Considering the peculiar difficulties
faced by it's builders, the subway
stands unique as a feat of engineering
and construction. In the shape of al
irregular Y, with the stem resting al
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 anc
Third street. This portion of the tun.
mel is a four track system, two tracks
for local and two for express traiT
service. At One Hundred and Third
street two tracks diverge in a general.
~ northeastern direction, cross under
a corner Of Central Park and on t.