Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-10-28
NOW OPEN.
Continued from page -

quick sands, strongely flowing springs
and long forgotten streams frequently
called into play every device OF modern
engineering genius 10 meet perllous
emergencies.
About three million cupic yarus
Of excavation were made Tor the
tunnel, One-third of which was stone.
AS this required blasting another serl-
GUS obstacle was encountered III ueNis-
ing means for the safe use Oh eApio-
sives, particularly IN those portions OF
work which We're IN the form OF open
excavation, or ditching In preserving
the grade the depth Of the tunnel un-
derground varies largely, notably along
upper Broadway. where it was dflFeh
under the middle of the street. Here
the roof OF the subway is but few feet
under the pavement. The detailed work
Of constructing the tunnel was done by
means OF sub-coutracts. the route be
ing divided into sections which We're
advertised by the chief contractor. As
extensive borings had been made along
the entire route. the contractors We're
enabled to judge very accurately th2
character of excavation to be made,
but Iii some of the Subdivisions unex-
pected obstacles and conditions were
found.
The tragedy Of the entire work,
which up to date has cost about 120
lives, lies practically in the division on
Park avenue in the 3O's and 4Vs. A Sc
rlcs of misfortunes and accidents befell
this section. causing a number of
deaths, entaiIng many damage suits
ana financially running the subcontrac-
tor. who, to crown the one dark chap
ter of the subway story, finally lost his
life in blasting accident.
The history of the subway is one Of
pluck, skill and energy. Even with a
full realization of what it meant when
completed, New York has anathema-
tized it daily for four years when
blocked streets dirt and all the thou
sand and one inconveniences and an
noyances incident to work of such
magnitude, have been forced upon
them, but. today, when swiftly mov-
ing express trains glide through the
miles of brilliant. tile-iined tunnel and
the dream of from City hall to Har-
lem in I5 minutes" is reality, there
remains only the pride in the accom-
plshment which was unaffected in the
ceremonies of the opening.
The term tunnel" with its generally
conveyed meaning of a dark under
ground passage is lily applied to the
subway. 1t is not only means of
transportation, but a thing of beauty.
In the whole project the esthetic has
been kept in mind, and it represents
the highest tyre of such work.
Throughout it is lined with white glass
tiles, the iron work is tasty and as far
as possible has been designed with an
eye to the artistic as we'll as strength
and durability, while the stations are
treated in color schemes with ceramic
tiling. Each station has its own dis
tinctive color idea, and the decorative
scheme Is varied in each. This was
done not only for decorative effect, but
in order that the prevailing color may
indicate the locality to the underground
traveller, whose usual means of know
ing his whereabouts are not available.
The stations are conimOdiouS and bril-
liantly lighted and the tinishings are
all of bronze, brass and other metal,
woodwork being eliminated as far as
possible. The system is electrical. one
great power house developing the re-
quired energy. The cars are of the
latest type, being especially designed
for the system and are either copper or
steel sheathrd. Every known device
and every idea suggested by skill and
experience, have been provided to in
sure safe transportation. A complete
signal system is in operation, and for
weeks the trains have been running
regularly in order to train the motor
men and guards in their duties and fa-
milariZe them with the road.
When Mr.. Mcdonald secured the
contract for constructing the subway.
group of capitalists organized the
Now York Rapid Transit Construction
Co. with a capital of $6,000,000. This
concern furnished 1900, 900 of Mr.. Nc
Donald's $1,000, 900 bond to the city, the
other million being placed in security
companies. Two years later the COM
pany formally took over Mr.. McDon-
AIDS contracts and it is under it that
the subway will be operated for the 80
years provided in the agreement.