New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-17
TO OPEN OCTOBER /.
Word Passed Among Subvcay
Employees.

Among the motormen and conductors on the
subway trains yesterday the word was passed
round that the date now set for the opening
is October l. week from next Saturday. II
was added that the uniforms for the employees
had been ordered for next week
Subway throat is maIady threatening
subway passengers, according to those who
have had occasion to travel through the tunnel.
II consists Of hoarseness and an irritating tick
ling at the larnyx- MOtormen and conductors
who have worked in the subway only for the
last few days complain particularly OF the
trouble. They declare that it Is attributable 10
the lime in the air In the tunnel and possibly
also to the gas generated by certain hard coal
steam locomotives that are being now used
They say that 1t OF in time but at
first induces coughing and is extremely irrt-
tating
Although the word has gone around that the
subway is to be opened on October I. those who
have seen the conditions doubt whether it can
De put into shape even far as Undergraduates
by that date. An inspection by a Tribune re-
porter last night showed that guard rails for the
platforms have yet to be installed throughout
the tunnels extent and hundreds OF electric
lights stin are TO be wired Hardly a station is
complete, the least finished being Forty-second-
St. where the brick still shows and the stair
However subway trains are running almost
from dusk to dawn from the City Hall TO
Ninety-sixth-st. in the rapid transit tunnel
Motormen shriIling the muffIed double
siren subway whistle, and conductors stand on
the platforms Of brilliantly lighted trains each
OF five cars, shouting the names OF the stations
and opening the car doors at every stop. all for
the benefit OF imaginary passengers Through
out the night from 7:3O p m. until 4:46 a. m
twelve unseen trains are running at six min
utes' headway in the tunnel
A Tribune reporter. travelling in a subway
express last night from Ninety-sixth-st 70
the Brooklyn Bridge, made the entire trip in
twenty-three minutes.
The actual time table he recorded. allowing
for opening and shutting Of doors. ringing the
bell virtually II normal passengers were being
carried. follows
He left NInety-stxth-st. at 9:+7 p. H., reaching
F0rty-second-st. at 9:5T D. m. Fourteenth-st
at 1902 and Brooklyn Bridge at 1910 D. m
The only intermediary stop was at Seventy
second-st-, thus constituting the regular express
station schedule.
The journey uptown by local" skipping only
three or four stations occupied twenty-eight
minutes. The time table recorded vas as FOL
lows:
Left City Hall at s,O4 p. m. reaching Spring
81 az c't. bieecAer-sJ- at oVS, AsloF race az
500. Fourteenth-st. at S.1Ols. Eighteenth-st. at
SIP Twenty-rhird-st at S:13. Twenty-eighth-
St at STA. Forty-second-st- at SIS FifJieth-st-
at 500 Columbus Circle at S22l7. Stxty-sixth-
ST at S;24tz Seventy -secOnd-st S;2I, Seventy
uinth-st. at S.29 EIghty-sixth-st. at S:31, Nine
ty-siXth-st- al S:33
This allowed in most cases for a few seconds
stop and a perfunctory opening and shutting
twice OF the heavy doors
Passengers who expect any novel sight or
sensation IN the tunnel over and beyond the
subway throat will be grfsvousy disappointed.
The prospect from the windows is a blurred
succession OF iron pillars on a stretch Of white
washed wall. Time and again, when the tunnel
burrows through rock, or the obstacles have
been extreme. as. for instance, between Thirty
third and Forty-second SITS. and IN the City Han
loop. the vista Is virtually the same as in the
Paris "Ceinture'' or the London Tube"
The tOOt OF the siren SavOrs OF the Boston
cars but as 20 car Intervals the passenger, ss-
peciaTy az night. might almost imagine he was
travelling on the L.