The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-10-28

iluiu tluhh NDHWuii1. llidnNfN WI iiAtit
cate and interlaced electric wires
gas. water and steam pipes. and AL
| without seriously ln.erruptng tho
services Of these essentials 10 the
life Of great city. Our foundations
were encountered in unexpected
| places and quick sands. strongly flow
ing springs and long forgotten
streams frequently called into play
every device Of modern engineering
genius 20 meet perilons emergencies
About three million cubic yards ~ ex-
cayation were made for the tunel, one
third Of which was stone, AS this
required blasting means for the safe
use Of explosives, particularly in
those portions Of the work which
were in the form Of open excavation.
or ditching In preserving The grade.
the depth Of the tunnel underground
varies largely, notably along upper
Broadway where it was driven under
the middle of the street Here the
roof Of the subway y but few feet
under the pavement, The detailed
work Of constructing the tunnel was
done by means Of sub-c1ntracts. the
route being divided into sections,
which were advertised by the chief
contractor As extensive horngs had
been made along The entire route, the
contractors We're enabled to Judge
very accurately the character Of ex-
cavation TO be made, but IN some of
the subdivisions unexpected obsta.
Giles and conditions were found,
The tragedy of the entire work.
which up to date has cost about 1920
lives, lies practically in the division
on Park avenue in the Thirties and
Forties A series Of misfortunes and
accidents befell this section, causing a
number of deaths entailing many
damage suits and financially running
the sub-contractor who, TO crown the
one dark chapter on the subway story,
finally lost his life in blasting acct
dent
The history OF the subway Ii one
of pluck, skill and energy Even with
a full realization Of what II meant
when completed. New York has ana
thematized ii daily for four years
when blockaded streets. dirt and all
the thousand ANA one inconvenience
and annoyances incident to a work
of such magnitude have been forced
upon them, but today, when swiftly
moving express trains glide through
the miles of brilliant tile.lned mn-
mel and the dream Of From the City
Hall to Harlem in Fifteen Minutes
is reality, there remains only the
pride in ltifa accomplishment which
was manifested in the ceremonies OF
the opening
The term tunnel with Its general
ly conveyed meaning of a dark under
ground passagA, yslly applied to the.
subway. It Rxf only a means Of
transportationA a thing Of beauty
In the whole pioject the esthetic has
been kept In mind, and Il represents
the highest type Of such work
II is lined with white glass
far as possible has been designed with
an eye to the artistic as well as TO
strength and durability. while the sta
lions are treated IN color schemes
with ceramic thing Each station has
It's own distinctive color idea. and the
decorative scheme is varied in order
hat the prevailing color may indi
cate the locality to the underground
raveler, whose usual means OF know |
ng his whereabouts are not available. |
The stations are commodioas and |
lighted, and the fnishings |
ire all of bronze. brass and other me /
al, woodwork being eliminated as
ar as possible. The system Is cleo,
rical. one great power house develop
ne the required energy The cars +
re of the latest type, being especial.
y designed for the system. and are
ither copper or steel sheathed. Ev-
ny known device and every idea sug-
.ested by skill and experience have
ieen provided 70 insure safe transpor-
alton. A complete signal system Is
n operation. and for weeks the trains
ave been running regularly in order
o train the motormen and guards in
heir duties and famillarize them with
he road. When Mr.. Mcdonald seeur
a the contract for constructing the
a group of capitalists organ
zed tho New York Rapid Transit
company, with a capital
+ $4,000 600. This concern furnished
4 200. 600 of Mr. McDonald's $4,000.
90 bond TO the city; the other mil
on being placed in security compa-
les. Two years later the company
Jrmally took over Mr.. MeDonald's
ontracts, and Il is under If that The
ubway will be operated for the fifty
ears provided in the agreement
The Rapid Transit system proper.
owever. which includes the present
ibway and its extensions already au-
horned. is owned by the city OF New
ork. Il has not expended a dollar in
S construction. but. as has been said
,aned the money for the construction
nd the terms provide that il shall be
perated by the contracting builders
h. {