The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-27

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
sand and one Inconvenience and annoy
ances incident to a work OF such mag
nitude, have been forced upon them,
| but today when swiftly moving express
| trains glide through the miles of bril-
liant tile-lined tunnel, and the dream
OF From the city hall to Harlem in
Is minutes" is reality, there remains
only the pride in the accomplishment
which was manifested in the ceremon-
les of the opening.
The term tunnel with it's general
" conveyed meaning of dark under
ground passage, is lily applied to the
subway. 1t is not only a means of
transportation. but thing of beauty.
In the whole project the esthetic has
been kept in mind, and it represents
the highest type 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 sta
lions are treated in color schemes with
ceramic thing. Each station has its
own distinctive 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 knowing his Whereabouts are
not available The stations are COM
modious and brilliantly lighted and
the finishings are all of bronze. brass
and other metal. woodwork being
eliminated as far as possible.
Within "a hours of the open-
ing it is estimated that over half a
million people will have made use of
the subway to get to and from their
work. Within week it's capacity of
a million day will be taxed to the
utmost.
New Workers will now reap the
reward for their four years of patient
waiting. During all of that time most
of their main thoroughfares have
been rock quarries. Their street cars
and sidewalks have been slung in the
air, their houses undermined, Central
Park turned into a dumping ground
and their ears accustomed perpetuaIly,
night and day, to blasts of dynamite
But with the subway completed and
old roads replaced everywhere with
heavy asphalt paving, there are very
few of them who would not go through
all the Inconvenience and distress over
again to secure the same result.
1t is hard to know where to begint
to give the reader an adequate idea of
the immensely of this magnificent en-
cheering work or of the ability and
honesty with which it has been car
ried through. Nothing has been over
looked or left to chance. The same
care that has been given to every de-
tail of the construction of the subway
itself has been used in the preparation
of the stations, the building of the
steel cars, the lighting, the ventilation
and the protection of the public in
any possible emergency that might
arise.
In a task involving an expenditure of
not far from 100000 there has not
been the dishonest disbursal of a cent, |
anf the prices at which the work has |
been done, in every kind of construc- |
ton. have been far lower than ever be- !
fore known in this country. AS far as |
-hese last named things are concerned, |
It will be realized, when the first nov |
city of the subway has worn off, that a !
much greater honor and credit to New
York than the building of this vast |
work lies in the sterling business in |
-egrity that has characterized every |
step in its progress.