The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-09
The SUBWAY CAN'T OPEN YET
THIRTY DAYS STILL NEEDED TO
FINISH THE ROAD.
And That Doesn't Allow for Strikes-De-
tails OF Third Rail Safety Device and
the Signal System Explained to II. T.
Board-A Clear block Bet ween Trains.

] And That Doesn't Allow for Strikes-De
tails OF Third Rail Safety Device anC
the Signal System Explained to II. r
Board-A Clear block Bet ween Trains
| It will be another month at least before
| the subway Is opened for passenger traffic
| This announcement was made at yester-
! mission.
| 1t Is the opinion OF the engineers Of the
commission that the road could be made
ready for operation, II necessary, within
| ten days. President Orr said yesterday
however, that he had received word from
! Mr.. Belmont that the subway will not be
sufficiently finished for formal inspection
until the last week OF this month or the
first week in October
The contract provides for such an inspec-
tion before permission is given to the COM
pany to begin passenger traffic.
In answer to the Mayor, Chief Engineer
Parsons said he thought the work remain
ing to be done on the subway and to finish
the stations would take about thirty days
Then 1t is safe to say that the subway
will not be opened for thirty days at least?"
the Mayor asked.
1.-THE subway work will all be completed
within that time unless something I'M
usual happens in the way Of strikes" Mr.
Parsons replied.
Mr.. Parsons reported that the third rail
which will supply electric power to the
trains would be 80 covered as to prevent
the possibility of accident to workmen
by contact in the tunnel. Three fourths
Of the length Of the third rail has already
been made safe by partly covering it
with device which has been worked out
Dy l.. B. Stillwell. who is in charge Of the
electrical department Of the marlborough
company. The principle of Mr.. Stillwells
invention is to lay raised planks along
both sides of the rail leaving only suf-
ficent space exposed to allow ef the shoe
holder passing between.
Mr.. Parsons reported yesterday on the
safety devices to be used in the subway
The signalling system il entirely auto
matio and will be worked by electricity
trains will be employed. To each signal
stand two lights will be attached so that
in oase one burns out there will still be
another to guide the motormen. Should
motorman through being overcome
with sickness or through carelessness pass
a signal which Is set against him, the power
from the train will be instantly cut of auto
matically.
Appliances will also be placed in all the
stations and in boxes about two or three
hundred yards apart which will enable
employees Of the line in case of accident
to shut the power of all the trains on that
section Of the line. The block system will
bA used, but unlike the system prevail
ing on the steam railroads two trains will
not be allowed to run in consecutive blocks,
There will be a clear block intervening
between trains.
The constructors OF the new Trinity
Building, at III Broadway, have asked the
subway contractors to build passage
from the station there to their building
and have offered to pay $40 900 for its main
tenance. Comptroller Circuit, however,
seemed to think that any payments for the
construction Of passages Of this kind ought
to be made an additional source Of revenue
to the city. No decision was reached.
Aldermen Richter and Doull of the cele-
bration committee called on Mayor McClel-
Ian yesterday and asked him to take up
at once the matter of approving the $50 0CO
made by the Aldermen TO
cover the cost. The Mayor promised that
the Board of Estimate would pass on It,