New-York tribune., 1907-10-28
RUSHING SUBWAY LOOP.
Nay Be Done Before Contract Time,
Think Engineers.

Work on the subway loop connecting the Brook
lyn, Williamsburg and Manhattan bridges is be-
ing rushed. and from present prospects engineers
OF the Public Service Commission are inclined 20
believe that Il viii De finished rather before the
expiration OF the contract time, August. 1919.
Excavation IS being made on all the five
divisions of the work. and at places along De
lancey street earth has already been taken oUt
down to the water line Mr.. Craven assistant
gineer to the Public Service Commission. has found
10 inadvisable go below the waterine before re-
inforcing underpenning the foundations OF build
ings on both sides OF the tunnels course.
This will require an enormous amount of work.
for it means that the foundations Of every build
ing Will have TO be driven at least as far down
the floor OF the tunnel. in some instances; that
is TO a depth of over forty feet. 1T would 5e
unsafe" said MI Craven. mot have this part
Of the work all done before NE 80 below the water
line. There are some very heavy buildings along
the route of the loop including the TOmbs build
ing the Criminal Courts building and the Hall Ot
Records"
The tube connecting the old Brooklyn and the Man
haitian bridges will be wide enough for four tracks;
that connecting the Manhattan Bridge with the
main loop Will at first be a tVO-tTack tube. but
later it will be widened sufficiently for four tracks.
The engineers having charge OF the work have
found a lot OF preliminary work necessary. such
as removing sewers pipes and 50 forth This -
being rushed with great rapidiJy- All along tha
course OF the loop evidences OF this are 70 hs
will be done by the Bradley. the Crawford and
the Degnon companies
From BroOme TO Pearl street, on Centre street,
the work OF building the tunnel is probably as dif-
fcult as any subway work ever undertaken in this
city" said Mr.. Craven. AT places We have found
II necessary to 80 thirty 10 forty feet below hsh
water mark and the nature of the soil makes II
exceedingly dificult.'
While the engineers OF the Public Service COM
mission consider that so far the work has pro-
ceeded satisfactorily in every way, and as speed
iIy as could be expected. none OF them cared to
make any prediction as To when the loop would
be ready for operation I never predict about
finishing subways.' said Mr.. Craven. There are
too many factors TO be taken into consideration
and at any time something might develop mars
rally 10 retard the work. which would throw our
the most carefully considered calculation
1t IS understood. however, that UP 10 the present.
time no new or unexpected difficulties have devel-
oped, and that the greatest reason 10 fear de.ay
lies in the fact that condemnation proceedings
must be undertaken in several eases 10 set neces-
sary land and rights OF way. 1t is possible that
the litigation involved IA these proceedings may
be so protracted TO delay the work on the tunnel
for several months but it IS not expected by those
I'm charge OF its construction that such will BE- the
case.
An example OF the foresightedness OF the Puhtn
Service Commission is shown in the fact that pro-
vision has been made at the Bowery and Delaney
street for the possibility of the building Of Second
avenue subway some time IN the future At TINS
point the loop has been depressed sufficiently 10
allow room for another subway 10 be built over Il
Especial attention Will be paid to the subway sta
tions on the loop These will be built win e!e
purpose in view-the greatest comfort to the pas
SengeT.