New-York tribune., 1908-03-11

Mr.. Rice said that the total number OF PEI So
carried each on all lines in this CITY
about every twelve years. In 1850 win :"
population OF about $4,000 the sum-of all 1areS
in that year was about S10.00o.Coo. In 1885, Win d
population of 100000 the fares reached total OIL
2oo,o0oO and in 1907. with population OF 4zS9'VV
1900, ,0OO, CO.,
IF this ratio OF increase in population and fares
is maintained in 1910. with a population OF 40o'oo
the total of fares will be about 1'ooo""o"'
said Mr.. Rice. The city is sorely in need OF pet
ter transit facilities, especially subways and III
two years conditions will be most deplorable."
Mr.. Rice further said:
In about two months the Brooklyn tunnel will
ton of the Long island Railroad It win then be
other place at the easterly end of Long Island TO
make the journey from his town TO San Francisco 20
viii be continuous journey by rail In a short
way viii be opened II win then be possible to
travel from the Van Cortlandt section to the Flat
ton in the east.rly section of The Bronx. TO the
Flatbush ave station; for centS rs build subway
in Manhattan because from 18th street to 1oSd
through rock is slow work In Brooklyn. where
there is little rock and only gravel ard sand 20
avenue Gould be built in two years The rapid
transit work in this city has been serl2usiE % i al
best to do the right thing. did it in manner
after the rapid transit board had laid out a
splendid subway system for Manhattan and The
s50.OOO,OOO for subways. so it changed its plans
to erect the subways now IN operation on IL INNS LIZ
spects the subway routes of the city. Every
ba{+a satinn md over 500 600 persons are car
ried the subway daily.
There are a few things about the Broadway sub
way which are not generally known. Mr.. McDon-
aid the contractor originally planned to spend for
equipment s80OOoo. The equipment cost about
s25 OO0 OcO and that speaks well for the aims
of the interests which operate the subway An
other thing to which I desire to call your attention
is that the subway through Washington Helghts
forms tunnel of two tracks about two miles IN
length That is the longest two-track tunnel IN
,bis country The Hoosac tunnel of course, is
longer
In the building of the tubes 10 Brooklyn much
criticism was directed against me II was not JUS
titled know the from which 1t erl5trlt1teu-
There was nothing wrong about that construction
work At the Brooklyn end the contractor occa-
sonaIIv found that he had slightly got below grade
There was no way Of raising section OF the 'upe'
so that the grade of the tracks would oe true ~
original specifications; in such cases the grace
Of the tracks was changed. II you have travelled
over an uneven roadway, or an incline paruculaI-
Iy you must have had your attention caiieu u
what a Scotchman would refer TO as a 'Ihahk you
ma am They in every roadway "hlch Is iio'
straight. but number Of grades 4heIe di
some thank you, ma ans at the Brooklyn emu
of the Brooklyn tubes, but they are 81 SlieH' aS ~
almost escape notice
A member of the class wanted TO know II tue
spiIes used in the construction OF the BROOKLYN
tubes helped 10 strengthen them MI Rice said
that the tendency of the tubes was to rise and not
to settle and that the spiles were driven simply 10
satisfy certain demands Some of the splIes were
driven far seventy-hve feet
Another member wanted to know what was the
smallest number of feet between the bottom of tie
river ana the tops of the tubes Mr. Rice replied
II was about twelve feet But even II the TUBES
touched the river bottom there would be no dan
ger of water getting into the tubes The tubes are
strong in every part, waterproof and DIRT proof
and are immovable. continued Mr. Rice In the
building of the Pennsylvania tubes under the East
River the tops of the shields occasionally came
into contact with the waters of the river. BY that
I mean that there was neither dirt nor rock De-
tween the shield and the river
Mr. Rice added that ways and means must be
quickly obtained to build subways for The Bronx,
Manhattan and Brooklyn otherwise travelling On
the transit lines would be intolerable in a few