New-York tribune., 1909-11-14
BEGIN NEW SUBWAY
BROOKLYN DIGGING.
Public SerUice Commission
OHcidteS at Ceremonies.

The first pick was driven into the soil for
the Fourth avenue subway by Thomas E
Clark, a South Brooklyn business man.
yesterday afternoon al 2I5 o'clock. Fiji
teen minutes later the first shOvelful OF
dirt was removed and placed in a glass jar
by Chairman William r. Wilcox OF the
Public Service Commission. The beginning
OF the work the subway was celebrated
by several thousand Brooklynites who
gathered in the FlatbUsh avenue extension
and did their best to help along the efforts
OF the city officials by cheering whenever
they had a chance
Owing 10 the smallness OF the grsndstand
and the difficulty Of hearing the ceremonial
speeches. many OF the sightseers gave up
and went home. but about ten thousand
persons stayed. AT O'Clock the band
struck up and the city officials began 10
arrive. soon afterward a score OF laborers
came in a half-dozen dirt trucks. These
trucks were greeted as chariots OF progress
by the waiting throng Mounted officers
were called upon and they forced the crowd
10 give ground A space was rOped of be-
fore the grandstand and the laborers were
told 10 soften up the dirt, ready for re-
movsl- Mr.. Clark. chairman Of the cele-
bratiOn committee. grabbed UP a pick and
struck the first blow
Chairman Wilcox OF the Public Service
Commission then formally announced that
the contract for the building Of the sub
way had been signed and H B. seaman.
chief engineer OF the commission. handed
the document 10 Mr.. Bradley. the contrac-
tor. Mr.. Clark then presented Mr.. Wilcox
with silver spade and that officer turned
up the first spadeful OF earth AS the
formal breaking OF the ground occurred
bombs were set OF at Fleet street. a half
block away from the grandstand
Neither Mayor Mcclellan nor Controller
Metz was present But the work went on
just the same. President MCGOWAN OF the
Board OF Aldermen vas on hand. He has
always been known as sranch friend OF the
Fourth avenue subway. Borough Presi-
dent Bird s. Coler and ex-Mayor David A.
Body were also there. In their speeches
all dwelt upon the advantage OF the sub
way 10 Brooklyn
The Fourth avenue subway was adopted
on May 81. 1907 by the old Rapid Transit
Board. after years Of agitation. The route
has always been opposed. because II runs
through q practically unpopulated region,
while rhickly populated ssctions are Un-
provided for The chief advocates Of the
route We're the property owners who eX-
pect 10 develop their property through the
building OF The line through their cornnelds
and potato patches The subway was made
? war slogan In the campaign until an end
vas put 10 the cry by the action OF the
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment IN
sppropriating the money for the route
L is estimated that II Will cost about
So 600 900 a mile as sum Just a little less
than SIS. 900. 900 has been appropriated for
it Nearly three years have elapsed since
the plan 10 tunnel Fourth avenue took def
inite form When the Public Service Com
mission came into existence on July 1, 1907,
Il made some radical changes in the Fourth
avenue plan that had been finally approved
as about the last official act Of any i'm
portance OF the Rapid Transit Commission
Very little was done 10 alter the route
itself but that little counted AS first laid
out the Fourth avenue tube had been in
tended 70 make use OF Two OF the tracks Of
the present subway In making the turn al
Ashland place. This arrangement would
have given the Inrerborough Company an
advanoe hold in the matter Of securing the
operation Of the new line. which did not
jibe with the new utilities boards ideas.