New-York tribune., 1909-03-26
TO OBSTRUCT ADOO
NTERBOROUGH Has 4
SL4NTING CONDUIT
At Grand Central This Would Pre-
uent Hudson ErtensiOn at
COnTenient LleTeL.

What is considered an attempt on the part of
,be Interborough Rapid Transit Company the
lessee Of the present city subway, to block the
proposed extension of the McAdoo tunnel from
$50 street and Sixth avenue to the Grand Cen
tral Station. unless the McAdoo company goes
down below the fourth level in 42d street, came
10 light last night.
The Interborough, it was learned, has recently
constructed a slanting conduit for cables from
the east end of the present subway at the Grand
Central Station to the west end of the Steinway.
or Belmont tunnel which has its terminus at
Park avenue and 42d street. The hole, as dug
at present, is eight feet square and extends
from the second level, occupied at this point
by the present subway. at an angle of about
IL degrees down TO the fourth level, which is
that Of the Steinway tunnel
This conduit crosses the third level. which the
McAdoo people desire to make use of. in such
manner as to prevent its use by the proposed
NcAdoo tunnel or by any other subway. The
Interborough has the right to build elevator
connecting the present subway with the Stein
way tube. but has no right, it is understood. TO
construct any such slanting conduit the one
under way.
Members OF the Public Service Commission re-
fused last night to discuss the Interboroughs
action. but it was learned from unofficial sources
the regular meeting of the commission to-day.
II is probable that the Interborough will be
ordered 10 cease work at once the conduit
until the commissions inspectors have a chance
10 look the work over.
The Interborough began breaking a hole
through the easterly wall OF the subway at the
Grand Central Station about month ago. when
the Appellate Division handed down decision
favora bIe TO the company in the suit brought by
Sesor 1FT he +aiT
neI On the ground that the franchise of the COM
many which built the tube had lapsed before the
work was completed. It was supposed at the
tine that the purpose Of the hole was TO carry
feed cables from the present subway to the
Steiuv-ay tunnel, but the company made no an
nouncement Of its intention.
An official Of the Hudson & Manhattan Rail-
road Company. when his attention was called
last night to the action of the Interborough in
building the slanting conduit. said:
q cannot believe that the Interborough is
stoop;ng to any such petty obstructive tactics
IS these. If il is true however. that the Inter-
borough is trying 10 block the third level at the
Grand Central Station so that We cannot come
in there with our proposed extension, ii will
coon ind that the people Of New York City are
10 longer to be baked by any such obstructive
move The time for such things has gone by.
The same official also pointed out that the IN
terhorough could easily construct CONDUIT 10
carry feed cables from the present subway 10
the steirway tunnel without blocking the third
level
William G. NcAdoo. president OF the huosoh
& Manhattan Railroad Company. replied yester-
day morning to the letter Of Theodore + 0hoi'S'
president Of the Interborough- Metropolitan Com
many in which Mr. shonts suggested TO the
Public Service Commission that TO sa1eguaTo
the n-ssent subway the proposed McAdoo eH-
tension make use Of the fourth, or lowest SUD-
way level in 42d street
If the 42d street extension Of the Hudson
tunnel" said Mr.. McAdoo. could be located 50
deep under the ground that it would De OF 10
,,se n the public as a transportation facility
roanifestlv there would be no objection on Iile
mart Of the Interborough interests Ihls "oulo
accomplish by indirection what is denleo 10 DC
The ob,ious purpose Of the Interborough in sug-
gesting such deep level
M NcA6oo saws that Mr.. shonts's objections
- the extension Of the McAdoo tunnel system
70 the Grand Central Station scarcely can Loi
q -e,lv. Continuing, he points out what ne
rails one manifest error the part OF MI
sbonts This is the claim of the Interoorough
-,rssident that .'the second level on 40 street
should be reserved for subways to be construct
ed running north and south on Mammalian ISL
and and to The Bronx
aIt is such q well known fact, says MI me-
.Aaoo That Mr. Shonts's own subway OCCUPIES
the second level under 42d street. at the F1Ic
avenue crossing. that it is dlfhcuIt 10 uiiN
stand how he could have MADE TINS hiis''A'
Mr. McAdoo's statement then goes on TO say
=. ,.., .+ tba Fifth avenue and 42d street
crossing has been reserved for north ana go souo b
subway in Fifth avenue, this having ben zen 4Sl S G
- 80 Psri6 Transit Commission. so tnst LeIe -
a-onSe nom for such subway IN tfitn aVenue; 4r
c-oeeefrz over the top Of Mr.. Shonts SUBWAY. ne
En5son tunnel plan is 70 occupy the tnlro sye a
-. -,oiut 1araely Immediately unoeTIe
Ne Ebonfsfs subway This also leaves free ana ufl
s+r,rteS the fourth level for the Stelnway
ooooS-I5ed II is continued westwaroly under 1I9
[-rset and on the level now occupied py II. aIo
Sor which alone IL has. If at all any rlghIs uhuei
TbeTe is no difficulty whatever from an engineer
,,1 ets-dpoint in constructing the Huoson tuIi- t
re7s - thai there will be no danger 20 Ins e1sos
subwav structure nor interference WIN Ia en
-, ~ subway trains a far more olrncuIt en-
gineering feat was encountered ana .tin The
Eudson tunnels underneath sixth avenue alo Gar
ring The elevated railroad and surface uachS'