The sun., 1909-11-14
FOURTH AVE. SUBWAY BEGUN


AFTER Eight Years ef waiting the Four
Mile stretch From Manhattan Bridge
10 Under Way Contract and Permit TO
Begin weuk Delivered to Constructors
The Fourth avenue subway celebra-
ton went through yesterday to the
popping OF fireworks. the ringing OF
bells and the obvious delight OF some
10000 persons who gathered in the Flat
bush avenue extension. between Fulton
and Willoughby streets. Brooklyn. Some
5000 persons crowded about the grand
stand near DeKalb avenue and listened
to the speakers as they outlined the past
and painted the future. The grandstand
itself. containing 100 chairs. wasfull.
The ceremony was opened by Chief
Engineer H. B. Seaman OF the Public
Service Commission. who presented the
contract to William Bradley. one OF the
contractors, along with a permit to begin
excavations for the second and third
sections OF the subway-a subway that
will connect South Brooklyn with tho
City Hall:
Then followed the breaking OF ground
by William r. WILCOX. chairman OF the
Public Service Commission. The first
dirt was taken out with silver spade
presented by Frank Bailey. On behalf
OF the celebration committee 1t was sub
sequently given to Mr.. Wilcox by Thomas
4. Clark. who as chairman Of the COM
mittee. presided yesterday.
After several loads OF dirt had been
taken out by gangs Of men provided
In front OF the grand stand was given over
to the crowd that wished to hear the
speeches. The subway for which Brooklyn
had been fighting for eight years was
actually under way and the audience
proclaimed the fact with roar that
drowned the detonations OF the aerial
bombs.
Chairman Wilcox began the speech
making by congratulating the people OF
Brooklyn in particular and the people OF
OF another great rapid transit route.
With the breaking OF ground. he said. the
Public Service Commission had oom-
pleted It's work. He outlined the history
OF the project and regretted the vioissi-
tudes that had held it up for four years
after the route was approved by the old
Rapid Transit Commission and the Boadr
OF Estimate,
Acting Mayor Patrick f. MoGowan,
President Of the Board OF Aldermen.
told of his own efforts to have the Fourth
avenue subway put through by the Board
OF Estimate. gave credit TO Brooklyn for
the work the borough had done and said
that probably the largest credit for the
success OF the project beiongod to one OF
her citizens, Alexander Il. Orr. He wound
up his address with an appeal TO those
citizens who reside along the route OF the
new road. admonishing them against
selhshnesss, urging them to be public
spirited andhbegging them to make no
claims against the city that are not based
on actual damages suffered.
In fnau fR,sa akx.ya HaI ~
the Borough Of Brooklyn Borough Presi-
dent Bird s. Coler painted a rosy picture
Of the future and proclaimed n triumph
over private and selfish interests that
were working to hold transportation
facilities in their own hands. Mr.. Coler
said that democrncy had triumphed. that
the people had shown they wbuld have
what they wanted and tn at no private
clique could thwart the will OF city that
is a State in area and an empire in popula-
tioH.
The exercises closed with a speech by
former Mayor David A. Boody. who said
that Brooklyn must meet the future with
large aims, must build great institutions
such as Manhattan now has, and must
not only offer homes to the thousands
turning toward her but must offer faoili-
ties that win make the borough desirable
above other places.
The crowd was in high good humor
and the hundred or more policemen
order. On the outskirts Of the, main
crowd and in the converging streets
mixed crowds scrambled for the paper
figures that hoated down from the aerial
bombs and had good time in a rough
house way.
There was a dinner in the evening at
the Assembly. in Pierrepont street, at
which $50 persons, mostly Brooklynites
were present. Chairman Wilcox OF the
Public Service Commission was the prin-
cipal speakers. In the course Of his
-The time OF granting franchises for
n generation Is past. Hereafter. owner
ship must remain with the city. II has
been said that no one would be willing
to operate this subway. Already one
company has offered to operate II. Also
was IL said that there would be difficulty
in getting power. Already one company
has offered TO supply power. The pres |
ent subway system. the one in Manhat-
tan. Is leased for fifty years. Gauging |
the profits for that period by those OF !
last year IL Ia safe to assert that if the /
city could have but half of them it would |
have enough in the tifty years to build 7
AN entire subway system. HeEeafter |
we must make sure that public necessity !
Is not allowed 70 become an opportunity |
for private greed
Other speakers were the Rev. Robert /
Bruce Huh. who also offered the opening /
prayer; Frank Bailey. Andrew Mclean, /
William McCarroN, Bird =. Coler and |
william Bradley. ..-
Regrets were received from Comp
troller Metz. who is in Boston; from |
Gov. Hughes, who sent a message wish
ing for the speedy completion OF the new
subway; and from Mayor Mcclellan.
who had gone to New Haven to see the
football game.
The clamor for the Fourth avenue
subway on the part OF the residents OF |
south Brooklyn and the Bay Ridge and
Bath Beach sections continued unabated
Tor eight years in spite OF the obstacles
raised against the project from time to
time. The demand for the subway was
most insistent and was frequently voiced
at large mass meetings In Prospect Hall,
It one of which late In the spring OF this
year Mayor-elect William j. Gaynor
made an address which many persons
at the time as foreshadowing
his nomination for the Mayoralty.
The route wAs laid out by the old Rapid
Transit Board In the spring OF 1904, but |
,hree years elapsed before the adoption
II the plans was secured. the new Public
Service Commission approving the route
by q vote of to7. Early In 1908 che con-
,racts for the six sections were awarded.
1ut the project was quickly held up
1y the Board of Estimate. Comptroller
Metz raising the debt limit issue. Which
gun Ar h. III.