New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
IMPROVED SUBWAIS
4pOIDINGOLD ERRORS
Plans for Nesc Routes EmbOdy
Latest Ideas.

Avoidance of the mistakes that the opera
ton or the present subway has disclosed
mas been the watchword in the preparation
or the plans for the Observation-Disclosures
avenue subway which Chairman Wilcox OF
the Public Service Commission announced
on Thursday would be ready for the print
ers within two weeks
More than twelve hundred different draw
lngs and as many detailed specifications
constitute the first step in that preparation.
and in these drawings and specifica tons
every improvement which has been dis
closed in the maintenance and operation of
the Interborough system has been incorpo-
rated
Steel cars, with side door equipment, reg
ular lighting systems. both in cars and sta
tons. which will be circuited for ample
/ light. and automatic speed control on all
express tracks are three Developments which
comparatively recent inspections have
demonstrated as necessary equipment to
real rapid transit, and these improvements
will all be found in the contract drawings
which will be ready for bidders in the near
future.
on the Observation-Disclosures avenue line
stations located on curves will be unknown,
heavy grades will be eliminated and express
: platforms will accommodate ten-car trains,
while the local platforms will take care OF
eight-car trains.
Frank Hedley. vice-president and general
manager of the Interborough system. told
the Saturday Discussion Club at the Re
publican Club a few weeks ago that the
present subway system OF operation was
| looked upon by engineers all over the world
as the highest development Of city rapid
transit in existence, but the plans Of the
sions will surpass the present subway in
both passenger carrying capacity and speed
of operation.
Further the plans for the extensions.
looking into the future probably beyond
what may ever become necessary. VIII call
for a tube construction fourteen feet in the
clear. which would admit of its being used
by the cars Of the New York Central. the
New Haven & Hartford or the Pennsylva-
MIA railroads suburban service.
The mistake in the present subway con-
struction of terminating the express posi-
bilities at the end of the main stem will De
eliminated from not only the Broadway
Lexington avenue system. but from all fut-
ure subways. according to the commissions $
plans. which call for three-track construc-
tion on all branch lines. as well as the pres
ent four-track construction on the main
stem.
Emergency lighting systems which will
be independent of any operative accidents
are included in the plans, and the drawings
specify the exact construction and location
of such details as emergency ticket booths.
At the end of the main stem of the Lex
ington avenue route increased trackage, as
compared with the present subway, and the
installation of the latest perfected develop
ments of the automatic speed control and
block signal system will eliminate the de-
lays al present so familiar to subway pa
irons at the ''cross-over'' tracks just north
of 96th street.
The plans. which will go to the printer
shortly call for the construction of a trife
more than twenty-five and one-half miles,
of which the main stem, extending from
the Battery. under Church street TO Fesey,
east 10 Broadway. north 20 9Th street, east
erly under private property and the Inter
borough subway 10 Lexington avenue and
14th street. and then straight north and un-
der the Harlem River 70 13Sth street. will
be a forr-track system From that point
one branch. running east under 1SSth street
to Southern Boulevard, TO Westchester ave-
nue.. to Pelham Bay Park. will be of three
track construction. with a portion. still un-
determined built on elevated structure.
and the other branch from 13Sth street OF
similar construction. will run a three
track subway under Mott. Gerard and
River avenues to Jerome avenue, and as
tfree-track elevated TO WoodlaWn.
The estimated cost is s75,0o0.oo0 and this,
added TO the estimated cost of s7,On0o00 of
the Canal street crosstovn subway route,
the sl3910,O90 which. it is estimated. the five
miles of construction in the Brooklyn
Broadwa y-Lafayet system will cost, and
the estimated cost of $751; 600 of the two
branches of the Fourth avenue (Brooklyn)
system. will make a total Of s113000,0C0 for
the subways which the present city admin
istration in all proba bility will undertake.
The first of the twelve hundred drawings
and specifications for the first OF these lines
on which bids Will be asked. the Broadway
Lexington avenue line, will be sent TO the
photographers and printers by the Public
Service Commission this week and
as they are completed construction bids will
be IL order.