The evening world., 1911-03-17
Wife and Daughter at Bedside
When End Comes Early
This Morning.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Was "Self- Made Man" Who
Won Fame and Fortune
Through Own Efforts.

John II. Mcdonald. contractor, en-
ginee- and butler OF New York's sub
way. dice at L. 10 o'clock this morning
n; his home. No. / West Seventy
second street. after several weeks III
ness. lie was conscious TO the last. and
with him were his wife. Mrs. Gcorsie
Mcdonald, his daughter, Mrs. Harry b..
Reed. and her husband. His only son,
John r. jr.. died thirteen years ago.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Mcdonald had
an attack Of bronchitis. which left him
in such n weakened condition he he'd a
recurrent attack OF kidney trouble. II
had been known for some time no could
not recover. although he had periods
OF Improvement. the last only q few
days ago.
II had been hoped 10 take him 10 .
more favorable climate. but his end
ton never permitted It. No arrange
ments have been made for the funeral.
Fame Linked with Subway.
While Mr.. Mcdonald had undertaken
work much more Difficult from an en-
ElnctTlnk punt Vi NltNs Ht Is hlJNH
principally for having Quilt the sub
way. lie was one OF the often ren-
toned self-made men. having risen
from an humble position In his youth
10 one second TO no man In his business
at the close of his career. And while
his work as q contractor IN big
Jobs took him all over the Western
1I-palgnhnrA ha nrfNay him COLI nlnHf
on his accomplishment In this city. the
construction and %equlpping OF the rub
way. This was the last enterprise Of
any moment he undertook. although he
would have had a prominent part in
the building OF the Panam Cana had
the Government not decided 70 perform
that work.
Mr.. Mcdonald was born in Cork.
ireland. In 1874, tho son Of Bar
tholomew Mcdonald. n contractor and
Alderman. Bartholomew Mcdonald
reared his son in the contracting bust
ness. The young man went to Balti-
more after his ather's death and To-
Gated there In partnership with Corne-
Illus j. Ryan of this city. This firm
aackled the first big tunnelling job
through the streets of "a great city IN
he history OF the Countrywide con-
strnction Of the b. & o. tunnel through
Baltimore.
Built Big Reservoir.
The firm OF Mcdonald e Ryan was
dissolved after the Baltimore tunnel
was completed and Mr.. Mcdonald re-
turned to New York and allied him
self with the County Democracy. II
was not long before he mad annexed
the contract for building tho jerome
Park Reservoir against strong Tam.
many opposition.
The election OF Mayor Van Wych
and the appointment of John whaler
as Corporation Counsel brought Mr.
Mcdonald into Tammany Hall. Mr.
Mcdonald was John Whalen's cousin
Richard Croker. who had long beer
an admlrer Of Mr.. Mcdonald. becam,
his close political and personal friend
and this friendship had much TO d,
with subsequent developments con
corning the building OF the subway.
Bids for the construction OF the sub
way were opened by the Rapid Transi
Commission on Ian 15. 1909. Mr.. Nc
Donald was the lowest bidder. iii
Offer was 10 build the system for $50,
100000 fiat. This was more han 81, 200
600 under the offer OF Andrew Onder
donk. with whom Mr.. Mcdonald ha
previously been associated in big cor
struction works.
Building the Subway.
August Belmont was soon found
be the hacker OF Mr.. Mcdonald, thong
various Tammany leaders were also
the deal. Mr.. Mcdonald organized
corporation called the subway Coz
struction Company through which /
sublet the bulk OF the constructio
~ work. Ground for the subway WI
broken IN city Hail Park on Mar,