The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-03

the Queens plaza Of the Queensboro
Bridge and a connection with the new
rapid transit lines to Astoria and CO.
roma.
The beginning OF operation in the
Fourth avenue subway and the Stein
way tunnel will give the people the
first demonstration Of the benefits Of
the dual system. The next lines to he
placed IN operation probably will be
tho new Third tracks on the existing
elevated lines n Manhattan. the Bronx
/ and Brooklyn and their various extern
/ sions In those boroughs and Queens,
| During the year 1915 il should be pos
sibc for the New York Municipal Rail
way Corporation to place in temporary
/ operation the new Liberty avenue ex-
| tension Of the Fulton street elevated
/ railroad and the Lutheran cemetery ex-
/ tension Of the Broadway and Myrtle
! avenue lines. This should be followed
within year or so by the operation VI
the new third tracks on the Fulton
street elevated railroad I'm Rrool<lyn and
on the Second Third and Ninth avenue
/ elevated railroads in Manhattan. After
this will come the operation Of the
/ various elevated extensions and the
trunk lines Of the new Lexington ave-
nue. Seventh avenue and Broadway
subways
Considering the nature OF the times.
tho progress Of work on rapid transit
lines during the year 1914 has been
most gratifying With the outbreak
OF the European. war and the sudden
business stagnation which followed
'he city OF Now York a. we'll as pri-
vate enterprises was obliged TO curall
IT'S expenditures. and exercised extreme
caution in contracting new obligations
Recognizing, however. the importance of
pushing to completion at the earliest
possible date the tremendous rapid
transit development in which the city
had embarked. the city authorities
made an exception in this regard and
wisely permitted n continuation Of the
disbursements for rapid transit con-
S;ruct!on on the scale planned. Az a
result this commission has been able
to let new contracts and to pay regu-
larry the monthly estimates on the
work already under way. While Ihave
not been abe to get the exact figures,
] think ! am safe in stating that the
cttys actual disbursements on this ac-
count have averaged about $1,000, 900
per month during the last year
THE effect has been beneficial in
more ways than one Working1nen
upon the several contracts have been
continued in employment additional
employment has been provided for
many upon the new contracts awarded.
and the general situation has been inn
proved by the circulation OF $4,000. 600
each month.
Since the beginning OF the year 1914
the commission has awarded twenty
four separate construction contracts for
new subways or elevated railroads to he
a ri
;han $4,000 ,00O In addition. the com
mission has awarded track installation
contracts and contracts for station fin-
ish, special work and other track ma
,rr!als aggregatlng about 81 900 900
more. With the work previously
awarded The city now has under con-
tract or completed $l5O,000O 900 worth
in construction contracts on the dual
system This applies only to lines to
be owned by the city of New York, and
not all Of the $3.50, 900 will be paid
by the city, for the two operating com
| panies are pledged to contribute about
| Si@,OOOOoO toward the construction of
| city owned lines, and probably half OF
= III" amount Of this contribution is in
: Guided IN the total OF $4,000, 900 In
' addition the companies themselves have
awarded construction contracts on prl-
n Nately owned lines during the year ae-
Of gregating Sl5.000.O 900 or $4,000 900 so
nd that AT the close OF the year 1914 dual
of system contracts. both public and pri-
IL Nate have been awarded TO the extent
ne OF about $4,000. 600 The total estI-
OF mated construction cost OF the dual sys-
81 TEN is 1896 1000 900, so that consdera bile
RS more than two-thirds of the total is
er | already under contract
~. "Out of eighty-three contract sections
a into which the city work is divided con-
ed tracts have been awarded for sixty five
M, leaving only eighteen yet to he let The
ne most important OF the contracts remain
OF ing 70 he awarded are those for Tn.
III Eastern District subway, the Easter
"i Parkway subway and the Flatbush ave,
I'm nue. connection with the Brighton, Beacr
MS Railroad in Brooklyn. the Nassau stree
i'h subway in Manhattan and the elevated
an portion OF the Pelham Bay Park branch
oil OF the Lexington avenue subway.
THE city has purchased rails anC
ms other track material TO equip the Fourth
81 avenue subway and has let the contrac
ma for the installation of tracks and road
Eh bed. The company has awarded tn
run contract for the installation of the sig
lac nal system and the necessary cables
"a" The city has also awarded contracts 70
an the station finish at all stations on thi
VII line. The city is also building for thi
10" company subway through Canal stree
ny to connect The Fourth avenue subva
'o' tracks coming over the Manhattan
the Bridge with the Broadway subway"