Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-08

NEW YORK, July 7.--Broadway
these days wears Il distressed and dis
heveled look Distressed are tho pc
destrians who are compelled to pause
In their mad rush along it's course In
order to remove splinters from their
shoes: and dishevcled is the surface
OF the street itself. which is patched
with stretches OF rough pine boards.
piles of damp clay and masses OF het-
erogcnous metal piping. These. to-
gether with the big crude frame strtx-
lures containing the business ofIces OF
the contractors-as rough aud PRINT
tive and out of place on Broadway ax
frontier log On hin--nre the outward
manifestations OF New York's 100000
600 subway project now being put
through with the joint co operation Of
the rapid transit companies and the
city.
Looking at the giant steel and con-
crete structures. both overhead and
under ground. that now traverse the
city from end to end carrying daily
n mob OF humanity equal to the popu-
laton OF two large cities. IL seems
Impossible that only ten years ago saw
the first New York subway Al that
time the building IF n subway was OPP
posed on the grounds that II would
iniure the business OF the surface cars
and ferries. Now, after ten years. the
capacity OF the street cars and ferries
is stfll strained, az Is also that OF tho
subwayR and although the present big
subway system VIII not ne completed
for some time, the engineers estimate
that the relief II is to afford will he
only temporary. In n few years some
other means will be needed to relieve
traffic congestion.
AZ early as 1s47. New York consid
cred the question Of elevated Transport
tation. Electricity was little known
In those days. and II was proposed
that the cars running on high ,restles
erected along the streets would be op-
Grated by steam. This plan died AL
most at its inception. as the local pride
OF the citizens refused to permit the
building OF A project that would mar
the beauty OF their city. But in 1866.
traffic conditions had become un>
mana Geabie that n strenuous agitation
began for an underground railway.
Again there was the usual opposition
that attends every radical improve
ment, which is shown in the answer
of prominent daily that chose to
champion the subway's cause Let
the buildings fall down." It exclaimed
with enthusiastic abandon; more work
will be provided for our carpenters and
hricklayers."
Social Aspects Studied.
The social aspects Of the project
were also given a great deal of at
tent!on. in which il was suggested
that the factory hand could easily
dwell In the cool, green stretches OF
the country at a smaller cost and
travel back and forth every day on
the new railway; and that the shop
girl would cease To remain in the
glare Of the white lights, but hurry
home to gather new vegetables and
milk the cows. After being declared
absolutely necessary for traffic eXpe-
diency by a State Senate committee
investigating conditions. however. the
plan was abandoned, to be carried out
forty years later
After this followed many attempts
to build subways and LIS" only one
Of which ever got much farther than
the actual plans. This was an under
ground line primarily 10 carry parcels.
but later passengers. which was well
| on the road to completion before 1t
was discovered. a single track had
been built in a tunnel under Broad
way for some distance, and the idea
| was to have the car fit the tunnel so
| tightly that II could be operated by
| compressed air. The material had been
| carried in and out Of a private build
| ing. where the excavating had ap-
| peared to he only necessary part or
alleged repair work The tunnel
| built by this company In the early
| seventies was found TO be in good con-
+! dition when work began on modern
| subway project i'll 1912
The first subways begun in 1906.
! instead of being controlled, was be-
| ginning to control the city. Business
| was delayed, many accidents occurred
! daily. conditions became uncomfortable.
| The completion Of the systems brought
| instantaneous relief: and subsequent
| ~ the completion of the East River
| tunnel. from New York to brooklyn.
| in 1908. and various other> tunnels
| about that time. brought conditions
| back to normal. This fortunate con-
| dition did not last long. however and
| in 1913 the Public Service Commission
| of New York entered into contract
| with three rapid transit companies to
| build an immense subway system
! throughout New York, costing $780,
! 100000. OF this the city is to pay
| s165 900. 900, and the rapid transit
| companies Sl65, 100000. divided be-
, tween them in proportion to their as
| sets
Involves Mass of Work.
! The construction OF subway sys-
! tenn in a nation that built a Panama
| Canal does not attract O great deal Of
| attention these days but It is neverthe-
| less a tremendous undertaking. To
| tunnel under city without interrupt
d, ing the progress Of its life and bust
4 ness and. without disturbing its foun-
/, dations requires the greatest amount of
| engineering Skill and expert calcula-
+, ton. Before beginning the first tun,
/ mel. men known as shorers or under
| Primers. arc employed to take CEN
| sus Of the buildings fronting on the
| construction work, measuring and
strengthening their foundations Some
times 1t Is difficult to convince tho