The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-08-21
Plans Subway
400 Feet Deep
r-sm ,he New YORK Times


attn trains running straight as the
'5hee flies 10 all points at a speed OF
An miles an hour are suggested by
Reginald Pelham Bolton, con
sultIng engineer, who intends to
develop hia plan and submit II in
some detail to the transit commits
sion Mr.. Bolton admitted that the
ids, was new. and that like all new
ideas il would az first receive scant
attention. but that later, when 1t
davncd upon the intellcCts Of the city
off,ials that the growth Of tho
rlty far outpaced the growth Of
,ransportation accommodations. and
That some new ideas were needed
II would receive the attention IL de-
served.
So far the matter has been men
,iured only casually by Mr. Bolton.
who said yesterday that the idea
was practical, feasible and finally
would have to he adopted The pres.
ont subways. he explained. with
their curves and Irregularities.
could he used as thoroughfarcs. for
vehicles and pedestrians, and he
pointcd out that they would splcn-
ddly serve these purposes, for they
would he cool in summer and shol-
tered In winter. A statement pre-
pared by Mr.. Bolton in WHICH the
idea is IL set forth, reads.
The limitations OF subway con-
struction under present methods ap-
near iu "A recent report by the chief
engineer of the public service cont
mission. Every available main
street line is occupied by some pro-
posrd subway. The lines cross each
other. and all converge on lower
Manhattan without provision for
extension to the future westerly
growth of the metropolitan area
into nearby New Jersey The pro-
ce,,, Of subway construction by oX-
cayating streets and reConstruCting
their surface and surface structures,
Of roadway, rails sewers and pip
ings is enormously and increasingly
expensive. The tracks so con-
structod are tortuuis, irregular in
grade and therefore unsuited tn
high speed operation.
Deeper Tubes Required.
These an dothor considerations in
Nsatc the desirability ot construct
D. new subways further under
ground where no surface disturb
ancc would occur and whore the
routes may be planned on direct
line. without change of grade, and
Of generous proportions.
"At a depth of about 400 feet be-
low tide level tunncling can safely
proceed without disturbing surface
conditions. and lines of transit can
be- planned to proceed direct from
one point to another. such systems
could be built on larger proportions
than our present subWays. with
much larger rolling stock, and could
he operated at high speeds afford
ing real rapid transit. Thus a sys-
ten Of main lines extending from
selected center in Manhattan
could radiate to each borough.
They can be planned with loops so
as To operate continuously Rolling
stock can be brought to surface by
elevator.
Tho construction OF tunnels 'at
this depth would he far cheaper
and much more expeditions than
our present system. The experience
gained by the construction of that
Catskil tunnell, at "A dapth OF about
ZOO feet, supports this assertion.
That tunneling was done in solid
materials, where there was little
difficulty in rapid construction and
heavy blasting. 1t was Ca1ried on,
with unusual speed. at low cost,
and with complete success.
Question of Easements.
The right on way involves the
question of easements. 1t may be
tina. there Is an established right of
property ownership to any depth
below surface. Even il that he 40,
the value OF such ownership at a
depth Impossible of utilization can
be but very small. That the courts
Will SO decide is indicated by the de
c!s.Cn In the court award for subs
suIace easement in the tunnel street
al l9lst street between broadway
and the subway under st. NichulJs
avenue. In which case only 500
was awarded
The use Of deep tunnels is now
common. The Broadway division
Of the subway under Washington
Heights Is as much as 1870 feet be-
low surface at lSlst street. The
Hudson and East river tunnels are
IN common usage. The depth pro-
posed merely adds to the distance
Of elevator travel, and the time thus
added would not be material. Fast-
er elevators can be employed on
nigh lifts than on present depths
only by the operation at high
speed to outlying districts can those
areas be made attractive for resi-
dencc and subsurface subways
with curves and grade, cannot be
operated at even the speed planned
Tor the original subway OF forty
miles an hour. In deep straight
ana level tunnels a speed of sixty
miles AN hour would be safe and
Practicable.
such speedy transit would link
lne great CoHters of business and
residence, relieve the present sub
ways %. through passenger traffic
ana place the outlying districts of the
.!'y as close to the center in point of
ume of travel as its immediate vicin-
Ir. Bolton said that elevators
jp1'a carry passengers To and from
She deep levels at the rate of 700
re't minute and that subways 400
.,et derp would he able TO traYc'
"'a'sh' in any direction bocauso
."'i' would be no obstacles 10 over
.uh'' Because OF this they could
..Sy'rSe the entire metropolitan dis
". ana serve at once population
W., moro than 10000 900, which
"I4ld grow into 20,O0O.O0O by 1850.
ne called attention to the dcvel-
,n8LnGn, Of the city's population,
"eh was equal to the rest OF the
,hat IN 1910 and which Is now AT
,G., ,"s ratio Of "a to 46 In favor Of the
WY In fQrO