The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-05-02

worlds 10 greatest cities, all but Chi
cago, Osaka and Moscow have sub
ways, and in the missing three the
construction of underground railways
Is being given serious consideration.
OF the smaller cities having subways,
Budapest. Glasgow, Madrid and Bos-
ton, the two first named have more
than a million population; while the
recorded population of Boston. apply
ing to restricted area. does not in
dictate the magnitude Of the crowds
daily dependent on the city's rapid
transit facilities. The Madrid under
ground system Is of limited extent.
OF the sub-surface city railway sys-
TENS, those of New York and Lon.
don, the two cities which vie for the
title Of world metropolis, far surpass
all others in extent. Yet In plan and
operation these two great metropoli-
tan systems are in some ways strik-
ingly different. London was the pi-
oneer and some Of her early construc-
tion was found later to lead to marked
Inconvenience and expense. Thus her
earliest tube" tunnels were cons
tructed at great depths, making 1t
necessary to supply batteries of ele-
vators and escalators at the stations.
New York took up subway construc-
ton late, but profited by the expert
ments Of those earlier in the field. She
adopted the Budapest plan Of placing
the tunnels as close as possible to the
surface so that elevators would be
unnecessary.
Another radical departure from the
older methods, adopted in New York,
was enthusiastically American. This
was the virtual building Of two SUBJ
ways in one, by the provision of four
tracks, two devoted to express and
two to local service.
Good Devices by the English.
In London the sub-surface railway
system is known as "the Under
ground" is applied only to
pipe tunnels, footpaths, under-street
crossings, and the like Some details
making for the convenience and conf
fort of passengers stand out in the
operation of the Underground. Sta
tons are more ornamental and less
starkly unitarian than most of those
in New York; and in some, as in the
newest Piccadilly station, striking mu-
raj paintings adorn the walls. The
Piccadilly station is virtually an un-
derground square, brilliantly lighted,
surrounding which are well-appointed
shops.
The best feature of the Under
ground to q stranger In London, how
ever, is the remarkably sensible meth
cd of keeping him informed of his
whereabouts. 1t is not necessary to
peer out at stations seeking to make
out dim numbers or names on posts
and walls. Suspended from the CELL
ing in the middle of each car is a
large-scale map Of the system with
tiny electric bulb at each station.
When the train approaches station
the bulb for that station flashes on,
and remains lighted until the train
starts again. Lights more conspicu-
GUS than the ordinary ones flash on
at the transfer points calling the pas
sengers' attention to those important
centers.
New York has more than 800 miles
Of subway track and this will be ma
terially increased when the new in
dependent subway system is placed in
commission. In both London and
Paris the underground trackage is
close to 200 miles. In Chicago the
construction of a passenger subway
has been discussed for many years
but at present only surface and ele-
waited lines are in use. Chicago has
a possible nucleus for subway sys-
tenn in it's almost unique freight tun-
mel system. Under the streets of the
business section Of the city exists a
gridiron of so miles of tunnel, six
feet wide and seven and a half feet
deep. On two-foot tracks in these
small tunnels busy railway traffic
is carried on every day while few Chi
cagoans are aware of its existence.
By the system freight Is delivered to
the Easements of stores, and thou
sands of tons of ashes and refuse are
removed annually.