NEW YORK RAPID TRANSIT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 41

NEW YORK RAPID TRANSIT.

A WONDERFUL RAILWAY. The Chicago correspondent of the Melbourne Herald writes, under date of November 12: —

followed 010-ely upon a car containing the Mayor and officials of the city, members ot the Rapid Transit Commission, officers ot the railway company. and John iS. M'Donald (the man who built the subway). When William Barclay Parsons, the engineer, had officially declared " the Rapid Transit Railroad completed for operation from the City Hall to the station at One

The subway marks the completion i f tne first stage of what promises to be the mo>t comprehensive system of rapid transit in the world. In the shape of an irregular V, with the stem resting on the City Hall, the tunnel now runs north to Forty-second street, where it bpucK sharply west to Broadway, and out that thoroughfaio to One .hundred

fifth stip-et. where the tunnel ends, ai.d the line i~ continued upon a viaduct to Bronx Paik The west side branch ot two tracks continues north from One Hundred and Ihird street to Hillside avenue and Eleventh avenue, where it emerges from the tunnel and continues upon a viaduct. The construction of the tube has involved difficulties of a character probably never

one section particularly, entailing many damage suits, and financially ruining one sub-contraotor, who finally lost his life in a Wasting accident. The term " tunnel," as signifying a dark underground passage, scarcely describes the subway, which is lined with white glass tiles, the stations being treated in a colour scheme, with ceramic tiling.

On October 27 the new subway system in New York City waa formally opened to the , public with appropriate ceremonies. A | great jam of humanity was on hand, and : people struggled with each other in a rough-and-tumbled wedge for the distinction of purchasing the first tioket. and, secondly, of securing seats in the first car to which the public was admitted. This

Hundred and Forty-fifth street on the west side line," and had retired with applause, and there had been speeches and an ovation to John B. M 'Donald, Mayor George ±5. M'Clellan d clared the subway open. he \" i& presented with a silver controller, reposing' in a black box, and with this he started the first public tiain, which carried the party over the system.

I and Third street. This portion of the tunnel is a four-track system, two tracks tor local and two for express service. At One Hundred and Third street two tracks diverge in a .generally north-easterly direction, cross under a corner of Central Park r and on to Harlem River. After passing under the river the tnnnel continues to Third avenue and One Hundred 1 and Forty

, before faced in such a work. Portions of it pass under skyscrapers, involving costly and especially designed supporting systems, and practically its whole length lies under the crowded city. About 3.000,000 cubic yards , of excavation were made for the tunnel, j one-third of which was stone, requiring blasting. The' work has cost about 120 lives. A series of misfortunes and accidents befel

Each station has its own distinctive colour idea, and the number of the station is repeated an infinite number of times in the decorations, so that in whatever direction the traveller may look his whereabouts is clearly shown in artistic design. Nine miles of the total of about 1+ were opened for traffic, and the remainder will be ready in February.