New-York Tribune from New York, New York • 38

8 tUST TWO YEARS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE WORK BEGAN ON THE RAPID TRANSIT WHERE TRAINS WILL EMERGE FROM TUNNEL TO CROSS MANHATTAN VAfcUSY ON VIADUCT. SUBWAY TRAINS IN FALL. Bright Hopes for Underground Rapid Transit in October. two years ago last Thursday the actual work of construction on the rapid transit subway of New-York was really begun by the breaking of ground for the change of grade of the lUeecker-st. sewer.

The vast work is now completion than most persons imagine. "Wherever the pavement is intact in the street ovt-r the workings," said Chief Engineer Parsons, "the work ol tunnel construction has been i. pitted. You are perfectly safe in saying it. the unfinished portions of the tunnel are such as are still open." shows that not more than one v.

ii and a half of the subway remains yet to be upon Manhattan Island above the Hall, and that only about three miles and half of excavated tunnel remain yet to be whether or not the report that trains v. lo be run as early as October was true, Mr. replied: "I have never made or aut! mized that statement." Mr. Parsons, when sscd for a categorical answer to the question, i lined to say that the commission expected to run trains as early as October, or that it did From sources outside the engineer's dej.iMiutnt, however, it was learned that there belief on the part of all concerned that will be regularly run through the greater pit of the tunnel's length by the date Mr. Parsons stated that when trains run they will be operated on both the West Hide and Lenox-ave.

lines from One-hundredand-forty-flfth-st. to the City IlalL An inspection of the route discloses the fact that most of the gaps in actual tunnel construction are being rapidly closed. That under the cite of the old Hall of Records, near the Brooklyn Bridge entrance. Is one of the most noteu.rthy downtown. The next in Importance is at Kighth-sU where the tunnel in Fourth-aye.

and that In Lafayette Place are to be connected under the sites of buildings recently demolished. There Us comparatively little still to be In except at Union Square and at the entrance to the old Fourth-aye. tunnel, at Thirty-fourth-st- There Is still a considerable amount of work to be accomplished in between Fourth-aye. and Broadway, and some In Broadway north of Fifty-ninth-st. The viaduct across the Manhattan valley is built, with the exception of a connecting link at where it is highest, and the masonry of the approaches at both ends is partly built.

The deep section under Washington Heights is completed throughout the greater part of its length The viaduct from the point where the tunnel emerges from the hillside near Dykeman-st. to Kingsbridge is still to be built. Cn the Lcnox-ave. line little in the way of construction remains to be accomplished, ex. pt a short stretch at and the portion beneath and a part of that beyond the Harlem River.

The river portion, which was recently flooded, has be. pumped dry, and the work is proceeding rapidly. This working extends at present under only half the width of the stream. The construction under the other half cannot begin until the half now in work Is completed, as a part of stream must be kept open for navigation. That is the situation as far as the actual building of the underground channel of travel is concerned.

The stations are nearly all well advanced, many Lacking only the details of decoration. NEW-YORK TIUBUInE ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT. That under the City Hall Park, on the loop, is one of the number. It could be made ready for use in a short time. Contrary to the general belief, this station is only an auxiliary to the main City Hall station at the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge, which will be the largest in the system.

The City Hall loop station will be used only for local trains. The express trains will take on and discharge passengers at the bridge station, and will not pass around the loop at all when the road i-s in full operation. All express trains will run to Battery lark when the downtown part of the tunnel is completed, which will not be until some time after the road above the City Hall and beyond the Harlem is in full operation. In reply to a statement that the limited means for ingress and egress at the City Hall loop station had been severely criticised. Engineer Parsons said: -The capacity for ingress and egress there is equal to that of the most important station on tne Manhattan Klevate.l Railway, and is, I believe, sufficient for the requirements of that station, which is a mere auxiliary for local trallie.

11 On March 14, when Mayor drove the first spike, the track laying in the tunnel was formally begun by the Interborougb Kapid Transit Company, whi-h operate the underground railroads. A large amount of track material is already distributed the line, and as there is a solid and level of on which to build the road this bran, of construction should proceed more rapidly than is usual in railway building on the surface. The contact rails will probably be laid at the same time as those for traction, and when the last obstacles to progress have been removed by the tunnel builders the cars, with their motors, will also be ready, some of the power houses will be completed and equipped with generating machinery, and all CT'RYE AT FORTT-SECOND-ST. Here the Subway will puss over the subcel Ur and uuder the main floor of a largo hotel. GLIMPSE OF EAST PLATFORM AT SIXTIETH ST.

STATION. A SUBWAY VISTA NEAR ENTRANCR TO Tin: -HOOPOE THE TUNNEL MOST OF TUB ACCIDKXTS HA HAPI'EXKD..