192 TUNNELING 



Estimated Quantities. The estimated quantities of material 

 used in constructing the subway were as follows : 



Excavation 369,450 cu. yds. 



Concrete 75,660 " " 



Brick 11,105 " " 



Steel 8,105 tons 



Granite 2,285 cu. yds. 



Piles 117,925 lin. ft. 



Ribbed tiles 12,440 sq. yds. 



Plaster 88,190 



Waterproofing (asphalt coating) . . . 117,980 



Artificial stone 6,790 



Enameled brick 2,210 



Enameled tiles 2,855 



Cost of the Subway. The estimated cost of the subway made 

 before the work was begun was approximately $4,000,000, and 

 the cost of construction did not exceed $3,700,000. This 

 includes ventilating and pump chambers, changes of water and 

 gas pipes, sewers and other structures, administration, engineer- 

 ing, interest on bonds, and all cost whatsoever. Dividing this 

 number by the total length we obtain a cost per linear foot of 

 $342.30. 



New York Rapid Transit Railway The project of an under- 

 ground rapid transit railway to run the entire length of Man- 

 hattan Island, was originated some years previous to 1890. In 

 1894, however, a Rapid Transit Commission was appointed to 

 prepare plans for such a road, and after a large amount of 

 trouble and delay this commission awarded the contract for 

 construction to Mr. John B. McDonald of New York City, on 

 Jan. 15, 1900. Not enough work has been done to enable a 

 description of the methods of construction, but the following is 

 a brief account of the work to be done : 



Route. The road starts from a loop which encircles the 

 triangular area occupied by the City Hall Park and the Post- 

 Office. Within this loop the tunnel construction will be two- 

 storied; but where the main line leaves the loop, all four tracks 



