William J. Boucher, Assistant Engineer in charge of Draughting Rooms.




[Illustration: (INTERBOROUGH RAPID TRANSIT)]

INTRODUCTION


The completion of the rapid transit railroad in the boroughs of
Manhattan and The Bronx, which is popularly known as the "Subway," has
demonstrated that underground railroads can be built beneath the
congested streets of the city, and has made possible in the near
future a comprehensive system of subsurface transportation extending
throughout the wide territory of Greater New York.

In March, 1900, when the Mayor with appropriate ceremonies broke
ground at the Borough Hall, in Manhattan, for the new road, there were
many well-informed people, including prominent financiers and
experienced engineers, who freely prophesied failure for the
enterprise, although the contract had been taken by a most capable
contractor, and one of the best known banking houses in America had
committed itself to finance the undertaking.

In looking at the finished road as a completed work, one is apt to
wonder why it ever seemed impossible and to forget the difficulties
which confronted the builders at the start.