Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 133, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1904 — CHICAGO'S HUGE SUBWAY PLANS [ARTICLE]

CHICAGO'S HUGE SUBWAY PLANS

Boro* Once Intended for Wire* Are to Become Arteries of Traffic. , A complete revolution of the methods of handling the freight business of prac ; tlcally all of the railroad** having terminals in Chicago is promised by the Chicago Subu-ay Company, which has been incorporated in. New Jersey, with a capitalization of 000 and immediately came into possession of the Chicago Tunnel Company. Behind this definite announcement of purpose is said to lie a strong possibility that ultimately the o street railway systems of the city will be provided with subways in the heart of the city, and thus further relieve the congestion which has been complained of for years. It is strongly hinted that the construction of a subway directly above the tunnels is contemplated at some time, and that a controlling interest in the Illinois Tunnel Company M-as achieved in order to- avoid litigation and embarrassment during the construction period. Here are some of the things promised when the full scope of the scheme is in operation: Freight traffic Mill be diverted from the streets to the tunnels, and the streets thus relieved of the dirt incidental to teaming. Railroad freight yards M-ill be removed ten or fifteen miles from the central part of the city, thus leaving valuable real estate available for other business uses. All freight M-ill bo handled more expeditiously, the cars to which freight has been transferred at the outer yards coming into the city by the tunnels and electric motors. With the passing of freight locomotives the city M-ill be relieved of 80 per cent of the smoke nuisance. The necessity for tearing up pavements will be practically overcome when telegraph and telephone wires, gas pipes, M-ater pipes and other public utilities are placed within the tunnels. Mail M-ifi be handled more quickly when letters nnd parcels can be dropped directly Into the tunnels through mail boxes, and thence conveyed directly to the postofflee.