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This newspaper page contains 16 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Boston Post
Location
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Date
Sep 01, 1897
Page
5
The article recounts a marathon battle over subway legislation in the 1890s, detailing aides, alliances, and maneuvers led by Mayor Matthews and a transit commission. It notes Senate rounds, executive veto threats, and the ultimate 1896 referendum result with 15,483 yes and 14,212 no votes.
A Boston subway section opens with mixed sentiment as critics led by former mayors oppose the project yet praise its promise. Reported by Josiah Quincy, the piece notes labor crowding, early employment, and cautious optimism about safety, affordability, and long term civic value. It highlights city, state roles, funding, and the prospect of a profitable public asset for future generations.
The note details improved station signage and staff guidance to prevent confusion for passengers who may need help boarding or reaching trains. The plan emphasizes clear directions at road stations and assistance options for riders requiring support.
Motormen and conductors laughed as passengers tried to pass through one way turnstiles. Some forced their way out and had to climb over iron screens after realizing they could not return. At the track’s extreme end beneath Park Street lies a 175 foot long pit spanning two tracks.
The Cleveland editor sends cordial greetings to Boston for its subway opening and notes expectations for improved transportation and business. The piece describes Roberts E. McKisson cars aiding repairs during breakdowns, lifting devices, and extensive fire hoses. A major cited deficiency is the lack of sanitary arrangements, which officials did not confirm will be addressed soon.
At the Boylston street entrance to the Public Garden the area known as Dead man s curve has new iron posts three feet high along the garden walk from Arlington street and a line across the Church street entrance. Workmen are setting the posts while motormen and pedestrians are urged to stay alert as officials press for safer passage at the dangerous point near the Park Borest terminal.
Public safety concerns at the Park Street terminal describe a crossing ban between platforms. A fenced central separation forces passengers to exit past the ticket offices and pay another fare, deterring cross-platform boarding and exposing riders to risk.
A historical exploration questions the subway's birth and timeline in Boston. It recounts Senator Quinn's claim that the Common's use for transit inspired a bill drafted by three men in 1894, with public opposition, fundraising, and engineering talks shaping a doomed plan.
The article recounts a long clash over rapid transit with Representative Quinn presenting the bill, opposition from the West End, and Hyde opposing in committee. It notes protests at Faneuil Hall and court actions brought from New York to argue subway advantages as the bill moved through the rapid transit committee and toward the House.
Governor Greenhalge and Chairman Crocker presided as the first spadeful of soil was turned at the Public Garden near Park Square on March 28 1895. A large crowd gathered near a pine stake while Mayor Curtis sent regrets and Greenhalge joined Crocker in the quiet ceremony.
Taeneonle accepted the subway act at the polls July 24 amid record heat. The city lay quiet and deserted as thousands fled to cooler regions while others strained for relief. Mayor Matthews held the election during the hottest season.
Preliminary operations report that the first contract was awarded on March 23, 1893 and construction began. The article notes a period when the subway seemed forgotten by the public, but progress began to reemerge as work started.
In a downtown building, planners draw maps as officials dig and test, while curious passersby note workers bores in streets. Hidden advance agents drill deep holes then fill them, stirring public unease as the subway project moves toward formal approval and digging begins.
General Byrne lauds Boston subway as a grand achievement and a new standard for transit. He notes early fears of building collapses and high costs, but commends the completion and anticipates other cities adopting the model as bids for construction come to fruition.
A sentence fragment notes Section 1 and an award given on March 2. The readable text confirms a formal recognition with no further details on who received the award or the issuing body.
The narrative recalls Senator Quinn and transit officials over a fifty year lease of the subway to the West End. The Daily Post urged public opposition in spring 1896, battling lobby power as it pushed to overturn legislative directions and lead a major public works dispute remembered in the era’s court battles.
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