Typical
Subway_]

The construction of the typical subway has been carried on by a great
variety of methods, partly adopted on account of the conditions under
which the work had to be prosecuted and partly due to the personal
views of the different sub-contractors. The work was all done by open
excavation, the so-called "cut and cover" system, but the conditions
varied widely along different parts of the line, and different means
were adopted to overcome local difficulties. The distance of the rock
surface below the street level had a marked influence on the manner in
which the excavation of the open trenches could be made. In some
places this rock rose nearly to the pavement, as between 14th and 18th
Streets. At other places the subway is located in water-bearing loam
and sand, as in the stretch between Pearl and Grand Streets, where it
was necessary to employ a special design for the bottom, which is
illustrated by drawing on page 42.

This part of the route includes the former site of the ancient Collect
Pond, familiar in the early history of New York, and the excavation
was through made ground, the pond having been filled in for building
purposes after it was abandoned for supplying water to the city. The
excavations through Canal Street, adjacent, were also through made
ground, that street having been at one time, as its name implies, a
canal.

From the City Hall to 9th Street was sand, presenting no particular
difficulties except through the territory just described.

At Union Square rock was encountered on the west side of Fourth Avenue