ng
somewhat unusual provision: "The railway and its equipment as
contemplated by the contract constitute a great public work. All parts
of the structure where exposed to public sight shall therefore be
designed, constructed, and maintained with a view to the beauty of
their appearance, as well as to their efficiency."

It may be said with exact truthfulness that the builders have spared
no effort or expense to live up to the spirit of this provision, and
that all parts of the road and equipment display dignified and
consistent artistic effects of the highest order. These are noticeable
in the power house and the electrical sub-stations and particularly in
the passenger stations. It might readily have been supposed that the
limited space and comparative uniformity of the underground stations
would afford but little opportunity for architectural and decorative
effects. The result has shown the fallacy of such a supposition.

[Illustration: PLAN OF 28TH ST. & 4TH AVENUE STATION.]

Of the forty-eight stations, thirty-three are underground, eleven are
on the viaduct portions of the road, and three are partly on the
surface and partly underground, and one is partly on the surface and
partly on the viaduct.

[Sidenote: _Space Occupied_]

The underground stations are at the street intersections, and, except
in a few instances, occupy space under the cross streets. The station
plans are necessarily varied to suit the conditions of the different
locations, the most important factor in planning them having been the
amount of available space. The platforms are from 200 to 350 feet in
length, and about 16 feet in width, narrowing at the ends, while the
center space is larger or smaller, according to local conditions. As a
rule the body of the station extends back about 50 feet from the edge
of the platform.

At all local stations (except at 110th Street and Lenox Avenue) the
platforms are outside of the tracks. (Plan and photograph on pages
30 and 31.) At Lenox Avenue and 110th Street there is a single island
platform for uptown and downtown passengers.

[Illustration: 28TH STREET STATION]

[Sidenote: _Island
Platforms_]

At express stations there are two island platforms between the express
and local tracks, one for uptown and one for downtown traffic. In
addition, there are the usual local platforms at Brooklyn Bridge, 14th
Street (photograph on page 34) and 96th Street. At the remaining
express stations, 42d Street a