This work was started shortly after the delivery of the contract, and is complete.

Routes Nos. 36 & 37, Section No. 2.-Work on the contract of Charles Meads & Company for the construction of station finish for six stations on this section was practically completed during 1916. The work during 1917 consisted of the making of repairs and completing minor details.

The following tabulation gives the work done under the principal items of this contract, from the beginning of construction to December 31, 1917, and the total estimated value of work completed during the same period:

Routes Nos. 36 & 37, Sections Nos. 1 and 3, and Route No. 50. -All work under the contract let to the Snare & Triest Company for station finish covering these two sections of Routes Nos. 36 & 37, and also Route No. 50, was completed during the year, and operation begun on these two routes on April 21, 1917.

Signal Towers:- Routes Nos. 36 & 37, Sections Nos. 1, 2 and 3. -A contract for the erection of signal towers on Sections Nos. 1, 2 and 3 of Routes Nos. 36 & 37, including also the erection of these towers on Sections Nos. 1 and 2 of Routes Nos. 16 & 18, was let to the H. C. Stowe Construction Company on January 16, 1917, for $110,650.71.

Work was started on this contract and is rapidly nearing completion. The main portion of several of these towers has been sufficiently completed to permit of their being used by the operating company. The entire completion of this contract is expected in the early part of 1918.

The following tabulation gives the progress, under the principal items of work, in the erection of these signal towers on Sections Nos. 1, 2 and 3 of Routes Nos. 36 & 37 to December 31, 1917, and the total estimated value of work completed to that date: Wood floors

Concrete work

Steel.

Plumbing

Hardware.

395 sq. ft. 28 cu. yds.

156 tons

$4,100 lump sum

$649.50 each

$31,290

Total value of work completed,

as estimated

Route No. 50, Hunters Point Avenue Station. The Degnon Contracting Company had practically completed the work under its contract for the construction of the station finish for the Hunters Point Avenue station during 1916. During 1917, all necessary repairs were made and minor details taken care of.

The following tabulation gives the work done under the principal items of this contract, from the beginning of construction to December 31, 1917, and the total estimated value of work completed during the same period:

Track Installation: Routes Nos. 36 & 37, Sections Nos. 1, 2 and 3, and Route No. 50.- All track installation work under this contract was completed in the beginning of the year.

On February 1, 1917, temporary operation of this line was started to the Ditmars Avenue station on Second avenue, thus furnishing rapid transit facilities to the Astoria section of Queens.

On April 21, 1917, the remainder of this line was put into

operation, being that part to Alburtis avenue on Roosevelt avenue, thus furnishing rapid transit facilities to the Corona section of Queens.

There are practically 39 miles of single track in operation on this line at the present time.

Queensboro Subway Railroad Duct Line.--Work on this line of forty ducts, extending from a point under 44th street and Lexington avenue, east to First avenue, thence south to 42d street, and east to Shaft No. 2 of the Queensboro subway, between First avenue and the East river, was mostly completed at the close of 1916, having been started on July 5 of that year. The work remaining unfinished, consisting of some minor details, was done during 1917.

The total value of work completed on this contract, as estimated, is $32,303.63.

COMPANY CONTRACTS — INTERBOROUGH LINES

THIRD-TRACKING ELEVATED RAILROADS

Plans: In connection with the work on additional tracks of the Second, Third and Ninth Avenue Elevated lines, the Second and Third Avenue express tracks in Manhattan were reinforced, and composite cars taken from the subway were used for express service during 1917. An investigation was made to determine the strength of the local tracks of the Second and Third Avenue Elevated lines and the report of this investigation is about completed.

All plans in connection with the third-tracking of these elevated railroads were completed prior to 1917.

Construction: The third-tracking work of the Second, Third and Ninth Avenue Elevated lines for the year 1917 consisted chiefly of construction of a minor character, such as the installation of a number of crossovers, track and tool houses, signal towers, circuit breaker houses, and stairways for entrance to, and exit from, stations.

On July 9, 1917, the express service on the Third Avenue line, which had from January 17, 1916, been in operation only to 149th street, was extended to 177th street. An additional extension of the express service was made on November 7, 1917, on

the Third Avenue line, when express trains were put into service throughout the day, running downtown in the morning and uptown in the afternoon. Prior to this, express trains were run only during the morning and evening rush hours.

Except for the completion of the south lower mezzanine, the construction of the easterly half of the new 155th Street station on the Ninth Avenue line underwent little change during the year 1917. The Putnam Railroad tracks and platform still occupy the site of the proposed easterly platform and the two tracks serving it. On December 19, 1917, the Commission adopted a final order, directing the Interborough Rapid Transit Company to operate trains on and after January 6, 1918, between the 155th Street station and the new joint station at Sedgwick avenue and West 161st street, and to furnish through service to the Sedgwick Avenue station on or before February 1, 1918.

EXTENSIONS OF ELEVATED RAILROADS

Plans: Webster Avenue Line. This is a three-track elevated extension of the Third Avenue Elevated railway from a point immediately north of Fordham road, over Webster avenue and Gun Hill road, to a connection with the White Plains Road line, Section No. 2 of Route No. 18. Revised construction plans were submitted and approved during the year.

Eighth Avenue and 162d Street Connection. This line extends from 157th street and Eighth avenue, from a connection with the Ninth Avenue Elevated line, over the Putnam bridge of the New York Central Railroad and across private property to Sedgwick avenue, thence under private property and intersecting streets as a two-track subway to and under 162d street to a point in private property east of Anderson avenue, where it again becomes an elevated structure. It extends thence over private property and intersecting streets to a connection at River avenue with the Jerome Avenue line, Route No. 16, Section No. 1.

Working drawings and shop details are being approved for this

work.

The Sedgwick Avenue station will be used jointly by the New York Central Railroad Company and the Interborough Rapid Transit Company. Plans and specifications were prepared by

the New York Central Railroad Company and approved by the Public Service Commission. Contract was awarded to Bernard Robinson at a bid price of $32,067.50. Of this amount the Interborough Rapid Transit Company pays $10,453.50, and the balance will be paid by the New York Central Railroad Company. West Farms Subway Connection.— This line connects the Third Avenue Elevated line with the West Farms branch of the First Subway near Brook avenue. The connection with the Third Avenue elevated is made near 143d street and the line extends thence over private property, Willis and Bergen avenues, and over the First Subway to a connection therewith at Westchester avenue near Brock avenue. All plans for this connection were completed prior to 1917.

Queensboro Bridge Line. This is a two-track connection from the tracks of the Second Avenue Elevated line, and extends over the Queensboro bridge to the City-owned structure at Queensboro plaza. During the current year working drawings and shop details were approved.

Construction: Webster Avenue Line. The contract time. for the steel erection on this line expired in the spring of 1917. Owing to a number of delays, particularly due to the abnormal condition of the labor and material market, the contract time has been extended.

During the year construction of foundations and attendant changes of subsurface structures were completed and the steel structure was erected on Gun Hill road and Webster avenue, between White Plains road and 210th street.

About 45 per cent of the total contract has been completed.

The contract for track work has been let to the Thomas Crimmins Contracting Company for $225,000, but no actual track work has been installed.

The contract for station finish work was awarded to Thomas Dwyer for $133,500, but no work has been done.

It is probable that this line will be completed and ready for operation in 1918 or early in 1919.

Eighth Avenue and 162d Street Connection.— On the section between the 155th Street station and the east side of Sedgwick avenue, the Interborough Rapid Transit Company during the