The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-13
OPENING THE TUNNEL.

sALuTEs OF CANNON, DISPLAY OF BUNTING
AND ENTHUSIASM ALONG THE Ro'ITE--
SPEECHES BY GOVERNOR BEDLE, Ex-GovER-
NOR HOFFMAN, W. WALTER PHELPS AND
OTHERS
The enterprise shown by tho Delaware Lackawanna
and Western Railroad Company in constructing the
new tunnel under Bergen Hill, With It's approaches,
which includes the magn ncent bridge over the Hack
ensack. al cost OF nearly 81, 100000. in great
measure rewarded yesterday. At tho hour appointed
for starting the pioneer train from tho depot at
Hoboken there assembled gathering Of rep
resentative aud influential In the full
Of the In the vicinity Of the depot groups
of men, women and children were congreeated, wblc
employees OF the railroad company smiled though
they were enjoying holiday Cannon were placed in
position on either side OF the track at the starting
point and expense spared in tho display OF flags
and bunting The locomotive az $. AuchincIoss" was
selected Tor the occasion, and was literally covered
with small nags. Three handsome palace cars were
attached and IN these tho excursion party seated,
when at fifteen before eleven Mr. Samuel Sloan
president OF the company jumped upon the locomotive
and relieving the engineer from the honor OF opening
the route gave whistle signal. pulled the lever and
the train started The cannons bazed out the event.
cheers went up from the crowd and then followed
such an din OF whistllng from about twenty
locomotives the vicinity Of the depot that tho noise
was positively deafcning The example speedily
followed by all the locomotives both the coal and
passenger lines Til the Hackcnsack River reached.
Steadily along tho track, ana at pace that showed
Mr. Sloans conncenceIn the sodity OF the track ana
bansting approached the tunnel the entrance
winch lined on either side with spectators. Here
cannon placed on each side and Numbered on
salute ON the crest the hill the entrance
the tunnel was dense crowd ia front OF which riders
on mules were drawn up in line These desig-
McAndreW
that had been employed by the contractor Mr.. John
McAndrew In tho excavation OF the great bore. Each
rider carried flag. and the simultaneous waving Of
line OF colors added to the prolonged cheering and
the blazing OF cannon. produced a most insprlting
effect The tram passed through the tunnel
smoothly as though the road had beeu IN
operation Tor years On the western side
splendid bridge the Hackensack
At Newark, Orange. South Orange, Summit, Norris
town. Boont and Hackcttstown there sautes OF
artillery and continued cheering All the stations
decorated with bu nting Morristown reached
latter place carriages were provided for the cnliro
party, numbering about eighty, by one of Patersons
Trade, Mr.. Thomas Barbour, who conveyed the party
his paatia residence, about three miles from the
depot. Here sumptuous banquet was prepared, and,
with the addition local guests, the party that
Sal down TO dinner numbered about one hundred and
th ty
Bedic, Ex-Governor John I. Hoffman,. William Walter
Phelps, samuel sloan, 4 Z pype. Moses Taylor, WI
lam g. Schenck, 5. b. Chitienden, John McAndrcw,
Jackson schultz. +. wocott Jackson, general super
Beach yanderpoe. John q. Dale, Senators g. A. uo-
bart and Jonn Hill John T. Draper Marcellus Massey,
". W. shlppen, James housh, president Of the Jer-
sey City Police COMMISSIONERS; Judge Hop
per, Mayor Buckley cx-Mayor Smith, Robert
Hamill, Thomas G. Hoxsey, and John Cooke
Fuller. T.. .. Auchincloss and II. d. Aucnncloss,
Dexter Lambert beside the following officers Of the
company Rcasonc general superintendent; j.
GrIiths assistant superintendent; James Archibald
chief engineer; superintenden's Hastead Niver,
Phelps and Humphrey.
Speeches were made by Mr.. Barbour, Samuel Sloan,
Governor Bedie, Ex-Governor Holman, Moses Taylor,
William f. Dodge, s. b. Chttenden, William Waiter
Phelps, John Brisbin, Mr. RyalI, Jackson Schultz
from Senator Randolph, regretting he could not be
present Governor Bedle IN his address, wished that
the people would understand the difference between
railroads which used for developing the material
interests OF country aud those used Tor speculative
purposes Among the former ho classed the company
that butt tho tunnel Mr. Phelps made speech
brisliing with hunor. which convusod his hearers
with laughter. MI. Bris6in said the tunnel was not
completed, but every dollar Of inc expenliE.
should como the Delaware and Lacsawanna would
be able pay every dollar, and " tho worst should
Peppsvlyan,a Which hey could mortgage Tor
$50 600 900 at par value Mr. schultz did not like the
way the Jersey people do business. He favored CON-
mercial union between New York, Brooklyn and Jcr-
sey Governor Holman remarked humorousy that
tho opening Of the tunnel was memorable to him.
on the day tho opening commenced he retired
from Office and WAS consigned 10 private life. The
others out at the other end OF tho hole whilo no
could whether be would ever get out.
The party left Paterson shortly after six O'Clock and
arrived at Hoboken 1T hali-past SIX Mr. Sloan was
very enthusiastic over the completeness OF the work,
and SAID, pointing 70 the contractor, THAT John
done his work well, and will always stand by him"
Mr. Sloan dcplorcd the loss Of life during the exca
walton OF the tunnel Mr. Archibald explains that
clerical error occurred the report regarding the
number OF brick laid IN the tunnel, which should read
five millions Mr.. McAndrew insists there were seven