The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-04-03
TUSyEEIyG THE HUDSON.
4 Gigantic Enterprise By Which New
York Is 10 be Connected with New

4 Gigantic EnterprIse By Which New
York is 70 be Connected with New.
Jersey.
More than four years SGD the Hudson
Tunnel Company commenced the shaft for
an underground communication between
New York and Jersey City beneath the bed
OF the Hudson river 70 enable the numer-
Gus railroads terminating in Jersey City to
continue their tracks into the metropolis.
Litigation was instituted that put stop to
the work, but this has now happily termi-
mated and the passage of bill PENDING in
the New York legislature will soon cause
the resumption of the work. l. is only
necessary 10 consider the gigantic traffic OF
the Erie, Peursylvania. Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western, New Jersey Central,
and other roads 10 show the Importance of
the cars going direct into the city instead
of having TO depend on the transfer Of
freight and passengers by the ferry boats
The saving Of lime and lsssening Of expen-
ses cannot fail TO be satisfactory and profit
able to all concerned. All the plans are
settled, the means provided, and il is calcu-
lated that the tunnel can be constructed in
about two years. The entrance to the tun-
mel on the Jersey side will be S,400 feet
from the river banks. There Will be ) 400
feet under the bed Of the river, the greatest
depth being % feet, and 1000 feet on the
New York side, making the entire tnnnel
about q miles long. For the purpose Of
expedition, it is proposed to work from
each side OF the river at the came time, en-
ploying as many men as can successfully be
employed, changing them every eight
hours, thus doing three days work every
twenty four hours. The 'unntl will be &c
feet in width and a feet in hight, with
double track of heavy steel rail-, and capa-
bic of passing 400 trains every twenty hours.
1t will be painted white and lit with gas,
while the locomotives will consume their
own steam and smoke, rendering the pas
sage pleasant as well as speedy, not more
tnan six minutes being required. TIE
President, Mr.. Haskins, has g patent for
the use Of compressed air, which, in counec
ton with other important appliances, will
complete this work at much less expense
than has attended any other similar |
caissnns or BRUNEI shields will be requir- |
ed The use of compressed air introduced |
into the face Of the tunnel with sufficient |
pIt-cNAc ~ hOih III HiGCt VI http bdth
and prevent Eruption OF silt, ~lay or wa
ter, ia expected TO overcome the difficulties |
usually experienced in constructing such |
works The air pressure will also carry
back to the working shsiis all sand, mud |
or water that may accumulate in the |
headings while the workmeu are making |
the excavation. The air pressure is also |
expected to sssist in keeping ont water |
and upholding the roof of earth during the |
which Is to be mad. by three |
sets of workmeu, on platforms, one above
the other. The masonry will be going on
az fast as the excavations are made, the |
brick work beirg three feet thick and laid |
with cement. 1t ia gigantic enterprise
snd deserves TO succeed, without any Of |
the impediments that now hinder the COM
pletion OF the great suspension bridge across
the East river. The capital Of the company |
(sl0, 900 CO0l. it il supposed, will be abun-
isnt to put the work in actual operation
within two ye4rs