Daily globe., 1879-04-04
TUNNELING THE HUDSON.
Gigantic Enterprise by Which New York
Is to Be Connected ,Uith Ne,v Jersev.

Is to Be Connected tUitk Ne,U JERSEY.
New York Letter.
More than four years ago the Hudson
Tunnell company commenced the shaft for
an underground communication between
New York and Jersey city beneath the bed
of the Hudson river to enable the numerous
railroads terminating in Jersey city to con-
tinue their tracks into the metropolis.
Litigation was instituted that put a 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. It is only neces-
sary to consider the gigantic traffic of the
Erie, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Lackawanna
& Western, New Jersey Central, and other
roads to 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 ferryboats. The saving
of time and lessening of expenses cannot
fail to be satisfactory and profitable to all
concerned. All the plans are settled, the
means provided, aud it is calculated that the
tunnel can be constructed in about two
years. The entrance to the tunnel on the
Jersey side will be 3, 400 feet from the river
banks. There will be 5, 400 feet under the
bed of the river, the greatest depth being
ninety seven feet, and 3 1000 feet on the New
York side, making the tunnel about 215
miles long. For the purpose esf expedition,
it is proposed to work from each side of the
river at the same time, employing as many
men as can be successfully employed, chang
ing them every eight hours, thus doing
three days work in twenty-four hours.
The tunnel will be twenty six feet i'll width
and twenty-four feet in hight, with double
track of heavy steel rails, and capable 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 passage
pleasant as we'll as speedy, not more than six
minutes being required. The president, Mr..
Haskins, has patent for the use of com
pressed air, which, in connection with other
important appliances, will complete this work
at much less expense than has attended any
other similar construction. No expensive
coffer-dam, caissons, or Brunei shields will
be required. The use of compressed air in
troduced into the face of the tunnel with
sufficient pressure to hold in place or keep
back and prevent the irruption of silt, clay,
cr water, is expected to overcome the diff
culIleS usually experienced IN constructing
such works. The air-pressure will also carry
back to the working shafts all sand, mud, or
water that may accumulate in the headings
while the workmen are making the excava-
tions. The air pressure is also expected to
assist in keeping out water and upholding
the roof of earth during the excavation,
which is to be made by three sets of work.
men on platforms, one above the other.
The masonry will be going on as fast as the
excavation is made, the brick-work being
gigantic enterprise and deserves to succeed,
without any of the impadiments that now
hinder the completion of the great suspen-
sion bridge across the East river. The
capital of the company ($1O, O,OOO,0OO), it is
supposed, will be abundant to put the work in
actual operation within two years.