The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-24
Explanation Of the Bill Now Pending
Before the Legislature.
INTERVIEW With ASSEMBLYMAN HAYES
All the Railroads Of the North to Concsn-
hate in New York City.


some information In regard TO the runner Dill now
pending before the Legislature. and the provisions
of which authorize the construction OF tunnels under
cities and villages of the State for railroad purposes
The Doctor being in the city only fortyeight hours
to enjoy rest from Albany politics and legislative
labors not overanxious to review pending legis
1ation during the Sabbath hours but upon being
pressed and informed that the readers of the HERALD
take great interest in any project that to
New York city its permanent pre-eminence as the
leading commercial emporium. which this bill seeks
to further the fatigued Assemblyman ut last con-
scented to be interviewed. "Wel,' he finally said to
the reporter ego ahead with your questions;" and
the following valuable information Of Importance to
oil who have faith in the continued prosperity OF
New York was obtained:-
PURpoRr THE TUNNEL BILL.
REPoRTER-In the first place. Doctor. allow me to
Ask you whether you think the Tunnel bill pre-
scented in the HERALD Of Saturday morning will pass
and become a law?
DR.. HAYEs-The bill to which you refer intro
duced by me into the Assembly some weeks ago, and
after having been duly considered in the Committee
on Cities was favorably reported to the Assembly,
where it is general orders and will probably
be reached during the week. think it win pass and
become law.
HAS the bin any special reference to New York
cityg'
at is general in its provisions. as much SO as the
general railway act. 1t provides for tunnelling
der cities and villages OF the State for railroad pur-
poses but naturally enough its chief bearing will be
upon New York city,
II understand it is proposed to tunnel the Hud-
son River, and tunnel therefore under New York
would be of no use unless the river tunnel was
made"
.'It is proposed" said DR.. Hayes. "to tunnel the
at Mt from fhe
Jersey shore aud to enter New York ut a point as
nearly opposite possible but with the details Of
such q tunnel have no concern. I have taken
palms. however. to inquire fully as to the practi-
cabiity of such project, and have no doubt what
that it is entirely feasible The bed Of the river
am informed by competent engineers. is composed
Of such material that tunnel can easily be dug
twenty feet below its bed with comparatively
little cost, and be made perfectly secure
and watertight. That you can tunnel beneath the
city needs no argument to prove Having satisfied
myself on these points, have simply gone about
preparing bill that will give anybody. any COM
pany. railroad railroad corporation, having the
necessary the right to avail themselves of the
privilege Of entering New York under the Hudson
River or the Harlom. from any point where o
tunnel can be made. That is all have to do with
the matter. believe it to be great scheme in the
interest Of the OF New York, and if avacd
of will rebound greatly to the benefit Of the
! know of nothing which could conduce greatly
to the commerce of the metropolis Of the country.
and IL shall not succeed in passing it this year some
one else is sure to do it long hence And in this
connection would like to observe that have also
pending before the Legislature another scheme
scarcely less important than ths-a measure which
introduced into the Legislature last year-1 mean
the project Of free canals which to accomplish re-
these two encouragcments to commerce New York
would indeed be not alone the metropolis of Amer
ica, but the greatest trading mart Of all the world
THE GREAT RAILWAY TERMINI.
''You have spoken. Doctor, OF the great advantage
this tunnel would be to the city; let ask you to
specify more particularly
''The great trouble aud complaint concerning New
York." said the Doctor. is in her terminal facilities.
The great railroado which centre in about Jersey
City obliged there to deliver the vast quantities
Of freight which brought by them to the seaboard
from the great West and to receive their return
goes. The enormous expense Of delivery to and from
the shipping the East and North rivers is great
drawback. II is necessarily done by boats lighters
ct great expense. and, in the distribution OF COM
modities upon Manhattan Island from the wharves
end pers beside tho water about the
harbor, IL o serious expense"
KrrEcr OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES.
''This would. you think. be obviated by the tun
mel p
I'm great measure. yes. II tunnel should be
constructed under the river and landing made un-
derground In the lower part of the CITY, somewhere
shove Canal street. then the Delaware and Lacka-
wanna Railroad the Erie. the Midland. the Pennsy-
vania Central. the New Jersey Central and other
lines would enter it and deliver their frcights
and passengers at convenient point distribution
without any of the cost and hindrances of water
transportation. and their joint grand depot would be
grand indeed. And. more than this my bill pro-
vdes in the latter part of the rst section that any
other road as, for instance, the New York Central
which delivers its freight ct the immense depot in
st. Johns Park, may unite with it, Were this done
steam surface railroads in the city, with all their an
noysnces and risks would DO at an end. The surface
tracks of the Central road down Hudson street. ON
the west side OF the city would be sunk the freight
would be received at st. Johns Park depot under
ground and tunnel connecting that depot with tho
grand depot OF the other roads would unite the rail-
of the State in q complete circuit Should this
project be carried out the city would In course Of
simc. be tunneled through to the East River. and
another grand depot Of the Central and other roads
would be formed there. and that ornamental costly
would very soon be supplanted by tunnel that
would directly connect Brooklyn, by rail- with the
great west."
ut, Ihi: is indeed, grand project DO you really
Most assuredy. II Is but question OF money
and engineering skill That there are no insur-
mountable obstacles In the way. so far engineer
ing Is concerned is proven by numerous expert
ments In other countries. No difficulty has been
found In tunncling the Thames. The Alps and tho
Hoosac Mountains have been bored through. and tho
only question Is will Il pay As 70 this, am as
sured by men thoroughly familiar with the subject,
ano who have expressed their willingness to prove
their faith by their subscriptions. that II is settled
beyond doubt. But with this, as have said be-
fore have nothing to do. MY business is TO make
laws not to make tunnels. All desire IL to give
Legislative authority to the engineers and tho capt
tasts. and II they do not avail themselves OF it, ana
shat very quickly. am much mistaken; and II New
York does not then take at great stride In pro-
gress shall have no faith In enterprise"
VINO WILL opPosE THE TUNNEL
ITO such scheme for the promotion of the in
terests OF New York commerce should think there
would be no opposition, Judging from your stand
point. Let me ask, do you anticipate any?
"None that Is founded on reason. 4 have bcen
told that the New York Central would oppose IL. but
I do not think SO. 1 satisfied that the Central
will see that its interests are much involved as
bhosc OF any other road and, as have always main
fniu canals would bclp tina C.,,,trul -.