New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-22
HISTORY OF THE TUNNEL.
STRUGGLE WITH BsTACLEs-BEGINNlNG WORK
TIRE PROGRESS MADE.

STRUGGLE WITH OBsTACLES-BEGlNNlNG WORK
THE PRoGRFss MADE.
The scheme of tunnelling the bed of the North
River had its inspiration in the pressing demands OF
commerce for better Shipping facilities at the ter
mini of the trunk railroad lines ccntring at this
port 1t is now about seven year since the pro-
ject was first put IN definite shape by Colonel De
| witt c. Haskin and from that time to the present
its history has been marked by constant struggles
against obstacles. Opposition was offered at the
outset by the very railroad companies 1T was de
signed TO benefit Colonel Ilaskns idea was that
the tunnel should be used in common by the
various roads now ending at IIoDOken and jersey
CITY. But petty ealousies and fears Of unequal
advantages being gained az well as the amount OF
capital now invested in ferry property, caused
them to wage bitter war against the entire scheme.
In this they were joined by the New York Central
Railroad Company. All these forces combined
against the Tunnel G mpany Many months were
spent in a legislative contest at Trenton. Finally,
however Colonel Haskin triumphed and obtained
from the New-Jersey Legislature charter organlz-
ing the Hudson Tunnel Railroad Company with n
subscribed capital of $1O,0O0000. The following
were chosen officers of the Company President and
General Manager Dewitt C.. Haskin; treasurer C..
G. Lincoln secretary, l.. c. Fowler; directors, C..
g. FranckIyn. Trenor W. Park C. G Lincoln, J. s..
IL,
kin: engineers, Spieman and Brush; consulting
engineer w. Ii. Paine; superintendent. j. f. An
dersen.
The securing of the charter from New Jersey was
only preliminary step. The hardest struggle was
to obtain the right If way. Suit after suit was
opened IN the courts. Vast sums of money flowed
into the purses of lawyers, and month after month
passed by with apparently no prospect OF settle
mont, At length the last obstacle on the New
giI a
purchase Of the required land from the Delaware.
lackawanna and Western Railroad Company FOR
which il demanded S5O0,OO0l at the Courts APP
praisemcnt of Tl20J0. In this State similar OBJ
Staclrs encountered The New-fOrk Central
interest strove to preyhsnf the granting or
ssmblyman /. l. Hayes and Others the DILL was
finally passed by the Legislature. and became a
law 5y receiving the Governors signature last
june just six years from the beginning CT the legal
battle.
Work was at once begun on the shaft. at Fiji
tcenth-st., Jersey City An Immense shaft was
sunk, and an air-lOck Of peculiar and improved
design constructed. The Perpendicular shaft or
well was made thirty iert III dla"eteri ami llned
with solid four-OOt brick wall At the bottom
of this the roadway OF the tunnel was begun.
When completed the tunnel will be- entered by an
approach OF easy grade, beginning some distance
back from the present shalt. The bore of the
tunnel is nearly circular, being twenty-five feet
high and twenty broad. 1t ~ lined with Il shell of
boiler ron one-fourth of an inch in thickness, III
plates TWO and half feet wide and from three TO
SIX feet long These are securely bolted together
and worked forward III sections as the work of e%-
cavatou advances Inside this she'll IS constructed
a wall OF hard brick LAID IN cement. The thickness
Of this wall is about two feet and extends com
pletey around the cglinaer.
The work the tunnel up to the present time
has advanced steadily, without any scriOus acci-
dent or interruption. There are thee sets of work
men Of forty men each, working eight hours per
day No holidays are taken. The rate of progress
Is about three feet per day, but improved facilities
are to he introduced. another shaft to be sunk ar
the New-York end, and II Is expected tnat the great
work will he completed in three years. wlen Il VIII
accommodate the passage of iC0 railroad trains
daily Efforts will be made press the work 80
ming of the International Exposition in this city