New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-27
RAILROAD NEWS.
DIFFICULTIES OF TUNNEL BUILDING

DIFFICULTIES OF TUNNEL BUILDING
Commissioners Davies, Bosworth and OBrien
continued yesterday tho hearing testimony offered on
the part Of property owners Broadway against the
construction of The Underground Railway. william F.
Lloyd testified That he had been reaestatt dealer fol
twentyeich years. and that he estimated the value OF
the buildings I'm Broadway, between Park-place and
Fourteenthst, at about 100000 900, and the yearly
rental at about $1OOO0O00. The testimony of foui
young then introduced 10 prove the magnitude
of the traffic in Broadway th2t might be interrupted by
the construction of the tunnel. These witnesses had
stood in Broadway walkerst. Tuesday between
Elo am and 6:30pm, and counted the number OF veht
Giles and foot passengers who passed that point between
tbose hours. They testified that 490s vehicles OF all
descriptions passed down Broadway, and 57ll up
the street There 760 people who passed up aud
down on the east side Of the street. aud 3o35O the
west side.
Alfred y. Mullett formerly Supervising Architect Of
the Treasury Department testified that he hal super
vised the construction Of the Post Offices at NewYork
Philadelphia and Boston, the Custom Houses at Sc
Louis Cincinnati and other cities, and had had extensive
experience In excavations He thought the plans pro-
posed for the construction of the Underground Railway
were indefinite There data as 20 the
character OF the ground. In order 10 form q proper
estimate OF tho cost it would be necessary to know
the depths OF the foundations OF each building
the street and to ascertain by probing, the na.
nature Of the ground in front OF each building A. far
could Judge from the plans he thought the expense
Of construction would be about S2OOOO0O per mile, and
the damage - the buildings mch more, perhaps
bridging the street while the tunnel was building as
wholly impractcable. The ouly OF which ne had
knowledge that similar the proposed tunnel was
the tunnel IN ST. Louis between tue bridge and the Union
Depot. In the construction OF that tunnel large
Der OF buildings had i5ecn damaged The front OF the
Lnde Hotel then In course Of contraction had settled
that 1t necessary to rebuild strengthen It. In
the construction OF the Post Oice at ST. Louis Guicssand
had been encountered that had broken through hor-
ing that had been pat NJ, and had damaged the fOunda
lion OF Buildings The quicksand had risen up In tho
middle Oi the excavation, aud only kept down by
driving piles and laying concrete five feet In depth He
Thought the son oil ST. Louis was much Ike that VI New
The counsel for tho directors stated that they hal
closed thcr case except Ior the testimony Of Inspector
Esterbrook The hearing was adjourned TO next Friday
morning.
AN AGREEMENT OF SOUTHW ESTERN LINES.
The agreement between the Southern Pacific
Railroad and the Texas Pacific and other railroads fthe
Southwestern system was signed yesterday by C. p.
Huntington This completed the agreement which was
signed by Jay Gould in behalf OF the Southwestern rail.
roads last week synopsis of the contract pub.
lshcd by THE TRIBUNE at that time II provides that
the tracks Of the systems shall be joined when they
meet about hundred miles east OF Ii Paso and both
To the line between the junction and Fl
PasO equal terms: the Texas Pacific reserying the
right to its trains into FL Paso paying
half the % maintenance, and interest the
cost Of consructOu-S1OO 600 mile Through business
be done pro raLr basis by both companies all
the way to san Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco
although the franchises Of the Texas Pacific were
limited by its charter to San Diego. The rates between
competitive points DO as low by any o: the
other transcontncntal routes The agreement dOes
not prevent the completion OF the Hunt.
| ington road through Texas by way of san
Antonio aud Houston, but provides that after the
completion OF this road tho NewOreans and sea-DoaTd
business shall be divided equally between the two lines
The Huntington road IL to be accorded the privilege Of
using 100 miles of the Texas Pacific tracks
nearest NeW-Orleans equal terms. The through Gal
weston business TO and rom Fl Paso and the Pacific
coast IL be divided the basis OF One-third tho
Texas Pacific ana twO-thirds 70 the san Antonio ne
In consideration OF the privilege of using the road into
FL PasO Gontly). and Of the perpetual privilege into
Los Angeles and san Francisco, well
san Diego the Texas Pacific rcluquiShes
Its claims 70 land grant, right OF way.
and franchfes OF FL Paso the Southern Pacific
Railroad The Texas Pacific engages not IN extend its
road west Of I'll PasO aud the southern Pacific agrees
parallel the TeEas Pacific line east OF Fl PaSo
either OF the roads Of ue southeastern system in the
states OF Texas Arkansas Missouri The usual pro-
visions for arbitration OF any disputes arising under the
agreement are made.
The junction by the Southern Pacific and the Texas
Pacifc will be made III few days, az Sierra Blanca
Springs ia Western Texas The Huntington line across
Texas VIII be opened before next June. Through
trains between New Orleans and ST. LOuis and III Paso
viii be Tut ON the lines about January