New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-22
TIE ACCIDENT IN HE TUNNEL.
DELAY OF TEN OR TWELVE DAYS CAUSED.
NO EFFORT YESTERDAY 10 FORCE OUT THE WATER

DELAY OF TEN OR TWELVE DAYS CAUSED.
NO EFFORT YESTERDAY TO FORCE OUT THE WATER
WHAT THE ENGINEER IN CHARGE sAYs-AN
EMINENT ENGINEER's OPINION OF THE WORK.
No effort was made yesterday 10 force out the
water from the Hudson River Tunnel preliminary
to repairing the damage inflicted by the blowout OF
Sunday evening. The aIr-cOmpressors were kept at
work with moderate activity and workmen were
engaged IN clearing the casson Of debris, but MOTH
ing was done either in the heading or III the com
pleted section of the tunnel back of It, In cases Oh
this kind the engineers think 1t wise 10
let the sand have time TO settle tho greater
part of the finished work being protected Dy tho
air-lock through which on sunday the men euecgeU
their escape. The only effect of the accident Nlsi
bic outside the board structure at the foot OF MOT
tOn-st., surround ng the caissOn, shops ana macl-
erV was n sliUht depression NJ the ground between
the fence and the water-lIne bulkhcad. ana new
board siuIce through winch water was ulscnaIglnB
from the pump INTO the river. Ihls IS the only
feature IN which, according to Mr.. Greene, the en-
gineer of the Dock Commissioners, the city has any
interest, aud, the tunnel company having agreed 10
repair all damage to the WHIT PIVPeIly
and secured the promise by ample OonuS'
Mr.. Greene exhibited no concern about ~ Sestero
day further than to say that II Ills oPlblou "0i0
wanted il could be had for pay. ~
The engineer in charge of the tunnel work on tnls
side of Che river was very frank IN his conversation
with TRIBUNE reporter about the accident, lIs eA-
tent probable course, and effect. Accidents Oh lhe
same kind, but OF less magnitude, he sald were Oh
trroncnt occurrence in boring with compressed ar
Usually they resulted from hurried anu careless
work such as the omission of a bolt or two because
of the anxiety Of wOrkInen 10 get creuII ioI
as large u number of plates as possible
IN their shift and the unwIlnguess OF the succeed
lng gang 10 correct the omissions or their pIedc-
cessOrs, Tor winch the5 wonid get no credit. FROM
the fact that the Kissing sound was heard ny the
TeTealug WOrlmcn On tue SOutn SIDE OF inc shell, o
Thought II likely that the blowout had occurred at
"a place the fourth range where there was slhai
plato which might not have Oeen sunlclenIIy DoIteu
1t was IA singular fact, however that whereas an
air pressure Of twenty pounds TO the SQUARE lc
had been kept up TIL p. III. on sunday IL MAS
three pounds less when the Oh" out Occuried. Aho
accident ne SAID would retard the Work Ohly zen vi
twelve days, by which time Juey WOuld be pushing
forward beg ond The siXty-hve teet tom tho shalI
which now they have reached.
An accident sIihliar IN character 10 thls occuIeu
in the Tst section OF the tunnel on thlS sue Oh lh
river last march. This not long after GENERAL
William SOoy smith resigned his pCslIOn as engineer
because ID. 4, Haskln, the hedu Oh tue enloiP 1917
insisted on the boring being done on the Ne"-lOIh
side by the compassionate method. There Is such
difference between the material ON the Two sues Vi
the river that General cmltn cOntenueu lndt uhpci
the pan winch been succeosIul
Oh the New-JcrseY shore, the men
would never succeed III getting ouIoluc
the calsson. The Jersey portion OF the tuhnel 10 NV
comple ed than $50 feet IRON the sh,Il, anu
the working through hard-pacAeu siit %
the consistency OF cheese. Inns Is IahCh oue ~ ~,
blocks uteen inches square, ana IS so hrm tnat WIN
the ad OF the compressed ar II STANDS the Iil uep
OF the boring. On tins side the eAcaFallon IVin
the beginning has been through SAND ana HIeS1
prayelIa material which Is very hard to manage
In boring for the last section, 100, not less IMAM SlA
four piles were encountered, Tie ends OF winch hdu
10 ne eat oil from foot to two or three IeeJ III
length and this made IL necessary TO use smaller
plates IN tIe non smell. a greater NUMBER Oh JOINTS
was the result ana it Is not impossible that The ac-
cident was IN degree attributable to THIS Iact al,
though the engineers say mat they try To make al
jJuts aiI-tlght. Iney certainly 40 DOT MAKE lneln
80 they occasionally omit bolts, rs the engineer
admitted Yesterday the ease. GeneIdl SIhIth
plan was To sink successive cassOhs side by side ana
tnen connect them. Ills prediction that the men
Womb NOT yet outside the citssiOn has not been 1ul-
filled: but fhe accident OF March last ana Jne one
on SUNDAY prove that lie right III his Judglhenl
OF the tredcheIOus character OF the saAu on Tue
NcN-lOrk Shore