Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-28
The Hudson River Tunnel.
IDemorest's Monthly.l

The tunnel which is being constructed from
New York to Jersey City, under the bed of
the Hudson river, promises TIC be more diff
cult engineering feat than even the wonder
full Brooklyn bridge. The latter is marvel
i'll its way, but its construction, after ALL
only involved the extension of engineering
projects which had proved entirely prac-
ticable in minor enterprises The tunnel
under the British Channel is justly regarded
as an easy engineering feat, because the sub
stratum through which the tunnel is to be eX-
tended is an easily worked chalk, protected
from the water by intervening rock and clay,
but the North river tunnel is driven through
q soil of mud and sand, and artificial works
have to be constructed to keep out the water
while tie tunnel is under way.
The construction has so far progressed
from each shore as to justify the skill of the
engineers who planned it. When completed
1t will be $500 feet under the bed Of the
river The approaches to the water line will
occupy 5000 additional feet, SO that the
total length Of this ''hole under the ground"
viii be about two miles. The deepest part of
the river is sixty feet. Tt will be two years
before the work is finished. Its direct effect
will be to bring freight and passengers from
the west directly into the city of New York,
which fact will largely enhance the value of
real estate in that city. So certain are those
interested of the success of this project, that
another tunnel is projected between the
lower part of New York island and the re-
gion below Jersey City. The beginning of
the next century will doubtless see four or
five tunnels under the Hudson river and as
many more between New York and Brook
lyn. The engineer is clearly the industrial
pioneer of the close of the nineteenth century.
what makes Slang Successful
boston Courierl
Successful slang, that is to say slang that
lives, is always intensely humorous, and for
that reason becomes of necessity the keenest
and readiest weapon against all can't and
humbug. But let it be remembered there is
slang and slang, and we are only referring to
that kind which, being an involuntary out
cropping of the time or situation, gets grip
upon the heart of humanity, and is, in nine
cases out of ten, finally received into the
brotherhood of accepted words. At the out
set it is impossible to state with certainty
what will turn out to be successful slang.
The Immediate universally of phrase does
not settle it.
To have the staying qualities slang p,nst be
anonymous. Its paternity once accurately
established, it begins to dwindle, peak and
pine. and finally fades altogether. If child
has parents let them see to its welfare but
when child has none the world itself is
sometimes willing TO adopt it. And this not
from any pity of its helplessness, for snch
children are DOT seldom harder and brighter
than others, but from very admiration Ut
their audacity and self-reiance
OF such slang words and phrases it may he
said as of the bastard in Lear" they are of
that breed and blood who ''in the lusty
stealth of nature take more composition and
fercer quality" than it is possible to
their soberer and more respec-
table half brothers. Once adopted
into the family, however,, legitiInized
npd made equal with the rest, they take ON
new airs and graces that render them in.
iinitely more agreeable TO good society. with
out in anywise deuacting from their pative
vigor and flavor. It is wild fruit grated
upon q tame stock--if it strikes in and flour
ishes, both sides are benefited and improved;
if it witbers and dies, it is because the graft
ing was done acknowledgements the sap of
the cultivated tree still boils and ferTnents in
full and sufficiens force, and has not yet sunk
to that dead level of placid insipidity which
needs the singing touch Of the wild infusion.
Slang is the recruiting ground of language
where multitudes are always ready 10 enfist,
and out OF q pFofusion Of tall, iawless fellows
taken into the ranks, limited uomhsr turn
.s,& IN i,,,o To ia cyocsd s1FdiNrA