New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-05
TO TUNNEL THE EAST RIVER
DETAILS OF THE NEWEST SCHEME.


THE APPLICATION now BEFORE THE BOARD OF Al
DERMEN-MEN WHO ARE INTERCEPTED.
The raj id transit problem has come to the front
again in another railroad scheme. This time il u
tunnel under the East River, the great purpose
of which is TO connect the Vanderbilt and the Lon,
Island Railroad interests. The proposed tunnel il
fathered by the New-iork and Long Island Rl
road Company, whose cOrporaors are Walter 3
GurnCe, Augustus 9. Gurnee Thomas Rutter,
Frank X Hahn, general manager OF the Manhattan
Railway Company; Aqueduct Commissioner Oliver
w. Barnes, General H. S. Huidcloper, OF Philadel-
pha Malcolm w Niven. secretary OF the Harlem
River Bridge Commission; Everett T. Wheeler,
Henry 5. White, attorney for the Hudson River
Tunnel Company; Colonel Robert Townsend, of
Oyster Bay; L. Pratt Stratton. of College Point,
l.. l.; George X. Sheldon and General Roy Stone.
The president of the company is General Stone, the
secretary Mr.. Niven and the treasurer Mr.. Shell
don. The capital stock is 100000, which is TO
be increased in accordance with the needs Of the
company
General Stone and Commissioner Barnes have
long been at wark on the plans for the tunnel, for
the company has been incorporated since August
last. 1t now makes application TO the Board Of
Aldermen for the necessary franchise to enable it
to carry out its project The general plan is to
dig two PARALLEL tunnels, fifty feet apart, under
East River at Thirty fifth-st. These to emerge
in this city between Ninth and Tenth aves., 30 to
connec there with the freight lines OF the Hudson
River Railroad At Fourth-ave the upper tunnel
is TO be connected with a north and south tunnel
opening at torty-lourth-st to eff ct communication
with the New York Central. At Ninth-ave. and
1hirtieth-st a tunnel is to branch of TO connect
with the Hudson River tunnel at Christopher-st
This second branch tunnel is, however. OF o
project than probability, at least for the time.
EASY CONNECTION WITH ELEVATED ROADS.
L. 40, b,L Ca.
provide for width Of fourteen feet in the tunnels
which will be dug through solid rock sixty feet
below the surface of the streets. Passenger ele-
vators at points intersected by the elevated roads
set down in the plans. Bridges are to be built
over the elevated roads so that these elevators can
land one hundred passengers on the street level, at
the level of tie elevated platforms a level
with the bridges so that passengers can cross over
to take up or down trains. The company an-
nounces that electricity only will be used in light
ing the tunnels, ana this also in the form Of motors
Will lie the propulsive power for cars patent
rail is to be used of such form to prevent the
disagree able eli k 81 elk" so fam liar railroads
Aqucduct Commissioner Barnes in a hurry
the other day To catch car when asked about the
the scheme Yet he got minute TO speak OF the
main features OF the project in answer TO hurried
questions. he chief purpose of this tunnel said
he is to unite the Vanderbilt and Long Island
Railroad systems Long Island. YOU know, is
growing rapidly. and the amount of freight and
passenger traffic which will be accommodated by
such a tunnel is large and will be much larger
You may have some idea of the great num-
Der of wagons going to and from Long Island,
pecially in the spring, when farm products are
brought over mornings on their way to the mar
kets All this freight can be carried through the
tunnel to either side Of this city where it can be
carted to market. This will MI Sc great saving
to the Long Island farmer in the expense Of de-
livering his products at the markets
THE TUNNEL COMPANY AN INDEPENDENT oNr.
Are the Long Island Railroad and the New
York Central Railroad companies interested in
this project?" Mr.. Barnes was asked.
They are not active in it," tho reply.
The tunnel was projected independently of them.
but both arc favorable to it and are anxious to
have the project pushed"
Are you going to 80 right along with the
terprise2"
AS get it through the Board OF
Aldermen" said the Commissioner bIandly we
shall go right on with the work. Yes, there is
money enough to push the project" Mr.. Barnes
estimates that the cost Of building and equippng
the tunnel will average $1,000, 900 q mile. the
branches one is half mile and the other mile
long. in all seven and half miles. The com
pany says it would like TO begin
work next June, aud that it will need at least
fifteen months In which to complete its task. Ii
is thought now. the Board of Aldermen being
| River tunnel my be resumed in the spring 10
| form part and parcel Of the scheme TO make New
| York the connecting link between New-Jersey and
| Long Island
w s Gurpec has been the active man in the
enterprise in raising the money TO push the tun-
mol lie is now in Florida for a brief rest
from his labor.