New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-14
by TUNNELLING THE BAY.
ERAsTUS wIMAN'S BIG PLAN.
HOW BROOKLYN MIGHT BE MADE A GREAT
RAILROAD TERMINAL


Az the guest Of the Union League Club. OF Brooklyn.
Erastis wiman last night addressed large assemblagc
in the rooms Of the club on the commercial posi-
bIcs OF brooklyn the statement Of his subject beins
Brooklyn, the Greatest OF Terminals for commerce
that Can be Continental" Mr.. Wima!s study 0, inc
subject of terminals In NewYork harbor results rom
his well known connection with staten Island which
by his efforts has been transformed from IN isoa'co
and sleepy suburb into promising railway anu COM
mercial centre.
The president OF the club, Francis H. Wilson, miro
duced the guest Of the evening, who was received WIN
hearty applause. Mr.. wiman said In part
No adequate conception can be had oil me future
OF the hsrpor OF New-York and its connection win
the commerce OF the Nation, without considering ,N
relation 20 the whole Those VINO Two III 'nc
shadow OF greatest possibilities. hardly realize the a
nitude promise which opens up Tor us Vhe poe'
point OF North America contribution which the Ia
ces OF New-York made 10 the progress OF inc eou
try and the aid afforded toward the creation oil the vast IN
tcrnal which exists, Is greater han ua' ~ any
other point great achievements are always sough
by perfect terminal. These are Receipt storage ana
shpmen and any terminal that fails 10 perform these ree
functions simultaneously and minimum OF cost Is
faulty. Just long IL Is impossible 10 hnmeoa'ev
taree purposes, receipt storage ana shipment
lust 50 long is failure. Yet strange IL Is that the
great commerce OF the States concentrated In the
magnificent harbor NewYok has been subjected TO e
performance three purposes at three distinctive
points at expense and loss OF time almost desruc
tive OF success think OF IT, receiving at Jersey Ciy
storing in Brooklyn, and shipping non New'forK! IL
some evil genius, IN pursuit OF destructive purpose hau
sought 10 map out mode which the eectua handling oil
commerce this port should be defeated, no betr pan
could adopted than 70 have made every pouu Oh
freight chargeabe with transfers such as this system I'M
plies 1t illustrates the strength and force which
Brooklyn in the natural compact between the hree
cities for isolated she has become the vast storage
| reservoir OF the Atlantic coast
The plan which the good fortune Of him who speaks
a. Ia hp fhQ
ton Of a tunnel under the bay Of New.York between
Staten Island and Brooklyn, way may be PROVIDED by
which every trunk line In the West and South may send
It's cars direct brooklyn that not only can the centre
Of the city be reached but that every warehouse on e
water front and large portion Of the great manufactures
Of the CITY, be approached and furnished with railway con-
nection It has been thought that owing 70 one
shortness of the space at the Narrows between for0
ton Long Island side, and Fort Wads"ot Oil tn'
Staten Island side tunnel could be with advantage cen
ructed but the water here too deep being ninety feet
and the approaches both shores too abrupt fuer UP
the bay materially lessons IN depn' ana az
point opposite Stapleton, on the stann Isanu sue
| and nav Ridge on the Long Island side, IL docs
not exceed depth feet hence the depth oil tho
tunnel would be much less than at the Narrows Inc us
the water between these two points is ABOUT
mile and threequartcrs, while the means OF approach
on the Staten Island side owing to pass In the range OF
hills In what is known as the Little Co'e rehuers Iho
shore here very accessible.
1t believed that tunnel between four ana hve miles
In length, including the approaches, woud accomplish e
purposes in view Inasmuch tunnellne which Is now
reduced science, is estin ed at million dollars
mile would Ave millions OF dollars would pay
for the proper. For connections ana other pur
noses and with Iiberaty Of estimate Seven millions OF dol
lars has been nominaly arrived at as the probable
cost Of this work. 1t is true that this seems large sum-
but II II can shown that very liberal interest can be
earned By such construction and that an enormous adj
IN the shape OF improved values result even
only for real estate Brooklyn. the amount Is not an ex
cessiye expenditure
In order to render front than ever val
liable IL should be rendered accessible immediately by
point nearest to the Nature seems TO nave
favored the construction Of tunnel under the East River
between the projecting Of Long Island City and
Mott Haven NewYork. the north shore OF the Harlem
River Here the width OF water Is less than one mile
The construction tunnel under the bed OF the stream
would a trGlng objection 10 overcome In view CT
the enormous advantages which would flow from IT, be-
cause IL would enable the closest connection To be MADE
with the entire England system OF railways Sur
veyng whole OF possibilities, which It Is within
the power OF Brooklyn derive benefit from. IL would
seem as II no event. in the whole category OF events
would be more important her than to place her In d.
rect communication on Staten Island Brooklyn, as tho
city Of the sea- the great aggregation Of water font
easily accessible to the great Of communication,
will indeed thus pivotal point OF the continent
1t rests with people how soon the movement In
this direction shall begin 1t has been suggested that
instead OF tunnel Staten Island and Brooklyn
bridge across the high points at the Narrows would be
preferable The idea is captivating one to the imagina'
ton but IL would cost too much money. The plan Is
full those who look forward to the need TOT
the ampest accommodation In this which promises 70 De
the greatest harbor in the world