New-York tribune., 1896-11-21
OPINIONS ON THE TUNNEL.
TROLLEY MEN THINK THE PROPOSITION
TO BEGIN AT THE RIVER FRONT
is ABSURD.
1T is BEING CIRCULATED MERELY FOR TIE Ef
FEET TT WILL. HAVE ON THE ALDER


FEET TT WILL. HAVE on THE ALDER
MEN THEY SAY
Krooklvn trolley men are disposed to take the
declaration of the New-York and Brooklyn RAN
road Company that the Brooklyn terminal Oh 'S
East River tunnel is TO be situated al poiht De-
tween the Brooklyn Warehouse Company ana 'ne
I'ecker-Jones-Jewell Milling Company properties
with a large grain Of salt. This means that 'heH
propose to have their tunnel star, right at the
waters edge. One of the most prominent troey
men in Brooklyn chucked when asked about the
propositions OF the promoters OF the company. ana
said:
"Of course I wouldn't want you TO use my name
but you for yourself that the IDEA OF START
ing a tunnel for trolley-cars right at the waters
edge Is absurd When they strike the waters edge
they have got to be 100 feet under the surface
grade of 2i per cent is about the right grade for
trolley road into a tunnel and the utmost grade
feasible is per cent. SO. TO make a start under
the river 100 feet deep the tunnel would nave 10
start at least half-mile from the waters edgc'
and ought 10 start one mile away. IlIiary-s' Il
half a mile from the river front az the end OF Full
ton-st All this convinres me that the talk OF es-
tabshing a terminal near the river front is being
given TO the public for the effect 4 may have upon
the Board of Aldermen. If the Aldermen get the
idea that this company does not care pcaynhe
whether it has the franchise to run under BROOK
lyn's streets. the promoters OF the company propa-
bly, think that they will be in a position TO make
better terms with the Aldermen. AS far as my
own opinion is concerned. think that the pubic
of Brooklyn will be better satisfied II the tunnel
started I'm somewhere near the Flatbush-ave sta
tion. and that by-the-way. would relieve the
crowded traffic OF lower Fuon-st.
another absurdity is the proposition for
esoooOoo capital 1t is true that 100000 would
easily cover the cost Of construction, but II they
run the East River from near the end of
. Fulton-st in BROOKLYN TO a point near Ann-st. and
Park Row, New-York 1t will be almost impossible
for them TO avoid running underneath some large
buildings in NewYork City-bLidings. for instance,
with forty foot foundations. The owners or such
buildings will certainly not permit the construction
of tunnel beneath them without demanding the
condemnation and purchase OF their buildings aha
,even II the tunnel were up beneath some street
1T is question whether 1t would not injure the
property facing that street so as to make q cause
for the awarding Of damages. Six million dollars
will not anywhere near cover all these great ex-
penses."
A Tribune reporter James c. Church. the
counsel for the Nassau ELECTRIC Railroad ComPany. n.y.
new company. He himself said he was director:
bu; when the reporter asked him If the project OF
starting the tunnel 50 near the waterfront were a
bona fde one a suggestion OF smile fitted across
his countenance and suddenly rememo1rang En- inaI ne
ang back: =, oo-,,o,,
were not bona fide do yoH?'
In the articles Of association Of the company as they
are being published. This fact caused some com,
ment yesterday among his business and professional
associates Some color Is LEM the allegation TIA,
the by The company thar 4b v Is spns 2on
may be for effect only by the fact that in ne
articles Of ASSOCIATION he ,eTmn Of the mnne rail-
cts termin shall be point In the city ana county
e NswYok near BrOodway be- c % hna
Kings County. rear Fu'ton-st.. between the O'y
When the digging actually begins al the BROOKLYN
end the prediction among Brooklyn roeyy N men Is
that Il vii, be good deal nearer the City Hail man