New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-05
4 GOOD PROJECT.

=, . l., ,oncd that no obstacle will be put
l.. .,o NOV NJ tho movement to give the people
-. .h,s island access by tunnel to Brooklyn
and points further away on Long Asiano' n'
tho hearing of the Board Of Aldermen on the
onn,,catjon Of the Long Island Railroad TOT
nermission TO construct deep tunnel from the
East River to Church and Cortlandt sts noDoo!
onneered n sneak against the project. and 1t
ia annarently one Of those improvements winch
! are looked upon with universal favor
This tunnel holds out the promise OF benefit
ling everybody and harming nobody. one OF
the chief drawbacks Of Long Island as sum-
NOR resort has been the difficulty Of getting TO
its railroad. For New-YOrker to go to either
the Flatbush-ave or the Long Island City
stations meant three changes OF vehicles from
tho elevated main line. Consequently the Long
LELAND Railroad has been at a disadvantage IN
connecting for New-York passenger business
II II can build an underground line into the
heart of Ncw-York 1t will secure large addi-
ton to 1T. business. and a splendid field Tor
homes will be opened up to men who have had
difficulty In finding any spot In the country
that could be reached in comfort daily.
Moreover the tunnel will be another means OF
communication between Brooklyn and Manhat
tan, and 1t will be constructed without expense
TO them. Cars running without stop from Cort-
landt-st to the Brooklyn City Hall, and then on
to Flatbush-ave., would greatly relieve the con-
gestion Of the present Bridge, as well as meet
the convenience of thousands Of downtown
workers who live in Brooklyn. When the rapid
transit tunnel is completed to the Battery, as
It ia to be hoped it may be. the Brooklyn tun-
mel will be convenient to it, and thus the whole
length OF Manhattan will be brought into close
connection with Long Island, and the two lines
will be OF common benefit. II the project Is
carried stu further and the tunnel projected
under the Hudson River. rs the plans provide,
a long step will have been TAKEN not only for
the consolidation Of the metropolis. but also
for bringing these islands and their vast busl'
ness into the direct connection with the CONT
mental lines Of which they have been SO long
In need.
Tho plans of the Long Island company call
for a tunnel that hinders no future develop
ment and will occupy no public property. All
that ia asked is permission to 60 under the
streets, and deep enough under not to inter
fere with sewers or other underground con
structions Nobody but the Long Island Rail
road could afford to undertake such work
for IL would be profitable only as an outlet fol
such a railroad system It controls. The con
structon will not stand In the way OF any
other improvement, either here or In Brooklyn
In fact, It is a necessary element in the much
needed improvement Of Atlantic-ave, on which
the Brooklyn authorities have been at worl
for years. The interests Of the people on boil
sides of the East River will be promoted b!
the establishment Of this line Of communca
tion and the company which is undertaking Il
open it is entitled to all the advantage 1t cal
gain from meeting 80 great public need.