New-York tribune., 1899-06-18
THE NORTH RIVER TUNNEL.

The North River Tunnel, which mas just Deen
sold at foreclosure, is private enterprise
started with n view to pecuniary proht Tor the
promoters thereof. As such the public has no
particular interest in It. From time to time its
nropress. or lack of progress, has been noted,
with the enthusiasm with which big goose
berry is regarded In the silly season Probably
there was some mild surprise the other day
when the reminder was given that more thah
half a mile OF the great bore had already Deeh
constructed As an engineering enterprise the
work. OF course, commands some attention. vi
would If It were being pushed to compie'ioh
Brunel's old tunnel under the Thames was a
wonder OF the world In It's day, though II was Il
mere trlne compared with this. Now they are
talking seriously of tunnel between England
and Ireland and will probably soon construct IT.
an undertaking vastly greater than this Ihere
,s indeed little doubt Of the feasibility OF tun-
mel between England and France. such as MT
Gladstone wanted to have made, provided the
consent of England could be secured, as II prob
ably never Will be
In one respect, however, the North River Tun-
mol is n matter of public concern. That is In It's
hearings upOn the commercial facilities OF this
city and port. There can be no question that
IL
would be Of vast advantage to New-York. 1t
would give several OF the great trunk railroad
lines direct access to this city. without lighter
ooe or fer,iape We are not now referring TO
passenger traffic 1t Is possible that passen-
gers would continue to prefer to get out or
the cars and cross the river in ferryboats rather
than ride under ground and under water for two
or three miles That however is a secondary
| rbot To Inn far freight
Of which vast amount, intended both for
use in New-York and for export abroad, comes
lither over the railroads which now have their
terminals in Hoboken and Jersey City Al pres
cnt that freight has 10 be handled In cum
brous and tedious manner. Much OF II does not
break bulk on the New-Jersey shore, but the
| cars are run upon scows or floats and towed
across the river In some cases the floats can
| then be run alongside warehouses or ocean
steamers and the merchandise be transferred
directly TO it's destination. In large proportion
of cases. however, the floats are run into slips
leased by the railroad companies. and there the
cars are opened and the freight is laboriousy
cartcd piecemea to the warehouse or steamer
| Beyond doubt this process is profitable to those
| who have the doing OF the work. But 1t Is q
serious handicap upon the commerce OF the port
With properly constructed tunnel and proper
connecting railroads in this city. 1t would be pos
| sible 10 run trains straight across the river an6
upon the steamship wharves or into the court
| Yards OF warehouses or factories. Thus all han
ding Of goods save the last would be obviated
and all cost Of lighterage, towing and cartag'
would be saved. The saving In time would als'
he great. for train could be got to the steam
ship or 10 the warehouse fully as soon as unde
the present system 1t can be got upon floats ant
started upon its tedious voyage across the r,ver
The same end could, Of course, be attained ID!
means OF n bridge. only the carrying capacity
n bridge might not be as great as or tunnel
and as things now stand n tunnel can proDaDi!
he completed and put into use iirsf our Owl
opinion Is that the city ought TO have both bridg
and tunnel at the earliest possible date. IL j
not at all credltable 10 the enterprise OF New
York that II has 80 long endured the presen
tedious and cumbrous and costly system o
transfer 1t is tagging behind most other port
on our own coast. not TO mention those OF othe
lands. As we have said, the tunnel Is at presen
a private venture. Perhaps II will be all right
let II remain 50. II private enterprise supple