The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30
anE UNNEL UNDER
THE HUDSON RIVER

Within a year. if the present plans Of
capitalists do not miscarry, New York and
Jersey City will be connected by a tunnel.
says the New York Journal With that
object in view the old Hudson river tunnel,
which, although two-thirds completed, has
been abandoned for years, was purchased
by Frederick B. Jennings, of the law firm
of Statson, Jennings & Russell, who re-
present the bondholders. The price was
$3000OO A new company will be formed,
and the work of completing the tunnel
pushed as rapidly as possible. The men
behind the new project are the English
and American bondholders of the old COM
pany. They have asred to furnish the
money necessary. OF a. total length of
$3.50 feet as proposed, 4.G7 feet of the
tunnel, or more than two-thirds, have been
constructed. From the Jersey City termi-
nus at Fifteenth street, the work has been
pushed 1897 feet, while from-the New York
terminus at Morton street $50 feet have
been dug The tunnel was in this condi-
ton in 1892, when work was stopped on
account of lack of funds In a few days
gangs of men will be set to work. The
old appliances will be replaced by new and
modern ones, and the labor will continue
without interruption until the ends are
joined When De Witt Clinton Haskin
formerly of California, after the prelimina-
ry soundings and surveys made at his own
expense, began in 1874 a circular working
shaft at the foot of Fifteenth street, Jersey
City, the great scheme In mind was to con-
struct the tunnel for steam railways, and
by means of 1t enable lines now stopped
Al,
New York City. That scheme has not been
abandoned entirely, but the great demand
for local traction has forced it into secon-
dairy consideration, and the new company
to be formed Will have for its primary cb-
ject the transportation of passengers from
one city to the other The tunnel is egh-
teen feet wide, and two tracks will be built
for electric cars. These will carry passen-
gers as well freight, and compete with
the ferries. The tunnel will also be used
as subway for electric light, telephone
and telegraph wires. As soon the pres
ent tunnel is completed work will be re-
sumed on another shaft which was sunk
years ago near the Jersey City terminus
and constructed length of 700 feet. In
all the tunnel has cost thus far about
100000. 1t will require another million at
least to finish the work. From the first
conception fthe tunnel by Col. Haskin
the scheme has been bitterly fought. A
company was incorporated in New Jersey.
The grant was made by the legislature
after bitter fight. Illegality was alleged
because of the tunnel lying in two states,
and another company was formed in New
York. These companies were consolidated,
and 1t is this that makes necessary the Sec
ond sale of the tunnel today. With Col.
Haskin were interested Sir John Fowler
and Sir Benjamin Baker, who built the
great bridge over the Forth in Scotland
7. w. Park, the chief financial hacker,
died when about 1900 feet had been con-
structed. He had invested about 100000
in the project. Mr.. Parks death caused
Mr.. Haskin to reduce his working force,
and finally to suspend operations alto
gether. AT last a London company took
hold of the enterprise. 1t was this COM
pany which failed in 1892 after another
S2,NO,OOO had been spent. When work was
suddenly stopped the tunnel was progress
ing about four fet each day