The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-18
,ne for eastbound and one for westbound

1
| feet per week. At this rate. working from
both ends. it would be possible to con-
struct one mile of tunnel in six months.
Assuming, however, that this high speed
could not always be maintained and maxi
ing due allowances for unforeseen obsta-
cles, it seems reasonably certain that the
proposed tunnels between Manhattan and
Brooklyn or Manhattan and Queens could
| be ready for operation within two years
from the letting of the contract. 1t is not
likely that a bridge could be constructed
in twice that time
Besides these tunnels under the East
River which Comptroller Coler proposes
for the city to construct there is stillan-
| other one which will be built by the Long
Island Railway Company.
This railroad tunnel is to start from
Maiden lane and Pearl street in New
York The underground station at this
point will connect by elevators with the
Second and Third Elevated Railroad.
The subway WIFI be cut under the East
river to point directly under Pineapple
street in Brooklyn, in the form Of two
twin tunnels with one track in each. 1t
will then be carried under Fulton street
to some point near the Brooklyn City
Hall.
This station will be one hundred and
fifty feet below the level of the street
From this point the tunnel viii proceed
until Flatbush avenue and Hanson place
is reached, where another station Will be
located.
From there the tunnel will continue to
Bedford avenue under Atlantic avenue
fLa IL
road will rise gradually until it comes to
the grade Of the street. The tracks will
then pass on to an elevated structure at
Nostrand avenue and will continue with
alternate elevations and depressions to
Jamaica. This will make possible an ex-
press train service from all that part of
Brooklyn directly to tower New York
It is proposed by the Long Island Rail-
road Company to push their tunnel STILL
further. It will be continued at the cor
ner of Ann street and Park row, where
Manhattan Underground Railroad. From
this point it will also be extended down
to the North River, which will be tunnel
led and a final connection probably be
made with the Pennsylvania Railroad to
Jersey City.
1t will take three years to build this ex-
tensive tunnel under two rivers and I'M
der practically three cities. The cost is
estimated at S15,0O00oO
There are three other projected tunnels
under the North River. Of these the one
known as the Old North River Tunnel is
two-thirds built This was begun TWEEN
ty-five years ago with view to make
a steam railroad tunnel for all the roads
10. NJ.
York. A tunnel eighteen feet wide, for
two railroad tracks, was started. For
some years the work was continued with
more or less vigor.
A frightful accident occurred in this
tunnel on July 81, 1881. A leak caused the
flooding of the TUNE and twenty-one
men were drowned
Later in that year and following season
the workmen were afflicted with pecu-
liar disease called "fends." It was
caused by damp and impure air, owing
to the poor methods employed in the past
in digging subterranean tunnels.
But in spite of accidents and delays the
work was kept up until 1892. The tunnel
had been dug from Fifteenth street,
Jersey City. eastward under the North
River for 1887 feet From the New York
end, in Morton street, it had been dug
westward $50 feet.
There now remains distance of 1000
feet to be tunneled. Last Summer the
uncompleted tunnel was sold at auction
to a company made UP of New York and
London capitalists.
It is understood that this new company
will soon work on the tunnel and push it
through to speedy completion.
The first work will be TO pump the see
page water out of the tunnel Up-to-date
machinery will then be put in, and it is
believed that the tunnel can then be COM
pleted without further delay or accident
Four million dollars have aleady been
spent on this tunnel. Another million
viii be required to finish it. The new
company that has come into possession
of the tunnel propose to make it an cleo
trio street car tunnel instead of one for
steam railroads.
Still another North River tunnel is pro-
jected. Hhe Manhattan Tunnel company
is financiering this engineering enterprise
The .plans of this company are to con-
struct a passenger electric railroad tun-
mel to start from near the corner of
Chambers street and West Broadway. 1t
will run westward under Chambers street
to the shor line of the North River
From there the tunnel will run under the
river to a point in Jersey City near the
railroad stations.
The chief engineer Of the Manhattan
Tunnel company is F. NJ. Baude. He says
that the tunnel will be completed and in
operation in eighteen months after the
beginning of the work. He declares that
this company is independent of any other
company.
There is a fourth North River tunnel,
about which the greatest secrecy Is main
tanned. 1t is the one that is believed to
be under contemplation by the New York
| Central railroad in connection with the
Pennsylvania railroad. President Gala
way of the New York Csntral, has not
permitted any statement or plans to be
| given out concerning it, but it is under
stood that this tunnel VIII start near the
present St Johns Park freight depot in
New York and run under the North River
to point near the Pennsylvania station
in Jersey City.
The object OF this tunnel will soeAfor the
! exchange of freight and passengers be-
| tween these two great railroad companies.
Tunnel digging is now done largely by
/ machinery. One Of the most up-to-date
machines used for this purpose is the
shield" This is a big steel tube the
| exact size of the tunnel TO be construct
/ ed. II is placed in position and showed
forward by hydraulic power.
| This metal shield is divided into four
|
! of these compartments is supplied with
/ connr1reSSe7 air fOr the rnau n bras the = :