New-York tribune., 1901-12-13
THE BIG TUNNEL Project.
BUILDINGS COVERING ACRES TO MAKE UP THE INTENSE
TERMINAL IN HEART OF CITY
sP1rR FROM GRAND CENTRAL TO NEW STATION LIKELY.

New-York Extension Railroad Company. He
showed the plan to William H. Baldwin, jr-, the
president of the Long Island Railroad Company.
some months ago and Mr.. Baldwin declared
that it solved the difficulties in the way Of a
railway tunnel under the North River.
Have the idea patented at once" said Mr..
Baldwin.
Mr. Jacobs took the advice and obtained a
patent the idea five weeks ago.
PLANS FOR THE TUNNELS.
The plans for the North River tunnels show
that there are to be two railway bridges, each
inclosed in a steel tube. running under the river
bed. Each bridge will have piers running down
10 bed rock at di-tances of 1JO feet and some of
the piers will extend down about one hundred
feet
The reason for such peculiar construction is
found IN the character Of the river bed. For
some feet below water the bed is of soft mud
Then come sand and clay formations extending
down from seventy TO hundred feet to the
rock. To bore tunnel through the sand and
clay at d depth of from twenty-five 10 thirty
five feet below water will not be difficult but
tunnels resting such foundations would not
be secure for railway travel. The plan there
fore, is to have steel trusses inside each tube
and have the tube supported securely by piers
extending down TO bed rock Each steel tube
will be Is feet inches in diameter, inside meas
urement, and Will be constructed OF circular sec
tions about two feet long
Work the tunnels Will begin from shafts on
each side of the North River, and proceed tow
ard the middle of the river. All the work will
have to proceed with care and exact measure
ment, so that the sections of each tube will
meet without the variation of a fraction of an
inch after descending in curves from both shores
and reaching depth of one hundred feet below
high water mark at mid river There will be a
system of air locks and air pumps by which the
working chambers in each section can be sup
piled with air under such pressure as to coun-
terbalance the weight from above. Each work
ing chamber will be in the form OF a section of
the tunnel. but somewhat larger in diameter.
and will be pushed forward as fast as the sand
and clay in front of it can be removed and the
steel sections of the tube can be set in place
and riveted together.
At distances of 1JJ feet caissons will be sunk
to bed rock and piers constructed inside the
caissons. Each set of piers will be connected
inside the tube by steel trusses. so as to form
continuous bridge under the river.
CONDITIONS TO BE MET.
William H. Baldwin, jr, president of the Ions
Island Railroad Company. spoke with enthusi-
asm yesterday of the plans for the tunnels and
central station. These plans he said, were
formed within a year. since the Pennsylvania
took the Long Island Railroad Within
two months We have made borings in the North
River bed along the proposed line of the tun-
nels and know exactly what conditions we have
to face. The bridge within the tube will meet
them successfully. The tunnels across the East
River are easily built because the bottom is all
solid rock there.
The tunnels through Manhattan Island will
be bored in sections without disturbing the sur
faces of the streets interfering with any pipes
or subways above the tunnels. Much of the
way the tunnels will go through rock. As I
understand it. tunnels are TO have connec-
tion with the rapid transit tunnel at Fourth-ave
BY connection 1 mean simply that passengers
will be able to go from one tunnel to the other
by stairway or elevator, so that the transporta-
ton facilities will be greatly increased
Mr.. Baldwin said that most of the property
for the central station at Seventh-ave. and
Thirty-t -tnird-st- had been acquired. but some
might be acquired by condemnation proceed
ings. Speaking of the plans for the station, he
said: The station will be fine structure archi-
tecturalIy. and such will encourage the ersc-
ton of fine buildings in the neighborhood- From
the street level one passes down a gradual In
cline 50 gradual be in the least
pleasant. and then he comes upon hundred
foot platform. From this he descends to hts
train. There are to be twenty-five tracks down
there. and about two miles of platform TIE
StaIIWayS. one 10 every pair or tracks
enable the passenger 10 go where he pleases
without having 20 go any track save the
one upon which his train stands
There is to be an Inclined carria geway just
as gradual the walkway. and when one has
aIighted or walked down. he walks a few feet
and finds himself at the baggage office or
course. the most convenient system devisable Is
to be employed in the handling of trains and
passengers. The fact that the station is to be
omen at both ends. not terminal station such
as the Pennsylvania in Jersey City or the Grand
Central in New-York. makes train handling
much easier and more convenient for travel
lers'
CHANGE OF MOTIVE POWER
will there be change from steam power ~
electricity before any train enters one OF the
tunnels?" was asked
Yes" he replied I'VE shall have electro
locomotives to be coupled to the trains at the
mouths of the tubes. and draw the trains
through The power plant will probably oe
somewhere in Jersey. where fuel Is cheaper tnan