New-York tribune., 1901-08-10
SECRET WORK ON TUNNEL.
REPORT THAT OPERATIONS ON THE
EAST RIVER TUBE ARE BEING
RAPIDLY PUSHED.

There was a report current yesterday that
the work of building the tunnel under the East
River. to be constructed and operated by the
New-York and Brooklyn Railroad Company
being pushed rapidly According 10 thls re-
port the company bought house IN South-st'
near Beekman-st., in June. so 1t couId Deslh
the task Of building part of the secuon VI the
tunnel this side of the East River II was
further said that a gang Of men had started
in the cellar of the house the work OF eAcaVat-
ing for the tunnel, and that the dirt rr@m the
excavation, instead of being carted away ana
attracting attention had been carried to the
upper floors of the building and dumped there
Since the franchise was granted TO the com
pany TO build a tunnel under the East RIVER
by the city in 1896 no one has been able to learn
who is really behind the project Frederic B.
Esler, the lawyer. is one Of the directors OF the
company He is now in Europe. and is not ex-
pected to return until the early part OF Sep
tember- He has offices in the Broad Exchange
Building, and the door of the Office is painted
in gold letters. IN Y. and B. r. r."
A representative of the company was seen at
the office yesterday afternoon by a Tribune re-
porter This person said TO the reporter:
There Is doubt that the proposed tunnel
10 be built by the company under the East
River will be built. The franchise that it holds
property for the purposes Of building the tun-
mel The tunnel will practically extend from the
City Hall, Manhattan, to the Borough Hall
Brooklyn. To be specific, the company
has been empowered to build tunnel beginning
at a point at the intersection of Ann-st- and
Park Row and ending at point near Adams
st. Brooklyn. Under its franchise this route
could be changed"
Have you not already done much work in
( eXcavating for the tunnel on this side of the
East River?" the reporter asked
One of the provisions of the franchise sets
forth that 10 per cent OF the work OF the tun-
mel must be completed on or about June D. 1901.
On that day we had fully carried out every let
ter OF that provision of the franchise. and 70
prove that the work was completed then we
have the sworn atfidavits of the contractor and
others
Has net the company bought large parcel
OF real estate at South and Beekman sts, and
was il not able through this purchase TO carry
] out its plans of building the tunnel"
I cannot tell you whether not the company
has made such purchase. or whether its work
on the tunnel has been furthered by any such
purchase OF property. The company is not yet
taking the public into its confidence. IL will at
the proper tiEle. Mr.. Esler may have something
interesting 10 say when he returns"
The company got a permit from Commis-
sloner heatlnS 10 tear up the roadway in South
st between Beekman and Fulton sts., and this
order was later revoked. Did the resembling of
the order seriously upset the company's plans?'
asked the reporter
Commissioner Keatlng." said the speaker.
old not keep us from doing what we intended
TO do"
When viii the work of building the tunnel
under the Iirer begin i-guir he reporter.
About September - and "a two and a half
years from that date the tunnel Will De built
and In operation The tunnel will be tube shape
/ ana VIII D" wide enough for double track sys-
TEN BY having Completed 10 per cent OF the
work or the tunnel by June g last. we have
nVe years yet before the trains in the tunnel
must be in operation" q"
Several draughtsnen were buslly engaged at
the Office yesterday afternoon when a Tribune
reporter visited a.