New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-11
TROLLEYS TO JERSEY SOON.
c. NJ. JACOBS THINKS OLD NORTH RIVER
TUNNEL WILL OPEN IN TWO YEARS.

Charles NJ. Jacobs. consulting engineer Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, said yesterday that in two
years from May next the old North River tunnel
which the New-Yorl1 and Jersey Railroad Company
intended TO complete, would be finished and trolley
cars would running from this city to Jersey city
by means of the tunnel. He further said that IN
eighteen months from the same day the main tun-
mel terminal station OF the New-York and Jersey
Railroad Company in this city would be built.
This station Will stand on the greater part OF the
block bounded by Tenth. Hudson. Greenwich and
Christopher sts. The first title to parcels in that
block bought by the company transferred to
the con,Danv Yesterday 1t was title Nos. 500
and e95 Greenwich-st. Tho property was con-
veyed BY, Charles E. Fleming 10 the company for
consideration Of $50 .OOO A few days ago the com
pany mortgaged its realty property its rights and
franchises build two tunnels under the North
River to the Guaranty Trust Company, to secure
an issue of 100000 gold bonds for thirty years at
per cent
The tunnel Will have south and north track
and the tracks will be built especially for trolley
traffic. They will form a connecting link between
the street surface railways Of Jersey City and the
Metropolitan system. 1t is said that cars OF the
tunnel will run not only between this city and Jer-
sey City. but between this city to points many
miles SOUTH west and north Of Jersey City. Inc
fare for single ride. 1t is said between the TWO
centres will be three cents. The tunnel is TO be
almost similar to that of the Pennsylvania and
Long Island railroads.
More than four thousand feet OF the tunnel mas
practically been completed. There is little moro
than sixteen hundred feet TO be constructed. MI
Jacobs said that this would be the most difficult
part of the tunnel build 1t passes through a
ledge of rock that pierces the bed OF the river
All the rest Of the tunnel has been through silt
The property bought by the company some time
ago as a site for terminal station is Just east
of the Ninth-ave. elevated road. Horace S. Ely
& Co. were the brokers in the deal. The Eighth
ave. electric cars run through Hudson-st- between
Christopher and Tenth In short time the
Christopher-st- surface road is to be operated by
electricity II is generally understood that the
Sixth-ave. surface line will to feminist
and Hudson when the tunnel is in operation. Ac-
cording a report the Jersey City terminal Will
be near Provost and Thirteenth SITS. and street
will convey passengers from all the Jersey
City railroad stations to that point
The franchise to build the tunnels first OBJ
tanned by the Hudson River Tunnel Company. On
January 'I6 1899 Randolph Parmly, Master in Chan
erty IN New-Jersey. The purchaser was Frederic
B. Jennings, the only bidder, who offered 100000,
contractors OF London England. The New-York
OF the tunnel was sold TO Mr.. Jennings on the
sci for the American stockholders John X Bart
lett had lien the property for 100000 for labor,
but this not prior TO the claim of the bond
The Indebtedness Of the old Hudson River Tun-
mel Company was about $4,000 The bulk Of the
stock held by English spectators. The con-
struction OF the tunnel was begun about quarter
of a century ago. The idea of the promoters was
to establish big union freight yard the flats
al Jersey City. and build union freight station
at Morton-st. Manhattan Compressed air was
used in the excavation but the air escaped through
the soft filing at the Jersey City end at Four
feminist. about twenty-four years ago. and TWEEN
ty-one men drowned. This disaster exhausted
the company'S treasury, and work was suspended
Mr. JeInings transferred title to the franchises
mel COMPANY. 10 the NeW-York and Jersey City
Railroad Company on Saturday last