The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-12-17
TUNNELS
ASSURED
New York Alderman Pass
Franchises to P. R. R.
and New York and
New Jersey Rail
road Go. S.
PoINTsl8.R. R.'sGHARTER
Work on the Projects to Con-
meet Jersey City With
Manhattan Will Begin
at Once.
PoINTsI1.R.R.'SGHARTER

New York's Board of Aldermen last
night, by vote of Al to 36, passed the
grant of a franchise to the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company to build tunnel from
Manhattan to Jersey City, and at the
same meeting the New York and New
Jersey Railroad tunnel franchise was
passed by vote of 45 to 15 granting
privilege to land the old Hudson River
tunnel at West Tenth, Greenwich and
Christopher streets. Through this tun-
mel from Jersey City will run the cars of
the North Jersey Street Railway Com
pany.
The principal points in the P. R. R..
franchise are:E
The franchise is perpetual, but at the
end of twenty-five years there will be a
readjustment of the terms.
The route is from the middle of the
North River, under Thirty-irst street,
across the city, under the East River to
Queens Borough, reaching the surface
near Thompson avenue and Purves
street.
The terminal station will be about
twice as large as that of the New York
Centlsl, with site between Seventh
and Eighth avenues, and Thirty first and
Thirtythird streets.
The tunnel company must begin the
construction of the tunnel within three
months and must complete the tunnel
and begin its operation within FIVE years.
For the first ten years of operation the
company must pay so cents a.linear foot
of single railway track, and for the next
fifteen years 81 a foot
For the use of streets underground
the company must pay $15,140 a year
for the first ten years, and $50, ,2s0 year
for the following fifteen years For the
space occupied as terminal the charge
will be $4,000 a year, and if the COM
pany buys the space outright it is to cost
$7SS, 600.
The eompany's taxes on real estate
will amount to $500,000 year.
The power to be used is electricity or
such other power not involving combus-
tion in the tunnel as shall be approved
by the Rapid Transit Board,
The company cannot merely carry
local traffic unless it shall secure the
permission of the local authorities.
The tunnel company can transfer its
franchise, but only to New York COR
poration, which shall carry out all it's
provisions.
TAMMANY AIDS IT.
All the borough presidents, except
Jacob A. Cantor of Manhattan. voted
for the grant; the latter from the first
having fought for the insertion of the
prevailing rate of wages and eight hours
labor clauses A curious factor in the
voting was that Tammany leaders were
ready with votes to give the project the
required majority.
WORK SOON TO BEGIN.
Now that the franchise matter is out
of the way the Pennsylvania Railroad
will at once begin with the work. This
statement was, made by Chief Engineer
Charles NJ. Jacobs of the P. r. r. tun-
nell
president Cassatt, of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company, will probably
give out a statement of plans in few
days. He has already said that as soon
as authority was given by the public
officials We should have instructions to
proceed with the work Immediately. The
company has already expended about
$4,000, 600, and as the interest on the in
vestment is about $1,000 day the COM