The Jersey City news., 1902-08-04
UNDER The HUDSON
How Things Are Going
Ahead in the Fifteenth
Street Tunnel.
TONINc UP THE OLD WORK
Preparations Advancing to
Bore the Final 1900 Feet
to New York.

A glance at the rudely constructed
shed which coverers the shaft OF the
Hudson River tunnel few feet from the
river at the foot of Fifteenth street.
would hardly convince one that it mark
ed the spot where is in progress one OF
the greatest engineering feats ever at
tempted In this country. The shed re-
placed an old building which was re-
moved when work was recommended on
the tunnel some months ago. 1t is
frame structure sheathed with corrugated
iron.
Although there is almost no sign of ac-
tivity outside the building, there is, in
side, every indication that the task of
completing the tunnel has been taken up
In earnest with renewed energy. Engines
are working, massive new boilers and
new machinery are being put in place
and men are hustling everywhere within
the big shed.
SHAFT AND TUNNELS.
In the centre of the shed is the shaft.
q circular hole. walled with brick. 1t is
thirty feet In diameter and ffty-five feet
In depth Down at the bottom two holes
are cut in the shaft towards the river.
These are the ends of the big tunnel.
Each hole is about ten feet in diameter.
One points toward the French line pier
at the foot of Morton street. New York,
and the ether somewhat south of the
same place. At the time when work on
the tunnel last ceased the hole which
points toward the French line pier was
extended TO within 1900 feet of the
New York side The hole to the south,
was run about 800 feet under the river.
1t Is the first mentioned tunnel upon
which the men are now at work and
which they will soon be rapidly pushing
toward the New York shore. As there is
q great deal of work to be done in the
way of repairing and putting in pipes
and machinery, it is not expected that
digging viii be commenced for the next
six or eight weeks at least.
About fifty men are working in the
tunnel at present. All of these are en-
ployed Strengthening the walls with iron
and tearing out old rusty pipes and
putting in new ones. Almost all of the
old pipes are unfit for use and must be
replaced By new ones before the work
can proceed. When this task is done the
four new boilers at the top of the shaft
will be ready to start up and the work
of completing the tunnel will be in full
operation. At present the old boiler is
being used to supply compressed air to
the men below. The air is used to pre-
serve the life of the men as well as TO
operate the hammers with which they
are repairing the iron walls.
IN THE TUNNEL.
Upon entering the tunnel the grade is
downward until the centre of the river
is reached, when 1t rises again ON the
way to the New York shore.
Between the Fifteenth street shaft
70 regulate the pressure of air. These
locks are formidable iron partitions or
plugs, which entirely close the tunnel at
the respective points. The first lock is
about 800 feet in, and the other two
are about 1000 feet apart. Heavy iron
doors, large enough to admit horse and
cart are cut in each lock.
When the preparatory work is COM
pleted aud all is in readiness to beg;n
the extension Of the tunnel massive
iron plug called ''ieader'' will be kept
In place by hydraulic pressure at the ex-
freme end of the hole. In this plug are
doors through which the mud and rock
ARE removed. As the digging proceeds
the plug is showed forward by hydraulic
power, thus avoiding accident. which
might occur were the head not prevent
cd from caying in. The muck" which
is the term applied to the excavatcd mat.
ter, will be run on small cars to the Fif-
feehth street shaft, where it will be hois-
ted to. the surface and dumped on rail
road cars to be taken away An ele-
vator is at present operated up and down
the shaft by hoisting engine. There
will be similar contriyance to hoist the
s'muck."
ABOVE GROUND.
A trestle is being built from the top of
the shaft to the Lackawanna Railroad
tracks ON the north side of the shed so
that the "muckv may be easily trans
ferred TO the cars.
AT the top of the shaft Offices nave
been fitted up for the men in charge of
the work and there is also room set
apart for men who may be slightly over
come upon ascending from the tunnel
The sudden change of atmosphere some
times gives the workmen what is known
as '.the bends" When any of them are
50 effected thoy are taken into ''the hes
pital' and revived.