New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-09
lIORTON-ST. TUNNEL DONE.
Only Fec Inches of Earth Still in
Place.
A YEAR BEFORE CARS RUN.

The work OF building the old Morton-st tun-
mel was practically completed last night. for
only thin wall OF earth separated the worknen
IN the tunnel from the Morton-st shaft About
noon to-day the workmel VIII probably break
through this wall Of earth. and one Of them viii
step from the tunnel into the shaft and then
climb Up the shaft and set foot in Morton-st
The distance yet 10 be bored to complete the
actual building Of the tunnel" said William c.
McAdoo. president OF the tunnel company. last
night 10 a Tribune reporter "can now be ex-
pressed II inches. The worl1men may at any
moment pierce the remaining wall OF earth sep
arating them from the New-York shore"
Mr.. McAdoo smiled as he said thic. as il 10
give expression 10 his feelings Of iov over the
near approach Of the completion Of the borings
for the tunnel
No ceremonies will mark the removal Of the
last spade OF earth which viii unite the tunnel
and the Morton-st shaft thus making It pos
slhle Tor a person 70 walk through the tunnel
from the Jersey TO the New-York shore Ap-
propriate ceremonies viii undoubtedly be held
10 celebrate this event-the first tunnel ever
built under the North River-when II is nos
sible 10 take city officials through the tunnel on
hand cars. II Is not the first tunnel ever built
under the waters OF the harbor. for some wears
ago there was built from the Manhattan to the
Brooklyn shore the big tunnel for the gas mains
from Astoria 70 this city. II is possible for a
person OF large stature 10 walk comforta bly,
through that tunnel
Work on the North River or the old Morton
st tunnel as It Is better known. was started
IN 1874 The idea OF its promoters then was
10 establish big union freight yard on the
fats in Jersey City. and to build a union freight
station at Morton-st. Manhattan. Compressed
air was used ia the excavation but the air ne
capped through the soft filing at the Jersey City
end and al Fourteenth-st.. about twenty-five
years ago. and fourteen men were drowned.
This disaster exhausted the conlpany's treasury
and work was suspended for a long time.
The franchise 10 build the tunnel was first
obtained by the Hudson River Tunnel Com
pany. on January 10. 1899. Randolph Parmly.
Master in Chancery. sold under foreclosure the
company's property IN New-Jersey The buyer
was Frederic T. Jennings. the only bidder. who
offered 100000, subject to a claim OF $4,000
OF Pearson d Sons. contractors. OF London.
England. The New-York end OF the tunnel was
cold 10 NJ Jennings on the following day for
10000 Mr.. Jennings was counsel for the
American stockholders. The indebtedness of
the old Hudson Tunnel Company was about
S4O00Ogt The length Of The tunnel is 1900
feet When the New-Tork and New-Jersey
Railroad Company took Up the work OF build
ing the tunnel in 1901 $50 feet OF the tunnel
from the New-Jersey side had been bored The
tunnel property IS moTtEaRed To the Guaranty
Trust Company for 100000 for thirty years
az % per cent The Manhattan terminal of the
tunnel IS to be in the block bounded by Chris
tephe7' West Tenth, Greenwich and Hudson
SIS.
Il viii be at least a year before trolley, ears
are ia operation through the tunnel AS the
company is building the south tube OF its tun-
landt-st Many hundred feet OF that tunnel
habe already beea built