Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-28
FREIGHT TUNNEL
Is Planned For City Of Boston te
Cost $4,000, 900.

Boston, March 27.--An investigation
of the project contemplated by the
Boston Transportation Co, in its APP
pltcation to the Legislature, for the
right to build freight tunnels far down
under the city Of Boston, reveals one
of the most ambitious and giganti:
plans for. improvement that Boston. d.
indeed the whole country. has seen for
many years.
The Hub will be the first city in the
world to have an up to-date tunnel sys-
tenn for handling freight. Chicago is
just completing a system. but on a
smaller scale than the Boston plans
provide for.
Can the heavy freight traffic of a
great city be conducted underground
rather than On the surface? Can the
city streets be relieved of congestion
and made safer and freer for pedest-
rians? Can a more rapid means Of
moving goods. than by teaming. be de-
vised? Can the interminable ripping up
of our streets be ended. because an un-
foreground tunnel system offers safe
and easy conduits for wires?
These are some Of the great NUM-
cipal questions of the day that the Bos-
ton men who sugges. the tunnel sys-
tenn believe they can answer.
For some months past n little coterie
of Boston business men have been in
vestigating and figuring on this sub
ject. They are now ready with plans
for the tremendous task.
The plans outlined involve the build
ing Of more than ten miles Of tunnel
in the downtown districts of the city
for the general transportation of
freight. Large tunnels would connect
the North and South stations the Hoo
sac tunnel docks. the domestic and
foreign steamers, and tine principal
wholesale sections Of the city. Under
tine provisions of the charter proposed,
the company must complete this ten
miles of tunnel within three years Or
forfeit SlOO.0O0 1t is estimated that the
tunnels will cost about 81 00OG90 per
mile.
The tentative plans have been made
by Guy G. Emerson. formerly assistant
engineer for the Boston Transit COM
mission. With assistants he made eX
tensive examinations of tia tunnel sys-
tenn in Chicago and has based his fig
ures largely on the experiment there.
The Chicago tunnel is smaller than
the proposed Boston tunnel being only
seven and pne-half feet high by six
feet wide. The construction of the Chi
cagO tunnel was begun in 1899. and al
though p miles have been finished up
to date. it is still in an experimental
state. and it's practical operation will
not begin until July l. of this year. 1t
is owned and operated by a corpora
ton known as the Illinois Tunnel Co.
hut it was originally started by the
Telephone company.
Up to date the Chicago tunnel has
been utilized in several instances in the
removal of gravel and rock where the
foundations of new buildings have
been exCavated. 1t has also carried
away it's own gravel and rock to the
lake front.
1t is proposed to make the Boston
project. at least. eight feet wide for
single track tunnels. and proportion
ately high, ard about - feet. six in
ches wide for double track tunnels. At
the side and between the tracks will
be space for the laying Of electric wire
conduiwts Of various kinds
Several tunnels are likely to be built
very much larger in size. possibly large
enough to carry Il full size freight car.
especially between the North and South
stations, and to some OF the docks. can
be readily understood. The power to
be used in the tunnels will probably be
electricity. this question being one that
is left for the Transit commission of
Boston.