New-York tribune., 1906-07-05
TELLS OF TUNNEL WORK
'1he Railroad Gazette Says the
PennsulpaWa Is Mahing Progress.


In The Railroad Gazette" appearing tomorrow.
there is a descriptive article on the progress OF
the Pennsylvania tunnels under the East River,
in which the editors declare unfounded the pub
lished runners that no progress was being made
and that the work would eventually be abandoned.
The editors, by courtesy OF the building contract
ors made a personal examination OF the work
on both sides of the river. The article says that
every effort is being made to complete the tun-
nes in less than two years
Much space is given to a scientific description of
the work and the facilities the contracting firm
has arranged for protecting fits employees and. in
case of accident. for giving them speedy aid. The
article says, in part:
Experience has shown thar in work under
pressed air especially at the depths and pressures
employed in these tunnels there is certain 10 be
good deal of trouble with the bends" or eaisson
dlseaSe no matter now caretu4ly the Wofkfnen are
examined and cared for while AT work: Very COM
plete arrangements have been provided on both
sldes or the river Tor giving immediate atteniion
and medical aid TO any men overcome or injured IN
the Manhattan and Long IslaEd shafts the con-
5[aetors nave PROVIDED coInpietey eqHl2pea eneIo &
treatment of persons affected with the bends
consists of supervising medical director and four
other physicians. one of whom is always on duty
ters, consist of waiting room for applicants, for
work, all of whom required to undergo a thor
ough medical examination before being allowed to
enter compressed air. and an examination room,
The physician in attendance is constantly employed
examining applicants for work. and each man, II
without which he is not permitted under any cir
cumstances to enter the workings. All of the men
examined at frequent intervals to see that they
are in a good state of health.
The recent blowout which caused four workers
to be drowned, could happen in any mining work,
according to the opinions Of the editors.
OF the work itself the article says:
The four tunnels on the Manhattan side pass un-
der the Long Island Railroad ferry house slips.
and some settlement has occurred on the surface,
which is noticeable but not dangerous. The ferry
mouse rests on piles in made ground, and the brick
line. however no further settlement has been
sunk six or eighG inches over the tube r. and the
South Ferry slip, which is directly over line D. has
fender sinking in the centre and fitting badly Work
Is now going on pulling these piles and redriving
completed part of line D. and the damage done is
only temporary. Over the shields for lines B and D
the boil OF escaping air is impressive, but not in
air supplied to the headings escape Under the hood
and tail of the shield and work up to the surface
turbance in the river bed is purely local and as
the work proceeds outward the sand in the bottom
settles and compacts as hard as before
rock The method employed may be Of interest:
beyond the casson the heading is driven out about
nifty feet This heading is about twelve feet square
An effort is being made by all concerned TO have
the work finished as soon possible but il is not
and II unforeseen difficulties met it may take
much longer. The progress being made is quite
gineers and contractors estimated on An average
of about five feet in twenty -four hours is being
completed in the work through quickSand on line D.
and work the other tunnels is progressing salts
Iaetorlly If this rate can be maintained on both
sou working days. and the other tunnels in
any change will have to be made in the plans as
they now stand. An experimental shaft was put
down last summer at the foot of S5th street and
the test begun of the freezing process. A heading
feet inches in diameter has been driven out into
the river and freezing has been going on contnJl-
ously for about ten months