New-York tribune., 1906-10-25
SIXTH AVENUE PIERCED
MADOO TUNNEL THROIJGH
Property Oscners, Scared by Weird
Sounds, Mag Sue Com paaa.

The New York & Jersey Railroad Cor,nanv
yesterday practically completed the work of
building a subway from Christopher street
and the North River to 9th street and Sixth
avenue. This work was begun late last year.
and IL is now possible to walk from a point
few feet east OF the jefferson Market police
court 20 Jersey City
When the workmen employed in the McAdoo
subway turned into Sixth avenue yesterday
there was no press agent on the scene to an
nounce TO the public this interesting fact. So
quietly and skilfully has this work been car
ried out that few property owners of the section
knew that the Christopher street spur of the old
Morton street tunnel route. which is the old
name for the McAdoo subway between the
North River and Sixth avenue, had been built
and that the work OF building the Sixth avenue
end Of the tunnel route was now we'll under
way.
In the building Of the Christopher street spur
not one foot OF the roadway the sidewalk
was dug I'D. though above the roof of the tunnel
was g network of sewer water and gas mains
snd also many electric conduits. which had to be
constantly held In place by temporary sup
ports until a wall could be built to support
their great weight. Many thousand cubic feet
Of earth HAD 70 be bored through much rock
blasted and carted away and many hundred
thousand tons of dirt removed
The stone and cement used in building the
tunnel would be sufficient TO erect several big
West Side apartment houses This stone and
cement and every other kind Of material used
were carried into the tunnel through a shaft
sunk private property at Christopher and
Greenwich streets.
Once The work was begun there was no let-up.
There large night and day force the
sob In many places great care had to be exer-
cised IN blasting through rock not to shake the
foundations of the buildings along the route or
disIodge the network OF mains.
II Is said that many superstitious persons
thought that the weird noises heard in buildings
along the route. which were caused by the blast
ing in the tunnel, were the meanings OF some
unhappy spirit. and these fears were not allayed
until they learned that the sounds came from
the tunnel
Some OF these stories about ghostly doings in
ChriEtopher street were heard by William G.
McAdoo, president Of the tunnel company. or
course he knew his busy gangs of workmen in
the tunnel were responsible for the ghostly gos-
sip but he kept his peace.
These ghostly tales, however, set some property
owners Of the neighborhood to thinking that the
McAdoo tunnel had exceeded its franchise rights
and been built beneath the Foundation Of some
Of the houses, Several Of these property owners
say they are going TO find out il the near future
whether or not the tunnel does encroach on their
premises lASy are going TO get PERMISSION TO
dig artesian well. and, If the steel we'll point
hits the subway. they intend to the McAdoo
tunnel company for trespass.
In about year and a half the old Morton
street tunnel route will be in operation The
Sixth avenue spur, which begins at 9th street
and extends to 83d street. is to be built in sec
tons At 18th street and Sixth avenue many
feet Of the tunnel have been built since Sunday.
The stations TO be at Christopher and
Greenwich. 9th. 14th. 18th and 23d streets.
The 9th street station viii occupy the plot 80
by 100 feet. at the northeast corner of 9th sreet
and Sixth avenue. The Manhattan terminal
station VIII occupy the block front the west
side Of Sixth avenue from 32d 10 33d streets A
large part of the block front was bought some
months ago by the McAdoo Tunnel Company
for that purpose
On Monday the tunnel company purchased the
holdings Of Edward A. Morrison in the block
for 81 100000. One of the parcels owned by Mr..
Morrison was the Trainors Hotel property, at
the southwest corner of 33d street and Sixth
avenue The work Of building a spur Of the
subway from 9th street and Sixth avenue TO
As-or Place and Fourth avenue is also we'll
under way.