New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-09

Celebration at Completion OF Boring
W0rk ;n South Tunnel.

A day of feasting and merriment by the en-
gireers and tunnel employees OF the New YORK anu
Long Island Railroad Tunnel Company ana the
Degnon Contracting Company marked the open
ing of the south tube of the Belmont tunnel yes
terday The shields OF the tube had been joined
the day before but the last foot Of rock ana eart
that separated the :wo sections OF the tube hdu
not been removed until before noon yesterday. 10
commemorate the practical completion or the work
the employees Of the DegHop Contracting Com
pany which had the task of boring the tunnel
gathered around the desk OF ROBERT A Sha'iei
the chief engineer. in his ONCE NO Zlo East f-u
street a costly silver service set and a d1a-
mond studded thrty-second degree Masonic charm
were presented to him.
After the ceremonies and congratulations at the
Desnon office were over the men went to SHAFT z,
in East I'D street, where they enjoyed feast
with the engineers and tunnel employees of the
Long Island Railroad Tunnel Company The first
speakers We're the men who had the task and re-
sponsibiiity Of conducting the work to success
full end John Clarke, chief engineer OF the Ne"
York and Long Island Railroad Tunnel Company
and Mr. Smaller George B. Raymond the engineer
In CHARGE Of the conduit construction work, made
a short speech and presented the first car mat
passed through the tunnel to Mr.. Clark
This is just the time l feel like saying some
thfns, TO Mr.. Clarke he said, and do not know
Of a better way of showing how we all think OF
him by presenting him with the first car that
went through the Belmont tunnel l know 1t Is
The first car that made this trip because brought
il through the tunnel myself" Then the speaker
took a miniature railroad car from his pocket and
gaze it to Mr. Clarke. Then Mr. Clarke received d
large silver loving cup from the Long Island 1un-
mel employees. After the dinner there was no work
Cor the employees of either company for the rest
of the day. Preparations were then made for the
first trip through the south tube. About two hun
dred engineers and employees, with few friends
and newspaper men, boarded the tender at East
42d street and with cheers andA footing OF whistles
the trip 10 Long Island City began. After the
landing AT that point the descent through Slaft
into the south tube vas made
Headed by the engineers and superintendent, the
party went through the north tube as far as the
air lock. where it announced that on account
of tile heavy air pressure in the middle or the
river only the engineers and those who had charge
of the work would be allowed to make the through
trip The exploring party then went through the
north tube to the New York side, and returned
through the south tube to Long Island City.
To mark the occasion every workman III ihe
tunnel received extra days pay and had all he
wanted TO eat and drink at the company 5 expense
for the rest of the day.
Previous TO the descent into the Long Island
CITY shaft the employees OF both companies car
riaS t.e chief engineers and superintendent on
their shoulders TO a cart drawn by of the mules
which has a record for tunnel work A parade
headed by the cart, begun down Fourth ave
nue. through Vanalse avenue and around the block
Besides Chief Engineers Clarke and smaller the
other officials who came in for big snare OF the
cheering were Superintendent Herrick and Nc
Cormick William Schmuck and Albert Brown
pavmasters; r. l. Canniff. the bOokkeeper of the
working force. and Joseph p. Kelley, who had
charge OF investigating all accidents that happened
during the work Since the work started two
years ago there have been eighteen deaths In the
| tunnel .
| The work of removing the shields in the south
tube has already begun. and with the exception
of putting in last plates, calking up the crew
ices and finishing the cement work there remains
| nothing to do except complete the laying OF Inc
| tracks II is expected that experimental tram
will be run through the north tube within two
/ weeks and that the tunnel will be open for pub
! lie service by November J. The terminal arrange
/ rnents have already been made and from the pres
ent indications the stations will be constructed al
Lexington and AID street in Mammalian ahC
t at Fourth and Vanalse avenues in Long Island
| Civ