New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-02
BROOKLYN TUNNELOPEN
Both Tubes Completed Engineers
Inspect Work.

Both tubes Of the tunnel from the Battery q,
Brooklyn are completed. the connection b.
tween the two sections Of the southern tube HAVING
been made yesterday afternoon. It was expected
that the two gangs would meet about 2 o'clocA,
yesterday afternoon. So certain were the contrac-
tors that this would be accomplished ct the sched-
uled hour that the engineers Of the Rapid Traus.
Commission. the Subway Construction Company
and the officials Of the contracting firm were an
present AZ that time.
Connections were established between the two
sections Of the north tube December 16 The
sub-contract for the tunnel from Battery Park 10
and under FurTnan street and up the hill to Clinton
street, Brooklyn was portion Of contract 2 OF
the rapid transit system, and was let by the Rapid
Transit Subway Construction Company to Andrew
Cnderdonk the sub-cOntractOr. for whom Walter
T. Aims was chief engineer in 1902 The New York
Tunnel Company was organized to back Mr.. Onder-
donk who died on May l. 1905 Just before his
death Mr. Onderdonk assigned his contract TO his
hackers.
The gang which completed the work went on
az noon. The Brooklyn gang was particularly
anxious to break down the last bit of earth and
push their boss through. The moment the hole
was large enough he was pushed through it by his
men popping up among the members Of the gang
from the Manhattan side. He and his gang az
once walked through to Manhattan. while the
other gang cravgIed through the hole and walked to
Brooklyn. Then the invited guests, after the hole
had seen enlarged. walked through the entirs
length Of the bore.
One Of the officials Of the company said. after
the connections between the two bores had been
established:
II Is remarkable to note how free from fatal
accident this work has been Some Of this must
be ascribed 20 the unusual good fortune, as, IOr
instance in the case Of Richard CreedOn, who was
blown up clear through the bed OF the river and
swan ashore without any physical dlscom10rt
whatever; and also. much OF the credit FOR the
absence If fatalities is due to the character OF
men eiSe>eyed the work
Too nfgrrh cannot be said for the Skilled labor
furnished by the Compressed AIT WORKERS Cnions
Mathew NIOriarty delegate. whose members are
known as sand hogs" The SObriquet sand hog
has become i title CT honor. The sand hog goes
ahead with his work without SelI-gl0rilcatl0n OF
manner that would Indicate lack OF interest; but
VIXEN the time Of danger comes there Is a dlic--
II is to these men that the credit is due for thu
work but they must have leaders, and the leader
in the case of the New YORK Tunnel company IS
Thomas J. Brown general superintendent IhOIT@S
J. Browns staff is made UP. first. or his assistant
a trained engineer. John w GoodrldSe, and MS o.
flee engineer, Arthur OnderdOnks a son OF AAdISW
Iis Manhattan staff Is made up OF his general
foreman. Thomas Mullen. who has as his principal
assistant Ogden Merrill. trlined engineer, and
principal assistant, F. A Snyder. a trained engi-
n6er.
, Too mach credit for the accomplishment OF the
work cannot be given 10 Robert Richardson, mas
ter mechanic the Brooklyn side. who has run q
plant furnishing $4,000 cubic feet or air an hour to
the tInCels
on the Manhattan side James Tinley's record has
been the same. II hasn't been necessary for him
10 furnish quite much air but ne has furnished
Il In the same safe and competent manner. and
they both did the work with licensed engineers fur
nished by the engineers union, Matthew McCon-
ville delegate.