New-York tribune., 1908-07-22
COMMUTERS AID P. r. R.
ASKED FERRY THEY USE
Problem of Tunnel Terminal De.
ponds on Result of Inquiry.

rh. PENNSYLVANIA Railroad rs trying o solve one
a. the most interesting realty problems which II
has ever had decide In view Of this fact IL Is
asking all persons travelling on its lines between
Newark and Jersey City help II find solution
30 the problem. Millions involved in the ques-
.yor OF ferry used the most. and the sooner
:. 1. settled the earlier will be begun the great
o-k OF transforming the greater part of the local
,-scks of the railroad between Jersey City and
newark into a high speed electric tunnel route to
form a part OF the Hudson Companies system
The problem arises from agreement entered
into by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and
Che Hudson Companies builders Of the twin tunnel
tubes between s2d street and Sixth avenue. Man
haitian and Hoboken. and the Cortlandt street
tubes betveen co-tlandt and Church streets. Man
haitian and Jersey City Under that agreement
the Hudson Companies will its trains between
Summit and Sip avenues, Jersey City. and Newark
over the Pennsylvania tracks. and will handle the
local service Of the Pennsylvania between those
points In other words. the entire local service Of
the Pennsylvania between those places is to be
turned TO the Hudson Companies. The agree
r7ent also provides that the work Of Joining the
tunnel system OF the Hudson Companies TO the
Pennsylvania tracks of building suitable station
al Harrison, which is Just east OF Newark for the
foint OF the tunnel trains Of the Hudson Com
penies and the Pennsylvania and tunnel terminal
station IN Newark for the exclusive of the Hud-
Companies. besides the building of third rail
route between Harrison and Newark. is TO be done
by the Pennsylvania company. This stupendous
undertaking. which will mean much to the rapid
upbuilding Of attractive residential and
featuring districts in New Jersey suburban fields
furnishes intricate realty problem. because IL
must be planned meet not only transit needs
in the near future. but those in the next twenty
OF thirty years.
rhe Jersey cornrnuter on Pennsylvania lines may
not Yet realize how eager officials OF the Pennsy-
vania Railroad learn from him what ferry
line he in travelling between Jersey City and
Manhattan on his way work or when he comes
10 this city but those officials, nevertheless. are
very anxious 10 hear from him on this matter.
The railroad already has a corps of young men
engaged in gathering data which will show how
many persons travelling eastward from Newark
the sd street the Desbrosses street or the
Cor1lanot street ferry These young board
trains al Newark and walk through the cars be-
hind the conductors tickets are being taken up.
the passengers offer their tickets the conductors
ask them which ferry they going 10
reaching Jersey City The answers TO these queries
Jotted down by the young men, and the data
later reach the operating department of the rail-
road
The amount Of money to be expended by the
Pennsylvania in building stations for the Hudson
Companies. etc. will depend on the deductions OF
the statisticans OF the company from the answers
O the queries how many persons now use
the downtown ferries. and how many the uptown
1errles. The Pennsylvania Railroad will practically
abandon the local passenger service between New
ark and Jersey City and the lower section OF Man
haitian Island. Its gigantic tunnel terminal station
be for the OF through trains between the great
theatrical and retail shopping centres of Manhat-
tan Island and Newark II is the opinion Of the
Pennsylvania COupany's experts that the answers
the query being asked OF travellers OF the
Newark branch Of the railroad will form a fairly
accurate basis TO the number OF persons who
viii the Pennsylvania tunnel trains from New
srk sd street and Seventh avenue and the
amount OF traffic which will be carried by the
HUDSON Companies between Newark and 32d street
and Sixth avenue Manhattan. and Cortlandt and
Church streets. Manhattan.
No public announcement has yet been made
regarding the location Of the proposed big tunnel
terminal station 10 be erected in Newark by the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company for the Of the
Hudson Companies tunnel system. has the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company made any
nouncenent when II will begin the work OF
Joining its tracks in Jersey City TO that system
i has been unoficially reported many times that
the Pennsylvania lines would be linked 10 the Hud-
son Companies tunnel routes next year, and that
the tunnel terminal station 10 be built in Newark
FOR the use Of the Hudson companies would be near
Proctor & Keith's Theatre. which occupies q site
in the principal retail shopping Office and theatre
centre OF that city.
little west OF Harrison the tracks TO be laid
FOR the Hudson Companies 10 be depressed. and
are 10 enter Newark in a subway many feet below
the level Of the street