Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-01-31
EPOCH IN ENGINEERING.
THE NEW BROOKLYN TUNNEL MAR
VEL OF HUMAN INGENUITY.

THE NEW BROOKLYN TUNNEL MAR
VEL OF HUMAN INGENUITY.
Tue new Brooklyn tunnel is q mon
ument to modern engineering. 1t has
overcome the greatest physical OBJ
stacles nature has ever laid in the way
Of rapid transit. 1t cost $40 900, 900 In
money and many lives.
5The distance from the Bowling
Green station to the Borough Hall sta
lion in Brooklyn is one and six tenths
miles, and the length Of the river tube
is one and one quarter miles. The
tunnel trains will travel at the rate of
nearly 20 miles an hour, and under a
2-minute Roadway. According to the
subway officials, the trains could travel
safely at a far greater speed. Trains
have been run through at go mile
speed.
| The opening of the tube marks an
epoch in engineering and rapid transit.
1t means that nothing can stand in
the way Of modern scientific progress;
that the brain and energy of man can
overcome any physical obstacle nature
may construct.
These tubes forced their own way
through the rock and sand far beneath
the river bottom. and so carefully
were the details calculated and worked
out that they were not a fraction of
an inch If when the separate sections
from Manhattan and Brooklyn met 95
feet b low the middle of the river.
George H. Pegram, chief engineer,
declares that the tunnel is perfectly
safe and durable. Most of it bored
through solid rock. In the middle Of
the river there is a stretch Of sand,
but the tubes rest on foundation Of
reinforced concrete that gives them
solidity almost equal to that Of the
| rock foundation.
Beginning on the Manhattan side,
the tubes go through rock for dis.
tance of 1000 feet, then through sand
for 700 feet, and then through rock
again for 400 feet, entering a sandy
foundation second time.
There are two tubes-one for the
eastern travel and one for western
travel. They are entirely separate,
being connected only at intervals by
drainage canals. The net inside dia.
meter Of the tubes is 10i feet. The
outer covering Of the tubes consists of
8 sheets of steel plates. In reality the
tunnel Is formed of succession of
rings Of steel. Inside the steel there
is a concrete lining which varies In
thickness.
Along each side of the tubes are what |
the engineers describe Z as "duet |
benches" but which the lay mind |
would call islands or pathways for
safely. These benches are about on
the level of the floor of subway car. |
Secretary Taft could step from a train
and pass along the side of the car.
There is plenty of room for employees
or passengers TO get out In case of q i
blockade.
And to guard against fire there is q
reel of hose and water connection
every 800 feet; also telephone connect.
ing with the operator at Bowling
Green. In addition to all these pre-.
cautions there is an automatic fire
alarm connecting with the city fire de.
partment that also shuts off all the
power.
| Despite the fact that the tube has
no opening for mile, engineers de-
clare that the ventilation Is perfect.
act as pistons, force the foul air before
them and draw the fresh air in behind
them. Every train clears the tube Of
foul air and replenishes it With new
air.
| There are two openings-one at the
Battery and one in Joralemnn street,
Brooklyn. These exits supply air, ant
have stairways which can be used in
emergency.
At three points there are chambers
connecting the two tubes for drainage
purposes. They are sunk below the
tubes and contain powerful pumps.
There is bound to be some water in
the funnel. and these pumps will be
used to force it out.
| One of the most interesting details
of the river tubes is the system Of
lights. The trains carry their own
lights. of course, the power for which
is derived from the third rail. Then
there is row Of lights along the sides
of the tubes They get their power
from separate source and are au'o-
matically connected with still another
source of power. The light system
seems to be perfect.
There is a map at the Bowling Green
station, worked by system Of lights,
that enables the operator who controls
the running of the trains to tell exact
ly the location of every train in the
tunnel. And in addition to this pre-
caution a system of signals is arrang-
ed SO that if the motorman should
either misconstrue or fail to see dan
ger signal a ''tripper" ATTACHED to the
signal puts on the airbrakes of his train
and stops it. Human ingenuity has
beer heavily taxed to safeguard the
patrons of the tunnel.
| Rank FOnIIshness.