The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-24
President Roosevelt Will Signal
First Train to Start.
1T HAS BEEN "a YEARS.
Since the Boring Under the
River Was Started.
ne n an Was Sent to Asylum
for Talking About 1t.

task of overcoming the water barriers
that have separated Manhattan island
from the country Of which 1t is the
metropolis has at last been accomplish
ed. The first tunnel for passenger
traffic under the North, or Hudson.
river will be thrown open to the public
at noon on Tuesday.
The event, which spells the eventual
doom Of the Hudson ferries and marks
the completion of another stage of the
vast projected system Of underground
and underwater transportation in the
greater city, will be celebrated officially
by the builders and by the highest off,
Gals of state and nation, and unofficial
ly by tens Of thousands of commuters,
who no longer will have their going and
coming dependent on fog or Ice and
ferryboat delays.
President Roosevelt, at his desk in
the executive office at Washington, will
press a button to signal the opening of
the tube, and the governors of New
York and New Jersey will participate
in the ceremonies at the funnel mouths.
After Thirty-fo Years.
With the exception of one line of
railroad, which crosses the Hudson at
Albany and then comes in a direct
line south to the Harlem river and
across that stream into the Grand Cen
trail station, all travel to New York
from the south ana west mas D60n Q0-
pendent upon ferryboat service. Many
of the big steamship lines, with docks
on the New Jersey side Of the river,
also have been compelled to place their
passengers at the mercy Of the ferries,
both in embarking for travel abroad
and upon landing IN this country.
Now. after thirty-four years Of al
most constant effort, the problem of
boring beneath the surface of the river
has been solved, and New York has
been fnseparably Joined to the outside
world.
The first Of the tunnels to be opened
is a part of the so-caIed McAdoo sys-
tenn, thus named In honor of William
G. McAdoo, president Of the Hudson &
Manhattan Railroad company, young
Tennesseean, whose pluck and energy
secured the backing and made the tun-
nels an accomplished fact.
Two More Tubes.
The bore of this first completed
means Of under river transportation to
the west leads from Morton street on
the lower west side of New York to
Hoboken, N. j. The tunnel consists of
two tubes. in which shuttle trains of
eight cars each. propelled by electricity
will be operated
Two more tubes of the McAdoo sys-
| tenn are nearing completion. Their
Manhattan terminus will be at Cort-
landt Street-nOw an important ferry
centeT-anQ the new Jersey END Will De
| In Jersey City. Both at Hoboken and
| at Jersey City the tunnels have con-
nections with several of the most i'm
portant railroads leading into the city.
The North river tunnel service is to
| be still further augmented later on by
| the opening Of the Pennsylvania rail-
| road tubes to connect their lines with
] the magnificent new station now under
/ construction at Thirty-second street
| and Seventh avenue. The first of these
| bores was connected on Friday last.
Former Attempts Failed.
| The McAdoo tunnel system includes
subway branches under New York city
| leading from the downtown stations to
| the heart of the shopping district. The
tunnels also will connect with the main
| subway routes of the city and with the
Pennsylvania tunnels.
Many years ago an aged man known
| as Crazy Luke" was sent to an insane
asylum for continually discussing a
| tunnel under the Hudson. In 1874 an
engineer named Haskins undertook the
task, but after completing 1900 feet of
| brick tunneling, his company failed in
| 1880. Ten years later an English COM
| 1900 feet further, but after a great loss
of life and money the project was
| abandoned
| Mr. McAdoo was next to take up the
| task and by employing the more mod
ern method Of driving a stout steel
| tube under the river bed, quickly ac-
| complished the work. A feature Of the
system Is the Cortlandt terminal. Two
| buildings, occupying the frontage of
| two blocks and rising % stories above
| the sidewalk have been constructed.
! The train stations are in the subbase-
ment and the offices will house some
10000 souls.