The Washington herald., 1910-04-03

~ penQOQS construction operations
the Pennsylvania railroad is on
a a the eve OF opening for passen-
ger traffic It's new terminal facilities
in and around the city OF New York.
Finishing touches are being applied TO
the splendid new passenger station In
the heart OF Manhattan Island. The
two tunnels leading into the metropolis
from the New Jersey shore under the
Hudson river are completed. The four
tunnels leading in from Long Island
under the East river are ready and
waiting. The Manhattan cross town
tunnels ending at the river shaft in the
block between Thirty-third and Thirty
fourth streets, east OF First avenue,
are finished. With steady progress
these spring days the huge weave Of
tracks below the ground surface lead
ing TO the great passenger station is
being brought to completion. and at
Sunnyside on Long Island. the i'm
mense railroad yards are ready to re-
ceive the first rush Of business.
No date for the opening Of the sta
ton has been formally announced. Il
Is expected, however, that it will be IN
full operation by the close Of the sum
mer.
With the opening Of this vastly i'm
proved traffic system that centers in
the nations metropolis the means Of
transportation between the east and
the west will have been revolutonized.
This revolution was conceived during
the administration Of the late A. J.
Cassatt, president of the Pennsylvania.
and has been carried forward by his
Successors without a hitch.
Achieved at the expenditure Of many
millions OF dollars, these improvements
will enable passengers from eastern.
western and Long Island points to go
directly into New York city without
change Of cars or transfer to ferryboat,
arriving at a railroad station which is
conceded to be the handsomest and
most convenient in the world
When these vast improvements were
conceived ten years ago the Pennsylva-
MIA railroad was employing the same
method OF reaching New York city that
was employed when it first leased the
United Railroads Of New Jersey in 1871
-ferriage across the Hudson river from
Jersey City, Ten years ago the road
was hauling freights to eastern cities
over practically the same grades that
were to be encountered in 1915. Then
came the plans TO overcome the ferry
transfers and the grades. In a few
months from now freight trains, which
reach the east over a new line, with no
grades greater than twelve feet to the
mile. will be foated from GreenviTe,
N. j., to Bay Ridge, n. Y, and when
the New York connecting railroad,
crossing the East river on four track
bridge. is completed these trains will
be run directly from Bay Ridge to
Port Morris. N. Y, where connections
for New England will be made with the
New York. New Haven and Hartford.
Electric Engines Used.
This New York tunnel extension and
its necessary adjuncts comprise the
costliest improvements ever made by
railroad company The tunnel extern
sion begins at Harrison, N j., a few
hundred yards east OF Newark, where
there is car yard for the big electric
locomotives used to haul all trains
through the tubes. Passenger trains
from southern and western points
change here from steam TO electric
power. Passengers destined for the
downtown section Of New York the
great financial and wholesale district.
may alight at Harrison aRd take an
electric train into the hug new sta
ton Of the Hudson and Manhattan
railroad at Church and Cortlandt
streets by way Of the McAdoo tunnels
under the Hudson.
After changing engines the through
trains for New York will leave Harrl-
: con on rails crossing over the old
Pennsylvania tracks on q steel and
concrete bridge. following a double
track line on high embankment
across, the narshy Hackensack mead
ows to Bergen hill, where they ill en-
ter the tunnel tubes and pass under
the waters Of the Hudson into the sta
ton in New York, thence below the
surface Of Manhattan Island under the
East river TO Long Island City.
The central feature OF the entire i'm
provement Is the passenger station in
New York. the main entrance being on
Seventh avenue between Thirty-first
and Thirty-third streets. The station
Is divided into three levels, the tracks
being forty feet below street level. The
main entrance Is for foot passengers
only. Through an imposing arcade 2z5
feet long by IS feet wide the passen-
gers so TO the main waiting room, the
largest IN the world. s77 feet long, 10s
fest wide and 80 feet high. The arcade
Is nAnised by shops on both sides, and
ut fits farther end are restaurant,
lunch roam and = cafe. Beyond is the
oepeourss level, or station proper, be-
lag 81 the frat isvei below the street.