The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-22
Neighbor State Will Bear
Half of Cost, Estimated
at $12,000,000.
WORK FOR EX-SOLDIERS
Tunnel Expected to Pay for
Itself in 90 Years by Toll
Charges.

ALsASY. Jan. 81. - The Republican
leaders who control the Legislature
srreed to-day that New York State
should share with the State OF New
Jersey the cost Of building a vehicular
tunnel under the Hudson River from
New York city to Jersey. The cost
will be limited to s6.oo0,00o for each
state and the New York Legislature
will make an appropriation of $1,000
900 for starting the work Immediately,
Conferences on the tunnel were held
TO-DAY in the office of Speaker Thad-
deus c. Sweet of the Assembly. With
s,m was Senator ]. Henry Walters,
PRESIDENT pro tenn. Of the Senate; Sem
a,or Henry NJ. Sage Of Albany. chair
man Of the Senate Finance Committee,
ana Simon l.. Adler, majority leader OF
he Assembly.
smith Hesitates Over Cost.
Gov smith said the other day that
he favored the construction OF tun-
lei but was not ready just yet to COM
III, New York State to an expenditure
q. 5000, 900, or one-half the cost OF
tie proposed tunnel.
Those at the conference with the Re-
publican leaders OF the Legislature were
". Bloomingdale. chairman of the
Joint Bridge and Tunnel Commission; T.
A. Adams OF the Chelsea Association,
laner Campbell OF the New Jersey
commission. A. r Shamberg of the New
York commission. Morris Frohlech. sec
ye,ary Of the Bridge and Tunnel Com
mission. and Paul Windels, counsel OF
tie commission.
The Bridge and Tunnel Commission
Tas created when Higgins was Gov
e-nor. The original plan was for the
commission to make a study TO deter
mine whether a bridge should be built
oycr the river to New Jersey. but later
-. powers of the commission were ex-
ended to cover a study OF the tunnel
;Foject.
As planned by Major-Gen. George
Goethals the vehicular tunnel would
COS, about si2.000.000 and this price
has been confirmed by actual bids re-
ceived from some of the largest tunnel
constructing companies in the country.
New York and New Jesey are to split
me cost
Would Soon Pay for Self.
Il IS figured that at the minimum OF
Tie present ferry traffic with an aver
Ege fee or toll the cost OF the tunnel
would he amortized within twenty years.
Tht contract would be drawn on the
basis OF cost OF materials as they 60
Into the tunnel construction. SO that the
States would receive the benefit OF any
drop IN prices.
Speaker Sweet in behalf of the les1s-
ative leaders made this statement
The necessity for the tunnel Is ap-
parent. The experience of last winter.
when for two or three weeks New York
harbor was choked BY ice, making i'm
possible the transportation of car floats
carrying coal and food products. sup
ported by experiences during the re-
'ent strike OF harbor employees, proved
his need.
Another feature is that business
nsople complain OF the long time It
tskes trucks to go back and forth
between New York and Jersey owing to
congestion Of traffic Trucks and teams
Low can make only one or two trips a
lay, while with a tunnel in operation the
'ane trucks and teams could make
.nree and four trips day.
Peal estate interests are affected, as
are business conditions among the mer-
chants, so II has seemed a proper under
;sking by our State to Join with New
Jersey in constructing this tunnel. The
sork will be one In a spirit Of coopera-
ZION with the Federal Government. fur
sairS employment TO many men at a
line when X is most needed by the re-
turning soldiers and sailors
VIII Help Farmers.
This tunnel can be looked upon prop
'rly as a highway 10 New York city
within the boundaries Of the city. and as
he city OF New York bears II per cent.
y the cost of constructing highways In
other parts ot the State We believe this
Undertaking is not alone in the interest
~ New York city but also in the interest
~ the producing sections OF the State
nd will aid in getting produce TO the
consuming public In the greatest market
N the World. This is an additional rea-
son why our State should begin a project
nat wil rebound to the interest of the
great majority OF the people in the
State