The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-26
HUDSON TUNNEL PLAN
NEARS REALIZATION
DhNs Tor Appropriation of
First $1,OOO,OOO Likely
to Pass.
NJ MORE FUEL FAMINES
AS Federal Government Won't
Help. New York and New
Jersey May Go Ahead.

Bills will be INTRODUCED in the Legis-
iature next Tuesday or Wednesday for
me authorization OF a vehicular tunnel
between New York and New Jersey and
TOT the appropriation of $1,000, 900 to
start the s12.0oo,o0o project
FOR the first time In many years there
IS every prospect that these bills will
pass IT was said yesterday by L. w.
b!oomingdale, chairman of the New
AoTR state Bridge and Tunnel Com
MISSION. and tint within two Years as
estimated by Maior-Gen. George w.
toeihals, New York city will be ever
,asL.ng!y rescued from peril OF famine
in -focl, or fuel.
Mr. Bloomingdaie told THE suy YES
tenay that he understands that Gov.
snitn warmly Endorses the vehicular
,nnnel project. and is concerned only
over the problem Of providing the
money. This. likely. will have to be
raised BY bond issue Of $4,000. 1000
covering New York's share Of the cost.
New Jersey furnishing an equal amount
through direct taxation.
Speaker Sweet OF the Assembly bas
informed Chairman Bloominsdale that
ne IL convinced the tunnel must be built
at once. In the Senate there is excel
lent sentiment in favor Of going ahead
with the job at once. New Jersey stands
ready TO proceed whenever New York
Is ready TO cooperate. Gov. Edge taking
the lead on his side of the river.
Aid ny L. 3. Refused.
The bottom facts OF the situation as
II STANDS at present are these: The Fed
eral Government. maintaining its Gu
rious hostility toward this port, has de-
ciihed TO help finance the tunnel. There
lore the two States concerned will, tits
now anticipated, go ahead with the big
Job on their own account AT a cost NJ
Sl2,60o,o00 (the 100000 being for ac-
Quirement OF real estate at both endD
doubledeck vehicular tunnel Is to be
constructed under the North River he
tween Twelfth and Provost streets in
jersey City and Canal and Varick streets
In Manhattan.
Gen. Cocktails, after a close study OF
the problem in all OF its phases. reports
that the work can be completed in two
years. at the end OF which time the tun-
mel will be ready to accommodate 4 600
vehicles in each direction daily. or
total or 100000 every year With
tolls fixed at 80 cents on the New York
side. traffic would produce in twenty
years at conservative calculation sl2.-
S96.711. which. added to $500, 900 to be
derived from conduit rights. rentals and
privileges would give a total revenue
OF s1s.3s5.711.
In twenty years. therefore. after New
orks snare OF the maintenance had
been paid, the revenue would be annie
not only to retire the 5000. 900 in bonds.
but sufficient In fact TO give surplus
of s1.440,7ll
These, Mr. BloominEdale pointed out
yesterday, are facts for business men
and legislators concerned about the
financial dimculties to ponder over. since
they surely solve the financial problem.
The tunnel will more than pay for itself
in twenty years. and the figures set
forth are the most conservative that can
be tabled. Natural increase in popula-
ton. business and treffic will be apt TO
solve the problem even more rapidly
But there is another side greater and
more important than the strict problem
of finance. This has to do with rescuing
New York from the impossible cond!-
tions she had 10 endure a year ago this
winter and more recently from the short
but ominous situation produced by the
strike OF harbor boatmen.
Must Have Direct Link.
The city Of New York." sad Mr..
Bloomingdale. owes its commercial and
financial supremacy to the marvellous
harbor which constitutes the entrance
10 the Western Hemisphere. and the
broad rivers which act as its highways
and upon which may ride the commerce
of the world. With the growth OF the
clty's population, however, and the need
for feeding and keeping it warm with
what must OF necessity be a hand to
mouth supply for millions Of individuals.
has come the growing conviction that
the disabilities arising from the isolation
OF the commercial centre OF the city
hn En ne
method OF reliance on the uncertainties
Of river and harbor transportation I'M
expensive and inadequate.
Recent events have proved II to be
dangerous.
AS recently as last year, this COM
mission in a statement OF the benefits to
be derived from a vehicular tunnel
mainly emphasized points OF advanta ge
which tended to create the impression
that a tunnel would be a great conven-
fence The delay and expense OF the
present method Of transporting vessels
across the river was noted. Only In the
most casual way was II suggested that n
continued reliance upon the present mad
eQuate methods of transportation might
not merely become a question OF eco
nomic or business methods, but might
Involve the very life of the city and Its
Inhabitants.
Evidently the possibility OF such a
situation actually occurring was not COM
sidered reasonably probable, for the
point was not pressed. nor was 1t en-
phasized Neither did II then occur to
the commission that with respect to the
entire supply Of fuel and a substantial
supply Of food for which the city must
depend for it's daily needs Its inhabitants
were absolutely at the mercy OF the ele-
ments
Twelve months ago no one would seri-
ously have urged that the city could be
in the grip OF a coal famine involving in
its financial features alone many times
the total cost OF constructing a vehicular