The Washington herald., 1919-07-01
cONCRESSoKEhS
vEHIcULAR TUBE
Traffic that Passes Through
Represents Entire Coun-
try, Says Holland.

sNOnsEcSS mas put Ine OlICldl SldIHp
OF approval upon the proposition in
volying the penetration under the bed
OF the Hudson River of great chan
mel so constructed as to be adapted
for the movement of trucks. carts,
baggage wagons and other We
hicuIar traffic. There was need of
Federal approval since the tunnel
passes under a navigable river over
which Congress has authority.
Ef1t Is to be of far more than local
importance For IL II was merely a
question of moving vehicles back ana
forth between Manhattan and Jersey
City then the ferry boats could still
be well relied upon. But this traffic
represents the entire country. Much
Of the merchandise that is moved
back and forth finds its destination In
the West. in the South. or. on the
other hand, in New York City or m
New England. Therefore it is a ma
tional and not a local undertaking.
When the tunnel is built a great ar
terry will have been constructed con-
Meeting the Island of Manhattan with
the mainland at Jersey City.
AT least thirty years ago Abram S.
Hewitt. just after he had finished his
term as mayor of New York. recon-
nerded that steps be taken TO secure
a permanent highway either over the
HUDSON or under the Hudson whereby
adequate communication for freight
traffic and also passenger traffic could
be secured. Mayor Hewitt pointed out
that II the plan was properly financed
tho tolls would within twenty years.
IT, his opinion. iiquidate any debt
Which the construction of the tunnel
caused.
A Great Engineering Work.
The constructing of this vehicular
tunnel involves the utilization of mod
ern science in a way which would not
have been possible a few years ago.
Machinery and apparatus have been
devised which make the cutting of the
tunnel not only comparatively easy
to be accomplished but also swiftly
achieved. A few years ago as much
IS ten years would have been required
to complete work of this kind. To-
day il Is believed that science and the
skilled engineers can complete it so
that it will be open for operation in
about two years time.
Not yet is il known precisely what
methods will be adopted. The engi-
nsers who were secured by President
Cassatt for the construction OF the
strong steel pillars encased in cement
be sunk to rock foundations. sixty
feet or more. Upon these pillars could
be placed tracks-in fact the construc-
ton being that of the elevated rail-
roads on a viaduct, but all are be-
meath the bed of the Hudson. MIR.
MCAdoo's engineers recommended
that the tunnel be cut by dredging
apparatus and covered as fast as cut.
The road bed rests securely upon
solid foundation. One of these two
ways will probably be adopted for
the vehicular tunnel.
What Is the Costs
One OF the remarkable features OF
the proposition IS the estimate or
cost The experts figure that the en-
tire work can be completed at a cost
of about sl2.O 900, 600. This Is only one
half as much as the great conserva-
ton work near Dayton, Ohio. where
by the waters of the Miami River will
hereafter be CO controlled as to make
a recurrence of the historic flood OF
1913 impossible.
Tolls. reasonable. not large enough
TO make the use of the tunnel pro-
hibitive, will be adopted, but sum-
cient in amount to pay for the upkeep
and to provide a sinking fund where
by the aggregate cost will be liquI-
dated within twenty years. In other
words the tolls will pay for the tun-
mel Work will 0e speedily begun
for preliminary amount has already
been secured. The engineers say that
IL il be possible to construct a tunnel
of this kind under the second largest
commerce-bearing river of the United
States at so small a cost then there
should be no difficulty. either en-
gineering or financial. in constructing
tie contemplated tunnel from Dover
to C,,lais. whereby Great Britain and
France will be connected by an artI-
hciai highway under the sea.