New-York tribune., 1920-10-13
Ground Broken
On n$28,O00,OOO
Hudson Tunnel
Lieut.. Gov. Walker Swings
Pick, Gov. Edwards Yields
a Shovel at Ceremony
Witnessed by thousands
Barrow of Dirt Removed
Project to- Link New York
With Jersey by Vehicular
Route Actually Under Way

With impressive ceremony, witnessed
by thousands who filled the specially
constructed grandstand and lined the
thoroughfares about the park bounded
by Canal, West and Washington streets,
Lieutenant Governor Harry C. Walker,
representing Governor Smith. and Gov
ernor Edward l. Edwards of New Jer-
sey yesterday broke ground for the new
twin tube vehicular tunnel that is to
link~the states of New York and New
Jersey.
This marked the definite commence
ment of one Of the most ambitious
engineering projects ever attempted in
the United States, 1t Is the culmina-
tion of century-long dream for the
beginning Of operations on a tunnel
beneath the waters of the Hudson
which would forever emancipate the
the many difficulties and shortcomings
of river traffic.
Many Notables Speak
Executives, officials and prominent
citizens of both states filled the speak
ers' stand. Those who made addresses
in addition to Lieutenant Governor
Walker and Governor Edwards, were
Senator William NJ. Calder, Of New
York; Senator Walter E. Edge, of New
Jersey; Mayor Hylan, Mayor Frank
Hague of Jersey City and Colonel Will
lam ]. Wilgus, chairman of the board
of consulting engineers of the New
York State Bridge and Tunnel Commis-
sion and the New Jersey Interstate
Bridge and Tunnel Commission, the
two bodies who worked out the plans
for the tunnel and will supervise it's
construction. General George R. Dyer
chairman of the New York commission
presided.
A parade of New York and New Jer-
sey troops-the escorts of Lieutenant
Governor Walker and Governor Ed
wards - preceded the ceremony of
breaking ground. During the cere-
mony the troops were lined along
Canal and nearby streets in impressive
array.
Governor Edwards and the officia
party of the New Jersey Interstate
Bridge and Tunnel Commission assem-
bled at the 4th Regiment Armory II
Jersey City before noon and came ovel
to Manhattan accompanied by battal-
ion of infantry from the 4th Regiment
New Jersey National Guard, and {
squadron Of cavalry from the Esse,
Troop. The party and escort proceeded
to the list Regiment Armory, Thirty
fourth Street and Fourth Avenue
where they were received by Genera
Dyer The list Regiment comprised
the escort of Lieutenant Governor
Walker.
The procession left the list Regi
ment Armory at o'clock. A squad OF
mounted police accompanied the troops
The arrival of the official parties ir
automobiles at the park was the sigma
for an outburst Of cheering, mingled
with the strains of military bands anC
the band of the New York Street Clean
ing Department.
New Era of Development
All the speakers emphasized the great
significance carried by the tunnel prof
ect to the commerce, welfare and gen
cral relations Of the states of New Yorl
and New Jersey, and particularly to the
cities of New York. and Jersey City
They predicted that the construction OF
the tunnel, which would greatly facili.
tate traffic across the Hudson and woulC
bring into closer touch the great rail
way terminal on the Jersey side with
the piers of Manhattan. would mark 6
new era in the development of the Por'
of New York and would thus affect its
relations not only with the country al
large, but with the whole world
Zone of the greatest treaties ever
enacted within the boundaries of oul
Republic" said Lieutenant Governor
Walker, "is that between the states Of
New York and New Jersey calling into
being the two commissions for the con.