New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-05-02
Hylan to Rush
Start ON Staten
Island Tunnel
Committee Votes Approval
of $4,OOO,OOO Appro-
priation TO Sink Shafts
and Acquire Property
Goes to Board on Friday
Purpose Is TO Complete Job
Ahead of Project Pro-
NOTED by Port Authority

The committee of the whole Of the
Board OF Estimate yesterday voted to
approve an appropriation Of $4,000, 900
tor an immediate start on preliminary
construction work of the freight and
passenger tunnel between Brooklyn and
Staten Island. This money will pro-
vide for the land to be acquired and
the shafts for the tunnel. Delegations
from Brooklyn and Staten Island ap-
plauded when the vote was taken and
announced.
Comptroller Charles L. Craig voted
against the appropriation on the ground
report Of Chief Engineer Arthur S.
futile.
"We've got to know where we're
going declared the Comptroller.
I'VE know where we are going all
right, but the Port Authority doesn't, >"
replied Murray Hubert President Of
the Board of Aldermen.
When the matter came up and Comp
troller Craig objected on the ground
that he was not yet entirely familiar
with the project, Mayor Hylan said:
Il know all about this matter and
have been working on it for months
In fact, it's nightmare to me. Let's
have some action"
Riegelmann Wants More Money
Borough President Riegelmann of
Brooklyn pleaded for the appropriation,
but declared the board ought to ap-
propriate larger sum. 500 100000 or
$23 100000, so that the new staff to be
engaged for the work would have cor
tinuous employment for two or three
years
"This being May /, moving day"
added the Aldermanic President, "now
lets move
1t was then decided to recommend
the appropriation to the board at its
Comptroller alone voting in the mega
tive. The board apparently hastened
Its action in order TO get The city tun-
mel plan we'll under way before the
Fort Authority, the state created body,
began to put into effect its plans, which
call Tor connecting tunnel across the
upper bay from New jersey. Members
Of the Board Of Estimate said that #
the city tunnel was started now it
would be completed long before the
Forth Authority could start, and it was
predicted that the Port Authority
might never construct the other tunnel.
Shafts to BE Begun at Once
Chief Engineer futile declared work
en- the shafts would begin immediately.
He said while the enabling act passed
by the Legislature only authorized the
city TO build two-track tunnel he
thought four-track tunnel was needed
properly to handle the large amount
Of freight. The freight might be
handled adequately, however, he
thought, at night, when there would
be little passenger traffic He said 10
agreement had been reached with the
railroads For the use Of the tunnel.
but the CITY waa not worrying about
that feature of the project. as il was
expected the railroads would be glad
TO use il. Work on the tunnel proper
probably would begin next fall, Mr..
futile said.
Representatives Of The Port Author
ity decjared yesterday that the law UNI
der which the city was operating in
constructing the Staten Island tunnel
would be found to be demonstrations
# a taxpayers action should be
brought in the courts to test that
point. 1t IS understood that such .
move is likely.