Year: 1879

THE SHAFT on THE JERSEY SHORE COMPLETED


WORK TO BE SHORTLY BEGUN ON SHAFT


ON THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER.


Since the removal of all legal obstacles to the COM
pletion of the tunnel under the Hudson River few
weeks ago, the work upon the shaft at the foot OF
Fifteenth street. Jersey City. has been pushed with
such energy that the shaft has been sunk to its
entire depth-sxty-fve feet. When the workmen
had reached the depth of forty feet water began to
flow in upon them and powerful engines pur-
chased to pump it out After the completion OF the
shaft another powerful pulsometer engine was or
dered placed at the shaft yesterday to pump
it entirely dry. Work the tunnel proper
will be begun next week, and in q
short time. It is said. ground will be
broken in this city in the neighborhood Of Bleecker
street and Broadway for the entrance this side Of
the river. Men have been employed on the Jersey
City side night and day and the work has been done
under the personal supervision of Colonel De Witt
c.. uaskn, of California, president of the tunnel
company, and of the local superintendent, Com
missioner of Works benjamin Van Keuren. For
the purpose of expedition it ls proposed to work
from both sides just as soon as the shaft on the
Jersey shore is made perfectly clear. The shaft on
this side will be located at about the foot of Morton
street. AS soon as work is commenced on the New
York side it will be prosecuted day and night.
There will be three gangs OF workmen, each gang to
work eight hours, anG by this method the company
expect to have the tunnel completed within two
years.


Work was first begun in November, 1874, but one
Injunction another intertered with the prof.
ect that the real work did not begin until month
ago. at which time the tunnel company, after pay
Ing the Jersey shore associates and the Delaware.
Lackawanna and Western Railroad the amount fixed
by the courts for the ground taken, was allowed to
proceed.


The entrance to the tunnel on the Jersey side of
the river will be from the corner of Jersey avenue
and Fifteenth street, to extend thence to the Hudson
River about 3400 feet thence under the river curv
ing five degrees northward to the New York
bulkhead line, ut the foot of Morton
street, about 5,400 feet thence curving slightly
southward about 5000 feet to point to be
selected by the New York Board Of Aldermen. The
entire length OF the tunnel and its approaches
will be about 120OO feet. or about one mile
on each shore. The tunnel walls will be constructed
of the best hard brick and cement, feet
in thickness, circular in form 26 feet in
width and "a feet i'll height. 1t will be painted
white inside and lighted with gas. with double
track railway OF heavy steel rails upon stone ballast
8 feet from the bottom More than four hundred
trains will be able to pass through the tunnel daily
Freight and market trains will have transit at
night, drawn by powerful engines made expressly
for that purpose to be run by signals. without bells
or whistles. consuming their own steam and smoke.
with compressed air.


BOON FOR TRAVELLERS.


The company will convey passengers direct from
the West without change of cars. as all trains run
ming into Jersey City will have the right to pass
through the tunnel upon the same equitable terms


The borlngs made before the work on the tunnel
was commenced show that tho greatest depth OF
water is about sixty-two feet; also that the soil
through which the tunnel will pass is for tho most
part tenacious silt. underlad by hard sand Near
the shore the New York side there will be en-
countered q small extent of rock and some gravel.
No serious difficulty is apprehended by the com
pany the character of the soil is considered favor
able for the construction OF the tunnel. The i'm
portance OF the tunnel to this city will be great and
the citizens feel confident that III three
the furthest it will be i'll operation.