Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1907 — East River Tunnel Operated. [ARTICLE]

East River Tunnel Operated.

For the first time passengers were carried through the New York and Long

Island City tube under the East river, when August Belmont, who financed the undertaking, acted as conductor of the car containing the officials connected with the work and members of the public' service commission. Superintendent of Motive Power Banghard was the motorman. The car went from Third avenue and For-ty-second street, Manhattan, 1 to Jackson avenue and Fourth street. Queens, in four minutes. This is a reduction of at least thirty minutes in the time between these two points under the old conditions of transit. In general appearance the tube is similar to an ordinary city subway, being perfectly dry, well lighted and equipped with heavy rails and a modern signal system. The cars are of the regulation type, operated by trolley poles. The atmosphere is from 10 to 15 degrees cooler than on the surface of the street. As the car nearly fills the tube, it acts as a piston, pushing the air out in front and drawing a fresh supply after it.