of the tunnels and on the nearest
available ground to the river, while at the same time beyond the other
end of the river tunnels, thus necessitating driving the subaqueous
tunnels only from east and west to meet under the river. A caisson shaft
on the New York side, on the line of the tunnels near the river
bulkhead, was at one time considered, but was not adopted as it
entailed the driving of two shields both east and west, in addition to
the two from New Jersey, adding to the plant outlay while not affording
any material saving in the time of construction.

It was thought desirable to construct the shafts on the two sides of the
river in advance of letting the main contracts for the tunnels. The
Manhattan Shaft is north of the line of the tunnels, on the north side
of 32d Street, east of Eleventh Avenue. The Weehawken Shaft is on the
line of the tunnels in the yards of the Erie Railroad on the New Jersey
side, and the distance between the shafts is about 6,575 ft. The
contracts for these shafts were let in June, 1903, to the United
Engineering and Contracting Company, and they were completed and ready
for use at the time of letting the main contract for the tunnels, thus
saving considerable time.

_The Terminal Station-West.--Between Ninth and Tenth Avenues._--In the
original design it was contemplated to have a four-track tunnel under
32d Street from Ninth to Eleventh Avenues, but owing to the necessity
for having additional yard facilities, property was bought for about 100
ft. north and 100 ft. south of 32d Street, between Ninth and Tenth
Avenues, and an open excavation, lined with concrete retaining walls and
face walls, was made. Between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, 32d Street was
closed, and the property formerly the street was bought by the Tunnel
Company from the City of New York for a consideration by deed dated
April 18th, 1906. The Church, Rectory, and School of St. Michael's,
which was located on the west side of Ninth Avenue between 31st and 32d
Streets, was acquired by the Tunnel Company after it had acquired
property for and had built a similar institution on the south side of
34th Street west of Ninth Avenue.

Probably the most interesting feature of this contract was the support
and maintenance of Ninth Avenue, which has a three-track elevated
railway structure and a two-track surface railway structure, on which it
was necessary to maintain traffic while excavation was made to a depth
of about 60 ft.