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Show To Help Rapid Transit. The blasting off of a 15-foot layer of rock from the top of Coentles reef in East river, New York, just east of the lower end of Manhattan, and, at the same time, the boring of two tunnels tun-nels under this reef, constitute a dual engineering undertaking now in progress prog-ress that is calling for unusual precautions precau-tions and skillful procedure, says Popular Popu-lar Mechanics Magazine. The tunnel will serve as a new rapid-transit link between Manhattan and Brooklyn. The cost of cutting down the reef is being borne by the federal government and New York city. At mean low tide the reef has been 25 feet below the surface, sur-face, a distance that is not regarded as safe, for some heavily laden boats. The new depth of 40 feet will be more sufficient, it is believed. The tunneling, tunnel-ing, which could not well be delayed until after the channel was deepened, is progressing ahead of and faster than the river-bottom excavating, which is proceeding at right angles to the tunnels. |