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Report of the New York State Bridge and Tunnel Commission pertaining to the construction of the Holland Tunnel

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Overview of the Records

Administrative History

Chapter 178 of the Laws of 1919 authorized the New York State Bridge and Tunnel Commission to "construct in co-operation with the state of New Jersey a tunnel or tunnels under the Hudson river between a point in the vicinity of Canal street on the island of Manhattan and a point in Jersey City in the state of New Jersey." The tunnel or tunnels were to be for the exclusive use of pedestrians and vehicles not operated by public service corporations. The act empowered the commission to enter into a contract with the state of New Jersey for the joint construction, operation, repair, and maintenance of any such tunnels.

In carrying out its mandate, the commission was also directed to survey all lands, the acquisition of which it deemed necessary for the construction of such tunnel or tunnels. The enabling legislation laid out specific requirements for notification of landowners possessing property to be appropriated by the state for the purpose of the project. The act also directed the commission to appraise and award just compensation to the owners of property to be appropriated by the state.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of a single volume annual report of the New York State Bridge and Tunnel Commission, submitted to the governor and legislature in March of 1921. The volume details progress on the construction of the Holland Tunnel connecting lower Manhattan with New Jersey. It appears to be the commission's draft copy and includes original hand-annotated and/or captioned photographs. Topics addressed include the awarding of contracts, requests for proposals, construction schedule, and distribution of costs between the two states.

The volume also includes a lengthy report drafted by the project's chief engineer, C. M. Holland. This report includes numerous fold-out plates containing engineering and architectural drawings, cross sections, and elevations. Several appendices to the volume contain detailed analyses of automobile exhaust gases and cast-iron tunnel sections. These likewise contain numerous charts, graphs, data tables, and diagrams.

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