Clifford Milburn Holland: Venturing Underground in 1919 to Revolutionize American Infrastructure

In 1919, New York faced the challenge of connecting with New Jersey through a tunnel. Among eleven proposals, officials favored Clifford Milburn Holland's two-tube design.

Holland's biggest challenge was ventilation in the tunnel, especially after an incident in Pittsburgh in 1924, where car exhaust from a traffic jam sent twelve people to the hospital. 🚗💨🏥

Before construction, Holland conducted experiments in a Pennsylvania coal mine to ensure passengers' safety by venting carbon monoxide efficiently. He designed four ventilation shafts that flood the tunnel with a whopping 3,500,000 cubic feet of fresh air per minute! 💨

Holland spent the next four years overseeing every detail of the project, earning the nickname "head mole." 🦡

It is the best compliment for Public Works engineers. Only people with such dedication can revolutionize American infrastructure! 👷♂️🏗️🇺🇸