New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-14
TIE ALBANY BRIDGE QUESTION


Though all the people Of Troy and many citizens q
Albany oppose the construction OF railroad bridge
over the Hudson River at Albany, the Senate Conf
mit.te. after long and patient examination OF wit
resses. came to unanimous conclusion in favor the
enterprise. The following is part of the report OF
that Committee:
esboord While other rivers have the disadvantage OF m AZ
The who're the, break hIGas S The Sssoe 20 sa
the dow of beyond them and beyond The pons at
which il proposed bridge those waters Therefore the i'm
crsro Of the Hudson as navgsbe river Il conspicnousy
great Upon the greater portion OF the vast and
Scaain, and q the articles for which those product.
exchanged now trSnsoed between zee zoe ssaS s %
COMPLETION Of tho Hudson River Railroad that commerce was
h The rsiroads Of other Atlantic States cross their rivers
rear the coast without obstructng nsvisaon tne question
.S w6TseT oIr . s u BY bridges has no. been much Dis
eus'ed 1t k highly important question and not wholly es
viii he ultimate decision The rules Of law applicable TO
on land conducted chiefly in stage coaches snd that on
in valuable steamboats, 10 the latter was gwen me
preference Now the travel and business condrced on ral
oads Of great consequence The railroad II not
strange thing wonderoasy mighty creative power
isresults though submitted TO tie testo ocular
pc,ed on railroads have or soon will become the highest
conteqrcnce the common law, with that facility which
IN me Posss t e Jrecn VIII follow the decisions Of the
court on subject OF bridging navgble streams to facilitate
rsosd travel and The rules Of law applicable 70 the
subject must ultimately be formed In harmony With fact
u orant and controlling the public convenience, utility and
Five important railroads termnste at Albany-thee the
east and tho west side OF the Hudson Rverhe
carrying business OF which both IN Pas,eGsers and esn -
1855 otsl number Of passengers was over 9 total un
that tho increase this business will be- comparatively in
roron 70 the of the chain Of railroad communicates
ing states and Territories OF the estern world the growth
Of The country. If duly ENCOURAGED and Wisely msnased the
business these railroads capable of almost indefinite srtea
ion Albany be the entrepo the eonyergng point
ior the seabod Here tends immense amount Of
Counsel for the petitioners claim and that the public
interest. require ard public necessity demands bridge
he hudson River Albany: the change the
and Of travel and transportation the increased and in
crers impetus given TO business and the large and aecuu
sns amount OF such business seeking safe and speedy tran
the West the seaboard deGsnd facilities and accom-
nodaons which needed but not thought Of in
orer The aood Of business and travel at
k science and enterprise Of the present dsy have opened
a. as strong claims be accommodated in It's
this intervening paygabe river those engaged in s nayaa
be protected in passing and down the The
cst lumber Of persons and the mmen': smoun Of property
important that the utmost facilities should be shoded 70 such
yc VII ch will not materially interfere with the rights Of 9TH
AID to afford such factes during tho tune thst nsvls
on is obsructed by ice either solid or In floating coadon
.eens mperetvey necessary. They also claim and that
bridge be constructed across the Hudson RIVER wheh
III rot materially obstruct or Interfere with IT'S naysston
neither in the OF vessels no, In making sand bars beow
the piers Of the ice in time OF breaking
IN ihe Srng oods that the project rs essloe ana
experience has shown and that the bars and shoals cresee
S sssv removed by dredging Also that feasible
strrct bridge elevation above the Of tbs
boats coud easily pass under when the draw not
sd that these classes Of boat: make much the largest namees
desired to build the bridge The commerce OF the river par
uccary shove has anged aud still Ia changing year.
o sail yesses to tow boats bages and boats owed up
snd down the river by steam Tine Is an inpor
be controlling ele@e1tn t rapid increase ottfae and conn
estimate that average for third Of the
year the Hudson River Absnyis unnsygsse 20 any psc
cal During thst time possible objection could be
made TO s Sso has hesess % sHs n5s . o. we ys. S L
rVe passing Albany does not reach one tenth OF the passes-
esther de Now cen reasonably be aimed that the larger
travel acoss shall be made bseryient 70 the small
in N eaboats have been able the travel Of much
number in end compel change Of on
scnie than the travel the river would be saeecsed TO- e
ssc a. 70 to sI Ss .ace felt to- be an should
the larger number crossing the Hudson be subjected daily -
81 NUMBER aoins 1p and down s may have the ~o;s
width Of tia stream Instead sufficient part for passing
he OF desnson the limitation of space involving
neither the necessity Of t!snsshpmsnt nor the payment OF
III csm,d urged that bridging ths Hudson river at
Albany would be injurious TO the interest. OF the state e
Surely not by destroying neysston Of river betwees
TToy and Albany! That would coupel the commerce o.
Troy to continue the esn,l 70 Albany which would
to the eyderce and esms,es the witness hon,.s Mc.1
woud aggregated for e55 nearly s9oo IL lessened st
tlsn,poItston Of property than canals The business pub
lie avail tie seyes Of tha, mode shipment which win
ness eeTtnty end expedition And the railroads 1rnsh he
the transportation OF property ana teresy
sLt the AID tolls 'ofy
improbable If not impossibe-shoud not me Less. sa
COURAGE AID authorize and safe pssese over intervening
streams sd that large and iDcreeDg Overland
'he sias In this view there scarcely can Iens
~ personal local interest as 10 the expedenf
o. he necessity Of bridging the Hudson at Albany where h
commerce IN M passage 70 aud from the seabosN
M the The prosperity Of the State ana the exsepcies
Ct require such across the yeE The State
4
erp which this that locality this thst
the whole Empire Statethe bringing through
Il It's great metropolis almost the entire trade OF the sTest
West the reaenlsoe enrichment Of the State To do this
very AGILITY must be afforded for safe and speedy passage
eros Hudson. Other railways other States warmly
Ienz taa trade striving direct their porfs
There denying that the break Albany has counter
balanced Of the admitted advantages Of transporting prop
ver hss caused delay deterioration and The ds
Ccs, Of tTanskr by this break and the -
sFsveT matters Of delay and injury waste, viii DO
eidsrs the Hudson Albany These advantages nisss
nce have been secured had this reasonable prope
besa opposed under grourdess apprehensons and nem
taken policy. 1t gratifying know that ibis entepn.Ge 81
tt9nDIs ~ be in iis true gtttkst wiser ~.
le folowe Cd and adopted which will give impetus 70 tes
Of the State. securing TO the adv
trade. That wise policy will sanction the on'ailt
suitable bridge tho hudson Albany for ths &C.
cOnrodion Of The passengers aud the more sreesy
cal transit Of freight crossing at that point
" There Is consideration which should DO Done ~ n'
gndeIis. tte With hieh ,ae ne OF
freRLt ca land By railways will Ultimately e1us hot
tia By water The great and nost .pS'sa % ,b enurL
rroduet and more bus commodities by boas Baroaa.
be well oops :ehooners eaees ana
toais Tbs tendency Of com modiies 70 sdopt rs.ty
ucker and less destructive mode OF reaching an ever
InalIet cannot be s'opped. 1t arises from nsua ten
y increase i win be VIE pS.ey % sI ryry 10 which
the Vhoe state will share Hence the expeierey ~" T -
oes.iy Il bridging ;he EuSsen st A!imy TIE H's "F