New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-06-29
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE-LECTURE BY THE HON.
DEMAS BARNES.

THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE-LEcTURE BY THE HON.
DEMAs BARNES
The Hon. Demas Barnes, NJ. c., lectured last
evening in the Brooklyn Athenaum, before good audi
ence on the " East River Bridge" He commenced by
saying that whatever tended to increase the wealth OF
community was OF importance to each individual There
leave undOne Ii next door TO mighty competitor
whose circle Of trade swinging away from IT, When
did nothing the adverse influence upon its
population. Brooklyn had heretofore yielded to snck
dal lehargy. which allowed Ice TO block up the East
River; allowed to run four miles an hour allowed
each man TO regulate the direction Of a new street ;
in daytime, and allowed ferry.boats TO land halfamile
from where the people wished TO go; allowed New
York keep disgusting old markets the streets
leading TO the ferries allowed Cincinnati and Steuben
vile TO their rivers upon magnificent bridges while
the people OF Brooklyn climbed down TO the river and
lay in the stream to permit to pass This was
not croaking was square common sense II was de-
sirabe that brooklyn should nave us snare OF grown
and development The increase OF population IN New
York City since 1900 had been per cent and in Brooklyn
reached the point at which its people could ahoTd to re-
hid Brooklyn from the statisticans New-1ork was
the emporium OF the United States, and would soon
be- OF the world but II abored under great dlsadVan
tages, growing out OF the shape OF Manhattan Island
New.York had room for a final population OF only one
million eight hundred and seventytwo thousand count
Ing u lots to the acre and IL persons TO the lot Ter
population In 1900 10000; IN 1870, l2O0Oi III lSO'
crease would give her In 1870 100000 and In 1850 2O
OOO which would be more than she could accommodate.
Increase was diverted Brooklyn should be prepared
TO absorb the overflow After enumerating the argu-
for this increase OF population, and urging
the necessity Of preparing for this increase
swer TO all these suggestions in bridge which would
unto the two ces by uninterrupted continuous streets
"a the streets The grade DO assembled to get the
bridge urged an objection To get from sandsst
moro than the descent made In crossing Fulton Ferry
and in travelling between the Two points AS 10 se a
doubt IL was but little longer than the Cincinnati
bridge. bridge as wide as Broadway would, by Its
such structure, instead Of requiring guys,
would laugh at hurricanes. When science had
weigh small bodies the distant planets with precision
he willing 10 trust the construction OF the Dfldge
cate any particular kind Of bridge. Some Kind Of
bridge the people must have He did not believe after
ever invest In tunnelng the East River He did not be-
leye the Government would ever consent 10 lnperl
across the river suspension bridge was certainly the
practicable But the speaker would not be satisfied
He would have Fulton Market indicted as public
nuisance and removed. He would then have Fultonst
straight line TO the House He would have boats run
from FultOnst., Brooklyn, TO Catharine,st New.foTk
tive friend would ask, "What have TO do with New.
York streetsi How We effect these Improvement
Innocent Sir continued the speaker, by treaty Dy
purchase and, II by other means, then by anneklng
Sew.York to Brooklyn 30 that We can have say when
applause All the ferries across the Hudson last year
carried 2G52OOo passengers those TO Brookyn carried
5l.55OOOO almost twice as many This proved where the
people preferred 70 reside Since the Bridge Company
was Incorporated Brooklyn had added 1000 TO ls
population, and before the bridge is completed
100000 more would be added. lApplause The speaker
proceeded 10 give glowing picture OF tho prospective
growth OF brooklyn. Since the consolidation win n
Wiamsburgh in 1888, the following was the rate OF IN
crease 1855 800 In $780, ACT COO and In 1863 500
COO; and at per cent less than the above increase u
would be In 1870 $4,000 1880, 100000 In 1870 32OOi
and In 1890 10000 These figures were not fabulous
They did include the necessary ,oVefnow
OF NeW.York, the greater part OF when would
flow 20 Brooklyn. The Assessors books showed
that Brooklyn had paid taxes as iolloWs
I'm 1855 upon $qI577OOO; In 1890, upon tOJ6OUO1 IN
1875 upon s3 81 90 and IN 1885, upon ti92JSCO Ihs
should have 600 for 1865 which at per
cent taxation would yield revenue OF NOOOOCO But
take II al the above average, We shall have, In lbs
tgDO0 600 IN $780, t2QOOOCO and In 1900, SlbsoOVV
or an amount equal 10 the wealth OF the nation IN loO
RrOokyn already had about the same wealth ano Dahk
ing capital which NewYOrk had In 1890 III the enect Oh
the bridge would be 10 add cent extra TO the natural
Increase on our wealth from this time forward II would
be 81 10000 In 1870 and s95OO0O0 In $780, or an average
OF Oh 100000 wealth, year for 80 years when
AZ per cent, would bring tax income OF tsIOOoo or
S25 OOO per Rnuum The interest toOoOOO OF bridge
debt AT per cent would be tl20O0-not very e1traV
CANT luxury The speaker concluded with an eloquent
and glowing description OF the grand and imposing
structure that be- and appealed TO the pIde ana
legitimate ambition Of the people OF brooklyn TO puSh
ryaF