New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-19
THE CHAMBER Or COMMERCE..

SPECIAL MEETING-THE EAST RIVER IMPROVE
MENTS.
A sDecial meeting of the Chamber OF Com
merce was hold yesterday afternoon to receive tho re-
port OF the Committee appointed at former meeting 10
investigate and report upon the proposed suspension
bridge across the East River from New-lorh W pioo
| lvn About Il members we're present. Mr.. Opdyke'
President called the meeting to order and announcer ~
object Mr. worthngton. Chairman OF the Committee,
read the report which was substance as follows lha
one great enterprise had been examined ana reported
upon by experts and bills sanctiohing tns P'ah hau
passed tho State Legislature, and one Drahch OF tue
National Legislature. and was now pehuhs
before the Senate. This being the case
Il WAS too late TO investigate other plans
A resolution was appended 10 the report, directing tho
President and Secretary to inform the o. s. senate that
Chamber found no objections TO ne rde.
sion bridge across East XIV Ct suN'''"' "
fWr warrington presented along with the report
erai naners and communicatlons which he said were
mostly suggestions of different plans One in particular
seemed protest against the bridge ana proposed
10 dam the river with n solid structure.
Mr.. Low moved the adoption OF the report ..,..,ou
He SAID II suspension bridge built it would add
perhaps s2OOOOOOO to debt aud would be IKE inc
scnger while the piled their busne ~ they did
before the bridge built For one he soaa hH III. sSe
test Three bridges nsructed % the engineer who
projected this one bad already fallen fnDhc T@nuento
getting DO regarded as dangerous A suspension
dye
terfrre with ships. Mr. Dow had consulted eminent el
Rineers who said suspension bridges did not on an aver
age. stand The wear and tear over yen d , s
ever and interfere In the least with naNlghon
eGd DC to all Who wished to cross. II would
thoroughly unite the cities and enhance the wealth OF
MIR Dow then offered q set Of resolutions, as subst
tue for that offered by the Committee authorizing the
appolntmeut 10y tho Chair OF Committee OF three To M
vriieate The Ier aud dock system have the river sur
veyed and sounded In order 10 determine the best point
Mr. chittcnden Of Brooklyn said the gcntcmnns theory
might be very good but Il was A. least 20 year IN al
vance of the age the Chamber should vote for the
substitute would be at lces half century before the
peope could educated disregard the laws OF nature
and OF God 80 far rs up the East River. To show
that navigation to be protected In the construction
Of this bridge. Mr. Cittenden read inc auehuet pio
posed by Senator Morgan which tie bridge Is ,qfed
TO be buit at hight which wiz permit heniH MI our
vessels 70 pass aud at most VIII only require ioHeng o
the topmast spaIs To secure ths The ainehdmeht re-
secretary Of War, ana no work 10 DO done until MS
! approval Is secured.
how no Intended TO steady bridge OF such
enormous span II he ntendd to- use guys no man In the
Chamber would be willing 20 have the bridge. IL had
been represented that It would cost only 100000 This
It seemed aferward only meant the bridge over the
river Every familiar with the cost OF real estate IN
| New-YOrk and Brooklyn knew that many more millions
would be required To purchase the ground on each Side
where the bridge extended into the cities. The cost
could fall short Of s2OOOO00O II was extreme folly to
we could have for nothing lie not before the
age The docks could be built before the bridge
! Mr.. Chittcnden wished 10 say word with refer
ence TO the steadincss OF the proposed bridge This
would be secured 10y the great width OF the structure
that guys would not be necessary. Mr. Myers aud Mr.
Barnes spoke in opposition 10 the substitute Of Mr.. Dow
Mr. Myers also spOk in favor Of the acceptance Of the
| port . 80, ~, -, . - -, ,
| and also the substitute offered by Mr.. Dow.
The Hon. Demas Barnes OF Brooklyn favored the re-
port. He thought the Senate would soon pass the bill.
The vote was taken first ON the proposed substitute Of
Mr. Dow Three members only voted for IT. The report
| VI the Committee was then voted on and adopted.
Mr. opdyke after the vote was taken begged leave to
state 10 the Chamber that, as member OF the Commit
tee, he heartily Endorsed every word In the report.