New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-09
MORE MAGgIncENT EHrkRPRIsEs.

TIONs WITH MISREPRESENTATION AN
NEXATION or TIE COUNTY PROPOSED
GENUINE AND NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS SUG-
GESTED.
Two plans are now under consideration
whereby the northern and portion of the island
Will be brought close communication with West
chester County They are:
l. tunnel under the Harlem River at the end OF
seyentL,aye; and.
H. a suspension bridge across the Harlem River from
Washington flights to the nights on the Woschestcr side
Of the river.
The Park Commissioner, AZ their meeting on Wednes'
day. passed resolutions that immediate steps DO taken
to secure the execution OF theseiplans.
THE PROJECTED TUNNEL.
The need OF a tunnel at the point named
FIRST urged by Mr. Andrew IL. Green, in a conmuni-
cation 20 the Central Park Commissioners when he
acting Controller Of the Commissioners on Dec
81 1869 urging the necessity Of action being taken
by the Legislature 10 enable the Commissioners to pro-
vide adequately for the emergency In 1s7t the Legis
| lature passed an act giving such power to the
Central Park Commissioners, and providing tnat
The Board OF Commissioners behalf Of the City OF
Ncw-YoIk, and the Chairman Of the Board OF Super
visors Wcstchester County and the Supervisors of the
town which shall include the Westehester County end OF
| the tunnel or a majority OF them, on behalf Of the
County OF Wes;chester shall have full power anu au-
hority TO build and construct they snail deem most
expedent apy funnel which NAV be planned or located
ave In the city OF New.York The expense OF
| Iuilding consfrgcfiug maintaining. and remaining
such tunnel shall be borne by the County of NewYork
and by County OF Westchester proportion to the
be csfa6shed and defined by the said Board OF Com
missOners For the purpose Of acquiring title t0lands IN
Wstcnester county aud behalf OF sad county under
this act for approaches to tunnels, the said Board OF
Commissioners shall make application 10 the supreme
Court ~ general special term held in the district
| In which the land real estate described IN
the application is situated Tue law also states that
the Central Park Commissioners, order TO acquire 20
County NewYO shall as in the case OF street extern
sons aud laying Of parks apply to the Supreme Court
I'm the First judicial District for the appointment OF
| Commissioners of Estimate and Assessments.
At meeting OF the PARK nlssioners, heid
| shortly al,cr the passage OF thc act Clvil Engi-
| neer VIM. IT. Grant was instructed 70 draw
| The plans ot the tunnel aud obtain and define tho
lue OF jurisdiction Co show the proportion OF cx-
pcnses 10 nc borne respectively by New-fok and West
ebescr Counties shortly after the surveys had been
made and drawings completed, the Ring frauds were
shown up. aud further action was retarded. sh0lt
time ago Mf. Grant removed The WORK, and made Out
brought up the matter before the Commissioners
3 Tbe proposed tunnel, II ordered, viii be baIlt
New York side and 0S feet on the Westchester side OK
the river Ii Is contemplated 10 have the top OF the arch
~ feet below high water mark that vessels drawing
II feet pass over safely Inc tlde aii5 ABOUT I'VE
fot at thatpont and &C low side vessels drawing less
than 3 feet will he able TO pass over In SAFETY. lt i5
proposed 10 have the tunnel about 55 feet long 10 rect
In hight 30 as to permit persons to stand on top OF the
biqhSst omnibus, and "a feet IN width; this
affords 90 feet OF wheeling space ana seven eet on ech
side for foot passengers The descent VIII begin at one
hu1 aud the top Of the tunnel VIII
strike tho watershed AZ Notwithstanding ATHEIST, at
point about 2oO feet south Of the present Macomos
The descent will not be sleeper than many of the
roads in the Central Park, and will not INCONVENIENCE
horses drawing heavy loads The expense is estimated
by Mr.. Grant TO DC about Sl,5000OJ.
The reasons for building tunnel at tins point seem 10
be reasonable and worthy of considerations IL Is claimed
that either roads must conform TO the tunnels and
bridges the bridges and tunnels must conform TO inc
roads Wherever the land is low, as at THIS point ana
the grades near the level OF the river low draM
bridges may DO used. But II the bed OF the
river is suitable for the construction or tun
nels, it Is generally esteemed advisable to AVOID
all interruption 10 navigation by their substitution The
bridge erected the site or the proposed tunnel
has used for some time ON account OF It's being
deemed unsafe, and 1t Is claimed that II VIII cost nearly
as much build bridge or put the Old one IN re-
pair as to build the tunnel. Examinations have been
made, during the past six months OF TINS locality with
of ascertainng the practledpty OF CONSTRUCTING
favorable to such an undertaking. on the Westchcster
side wide meets the proposed outlet OF the un
mel, and traffic which is now compelled to follow cir
cuitou route will ind direct course to Merose, Nor
risania, and FOrdham.
THE PROPOSED SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
As early az 1869 numerous petitions were sent
10 the Commissioners of the Central Park, asking them
10 memorable the Legislature TO pass act authorizing
the building Of suspension bridge across the Harlem
River near High Bridge, as that structure is adapted
only for the passage Of pedestrians, and no mode Of
transit exists in that vicinity for the passing OF vehicles
from the NewYork TO the Westcheser Nights and on
Nav H. 1862 an act was passed by the Legislature
titled "An act for the Improvement of certain
parts OF Westohester County, Harlem RIVER,
and Spuyten Duyvel Creek" and devolyeG on the
Central Park Commissioners III secon Oh Tue act the
duty OF locating and taking inltiatory steps To construct
a bridge the Harlem River near the High Bridge.
The Commissioners shortly aiterwaId requested Gen.
George s. Greene ChieEngineer OF the crOt0n Aque-
duct 10 make an examination into the subject and FUR
nish them with his written opinion. GEN. Greene made
, tnS and arches Of High Bridge would sup
mort n yaduct and travel over IL, but tn at
The wide walls not Of the requisite strength
10 support additional structures without danger 10 the
bridge and that such strengthening OF the walls as
would make the bridge safe with such additional weight
and Lotion would interfere with any future enlarge
ment aqueduct The report OF Gen. Greene being
unfayorabe 10 OF the High Bridge for the pur-
pose additional surveys were made, and favorable To-
cation for connecting suspension bridge found about
2OO0 feet north Of the High Bridge.
An act OF 1871 ga he Central Park Commissioners
authority TO begin the construction OF suspension
bridge not more than half mule north OF the High
Bridge aud shortly afterward surveys made and
plans drawn up. But the same which operated
10 delay the work of the tunnel induced cessation Of
progress tins enterprise and further action was
sioners resolved 70 take immediate measures
20 construct the suspension bridge at the
point named The bridge, laid out on
The drawings will be about 1900 feet in length of which
73l feet will be- within the jurisdiction Of NewYork and
IO6l feet Weschester County. The roadway will DO
about 1853 feet above high water level and extend from
OF the Cr0ton Aqueduct 10 will be twentythree feet
higher than the present High Bridge and form
venient connection between the elevated lands
OF both sides of the river, affording favorable
ground for foundations for piers and anchorage
foy cables. The only difference IL and
bridge over ana resting the Coton AQueduct bridge
the cost OF towers and anchorage
The next proceedings In both OF these enterprises will
be the application TO the Supreme Court for the appoint
ment OF commissioners OF Estimate aud Assessments,
after which NJ GOO bonds will be Issued by the Commits
sIoDers and the Supervisors OF Westchester County
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