Connecticut western news., 1876-04-07
The POughkeepsie Bridge.

of Connecticut, and especially those towns lying along the line of the Conn. Western Railroad, has been recently drawn to the proposition to build railroad bridge across the Hudson at Poughkeepsie, and in view of the importance of the project, we have made some inquiries as to it's merits. the result of which is to convince us that it will be a valuable public improvement, and ought to be speedily completed. At present there is 10 bridge, and consequently no point at which cars can cross the Hudson south of Albany. We need not tell our readers that the amount of travel and trade between New England and the rest of the United States is immense-larger than that between any other sections-and as Al bany is far north of the direct line from the center of New England to any Of the great producing centers west, all this bus mess IS now compelled to take round about route or be transshipped.
 A glance at any good map will show the relative positions. Cleveland, Chicago and Omaha are directly west of Pough- keepsie, and seventy-fve miles south of line drawn west from Albany. If you put straight rule on the map from Bos- ton to Cincinnati, the line will pass very close to .Poughkeepsie, directly through the great coal fields of Pennsylvania. and close to Pittsburgh. The shortest possible route, therefore, from Boston to all these places would cross the Hudson at Pough- keepsie. Not only is this true, but the railroads already built, though not laid out with reference to a bridge there, form much shorter line from New England to Pennsylvania and the West than any other. Seeing the advantages which this gave them, and the great necessity for better connections, parties in Poughkeepsie some years ago procured charter for bridge. It gives them the right to place piers in the channel of the river, and is the only charter that has been or IS likely to be granted containing this provision, and con- sequently the only one under which the building of safe and permanent structure Is feasible. The bridge when built will be half mile in length, having five spans of 500 feet each in the clear, and will be sup ported on piers 130 feet above high tide, being one of the largest and most magnifi- cent bridges in the world. A contract to construct it has been made with the Ameri- can Bridge Company, of Chicago, at a cost, in round numbers of $3, 800, 900, and the beginning of the work is made condi tional upon the raising of only $5oo.O0O in cash from outside parties, the balance of the money being mainly furnished in Eng land.
 The importance of this work to the Con- necticut Western Railroad, and to this section, must be apparent to all. It will open new great through line from Bos- ton, Providence and Hartford to the coal fields and the West, of which the Connec- ticut Western and Pcughkeepsie and East ern will form the portion on this side. On &he other slde link eighteen miles long is to be built, which leads to a short local road connecting with the Erie and the Midland at Middletown, N. Y, the whole distance being only thirty miles. From Middletown roads already finished and in operation lead to the Delaware, Lackawan- na and Western and to Easton, where comes in the Lehigh Valley road, connect ing via. Allentown with the Reading and the Pennsylvania Central. Six very im- portant roads on the west side will there fore be tributary to the bridge, the Erie, Midland, Delaware Lackswanna and Vest ern, Lehigh Valley, Reading and Pennsyl- Yania Central. All of these have a large amount of business with New England, and two of them, the first and last named. are immense corporations, having connect tons leading to the Pacific and to every part of the West and Southwest. The trade and travel from all of them will not only make the bridge pay, but it must all pass over our railroad, and will make it one of the great lines of the country. How much business the new route will do is of course only matter of conjecture, but it is claimed that it will at least divide equally the business of the Albany line, and as il will be from 80 to 100 miles shorter, il would seem that this claim is not unreason able. Official reports show tha: 2ooc freight cars pass the Albany bridge every day, but if o'sly one eighth of this number or 250, cross the Poughkeepsie Bridge the tolls at $5 per Ger will pay $500 pel day, or $547, 800 year. Deducting ter per cent for cost of collection, superintend ence etc.,-a large estimate-there is lief $462, 75o. or Jourteen per cent on the cos of the bridge. There would seem there tore to be very little doubt that the bridg wili pay. and that it will make the connect ing roads pay too. Our road has done re- markedly we'll considering the times, an, the addition of dozen or twenty lon through freight trains per day, to say moth ing of passengers, would make things live y, and place the stock immediately anon the dividend paying securities of the coun try.
 All this, however, is contingent upo
 the raising of the $500 ,00O, and the tim In which this must be subscribed is linite
 to the Fist of April. The town of Sali
 bury, and most of the other towns alon
 the road have decided to surrender a DO
 tion of their railroad stock as bonus
 subscribers, to stimulate subscriptions, an
 this affords large extra inducement to or
 people to do their part in helping on tt
 work. For every $1OO subscribed to tt
 bridge they get share of bridge stock ar
 also share of railroad stock, both (
 which will be valuable the moment Il
 bridge is done.
 It will be seen that there is no time
 lose, and that there is pressing necessity f.
 immediate and decisive action. Poug
 keepsie has raised about $15o, 900 and h