The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-10
THE NEW HARLEM RIVER BRIDGE

SHALL 1T BE A HIGH OR Low ONE?-TH1
ARGUMENTS PRO AND CON.
The Department Of Public Parks some time since
decided to erect new bridge Harlem River,
the bulkhead limo at the intersection Of Madison
avenue and 139h the west sido Of tho river
terminating ut the bukhead line ut 13sth street.
the east side Of tho river.
Proposals for the bridge havo been received by the
department, but have not yet been opened, pending
the OF the Board Of Estimate and Apportion.
ment authorizing the issue OF the bonds pay ths
cost OF IT,
In the meantime It has been suggested that the
plans OF the department, which provldo that the floor
OF the bridge shall be thirty feet above high water
marx, should DO altered and the bridge constructed
ouly about ten twelve icet above nign water mark
A meeting will be held ut tn, Office Of the depart
THIS morning Saturday. at halipast nine O'Clock.
to consider this question.
The Mayor, the Comptroller and number OF those
interested are invited 10 be present.
On application at the department we obtained the
folvwin ing facts: =
Madison is graded up to ls5th street, and the
city owns the title TO the avenue up 10 the bulkhoad
line at l39th street, the west end OF tho bridge.
Proceedings are now pending oacquire title 10 18Th
the easterly end OF the BRIDGE from the bulk
head line the north SIDE oil the channel OF the
eastery to the PORTION oil the same street already be-
longing TO the city,
street 10 both street, which can be dono by the De-
partmcnt Of Public Works under ordinance OF the
Common Council and tho cost assessed on the prop
erty ad accent.
Que hundred and Thirty. eighth street will require to
be graded from the east end oi the bridge 10 tho
land which can DO executed by the Department Of
Public Parks under ordinance Of the Common Coun-
Gil iu like manner
II high bridge Is built the approaches will be by
inclined tresc work along the middle OF Madison
for 450 ieet and along l3sh street for All feet
HIGH Low BRIDGE
Between the two plans the cost oil high bridge win
be about equal to that OF low bridge, with steam
engine ON the latter to open the draw. The high
bridge will allow all the steam vessels that ply on the
river pass under It, aud the draw would nave DO
opened only for high masted vessels A low bridge
would require TO be opened for all vessels IL would
have to opened probably ten times as often as the
high bridge. This would render steam engine
necessary and increase the annual cost OF maintaining
the bridge.
The relief from rising and descending the eighteen
foet difference between high bridge and IA low bridge
for loaded teams the strongest argument III favor Of
the low bridge
The avoidance to impcdments to tho ordinary river
navigation Is the strong argument Tor the high bridge
also that the travel the bridge will BIZ less
inerfercd with by tho opening Of the draw.
The Department OF Parks estimates the cost OF the
high bridge at about sos 900. The trcstlework ap.
proaches to 1t will cost about $l2, 600 more.
The low bridge would about So 900 less than the
high bridge, but to this must be added s. 900 for
steam engine and about S. 100 per tor the cost
OF running IT,