, 1877-03-10
AN AIRY HIGHWAY.
The Work or building che New York and
Broofliyn CITY BrfeSe-What ft VIII
do for New York.

The Work OF building she New York and
Broof.iyn City Bridxe-What ft VIII
do for New York.
Baysrd Taylor writes to the Cincinnati
Commercial from New York: From the top
Of the Tr6.me building ! csa see, through
half a mile of air, the work of the Brooklyn
bridge. 1t is nothing but the work of the
spider On /. srsnder scale. The Grst two
inch cable was only visible to good eyes when
the atmosphere was quite clear, and the dsr-
ing workman, drawn across in 9 little bsskef,
seemed TO float like bird or beetle Now,
since tie second cable is secured, cradles are
suspended from tie two, and men are busy
constructing the temporary foo,-bridge. The
latter has q very slight curve; the center
will be at least two hundred feet above the
wster, and il makes one shudGer to watch
the movements of the workmen as they hover
midway between the towers. There are few
grauder objects in the world than these
towers. Like the pylons of an old Egyptian
temple in shape and rolidity, but thrice the
height, they confronted each other with an
air Of d,fsnce until the connecting threads
we're thrown across; now they are united as
a single sustaining force
The prospect of having this airy highway
complete in year snd a half more 70 most
welcome. The difficulty of getting TO and
from Brooklyn. especially in the morning and
evening. removes that city as tar from us,
practically, as Newark of Yonkers. The sus-
pension bridge will bring all its central por-
ton half an honr nearer, and furnish an i'm
mediate relief for our overcrowded populs-
ton. 1t will be followed very soon by rail-
road bridge across the East River at Black
wells Island, thus bringing all the Long
Island roads to an uptown terminus Then
-ss q matter of absolute necessity rail.
road and tunnel under the Hudson River
must follow; in fact, it is already projected.
and 1 believe surveys and estimstes have
been made Meanwhile, the new elevated
railroad is extending, in spite OF the fierce
opposition of the street car companies and the
protests Of s few property owners. 1t IS an
uns;ghtly thing, but it will at least give us
rapid communication between uptown and
down town until the true, permanent road Is
built, as in London, upon brick arches cross
ing the centres of blocks. The trains run-
ming upon the present elevated road take
half an hour TO go frUm Liberty street TO
Fifiy-ninta street-about five miles
The most encouraging sign Of a revival of
business is the continual decline OF reDts. 1t
has been very hard for the property owners OF
New York to consent to take less than 10 per
cent. year on the highest valuation of their
houses. But 80 many dwellings, stores, and
even apartments in French fats" have
been empty for gear past, that reduction of
rents has 1T last become preferable 10 lack OF
Ienants- 1, will soon be possible to live here
Ut reasonable rates. A great many new
apartment t-hou5es have been built which offer
suites Of five or six rooms for S25 or $50 per
month, or eight rooms for S5O. In such
houses as have i4uitors IA very necessary Tea
ture Of this way Of living, small family
maj live with far greater case and eonven-
fence than in an entire house, and ct half the
cost of five years ago. The loss frum rents
falls mostly upon those who can afford TO
bear it, and gives relief to fifty or hundred
times their number. 1 srn not skilled IN
fnsEcial mysteries, but do not mistake the
signs Of gradual and healthy renewal OF
prosperity.