The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-12
THE GREET SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
An Anticipatorv view Of Down Town Amer
the Completion Of the Work.
The Brooklyn Bridge is beginning to 81

the Completion of the Work.
The Brooklyn Bridge is beginning to show
for itself what II is to be- The busy workmen
have just finished moving the southernmost Of
the recently completed third pair of strands
from the rollers into the saddle pieces the
anchor bars Of the northcrnmost strands have
been let out and secured. and the third pair Of
upstream strands have been laid. The con-
crete for the first pier on the Brooklyn approach
has been laid. tho excavation for the second
pier has reached an average depth Of six feet or
more. and on the New York side similar salts
factory progress has been made.
most important part Of the work Is the
making Of the four immense cables, each Of
which. when completed. will sustain an ultimate
weight OF II 200 tons. These cables are to be-
10 4 inches in diameter, each to consist Of $500
parallel steel wires closely wrapped to solid
cylinder. Three Of the nineteen strands OF each
OF the cables have been completed.
Tho construction Of the bridge was begun on
the "a Of January. 1870. and it is thought that
tho structure will be open for travel by New
Years day. 1880.
As every public Improvement brings about
changes Of greater or less importance II IL fair
to predict that the completion of the Brooklyn
Bridge will mark an OF change worthy of
more than passing notice.
In inc nrst place inc competitor OF the DrliRe
will make OF New York aud Brooklyn one great
city. second in extent to only one in the world.
1t will. in all probability lead the way toward
tho construction of other bridges across the
East river. to tho consolidation Of numerous
Long Island towns with New York. and to tho
conversion of the East river islands into mag
nifcent parks for the benefit Of three or four
millions Of people. Five years from the COM
plction OF the bridge We may expect to see other
changes and improvements no less important.
The approach to the tower on the New York
side is already being constructed. To make
room for II requires the destruction Of many Of
the city's old landmarks in South Front. Water.
Cherry, Hague. Cliff Rose. yandowater. Frank
fort. William and North William. and Chatham
streets. The sacred precincts Of the swamp are
To be- invaded, and tho region wherein the great
leather merchants on the pnst made their mill
lions r. TO be blnttcd out forever. Even tho spot
where jay Gould made his start In the world
whcrc he took his first !, -sons in finance. and
learned how To make prunelle pass for Kip:
where he pennod his dainty lyrics. and planned
the foundation Of Gouldsboro. and dreamed Of
the hour when he should own a LOFTY tower and
rule Powerful Mind within it's TO bc made
common to the world: and over the ground
where many an old hnickerhocker has made
his fortune the wheels Of the passenger car will
make rumblng discord for many year TO come.
The western terminus OF the bridge is to be at
Chatham street. almost in front of the ancient
Hall Of Records. once the city Jail and in later
years the first art gallery in the United states
hlter mat established AT Perth Amboy by the
protector Of the American Academy Of Design.
The roadway between City Hall Park and the
terminus Of the bridge on the east side OF Chat
ham street II 10y no means 50 wide rs tho in
creased traffic in the future will demand. and
no doubt before the bridge IL n year-old fact tho
authorities will not hesitate to widen the space
10y cutting of the awkward eastern angle Of the
Park, removing the Hall of Records and the edit
Hoes north oi H. thus forming "A plaza near the
New York terminus somewhat adequate to the
demand.
For many years. especially since the decline
In value of property near Central Park. the at
tention of limited class of real estate dealers
has been directed toward tho southern part Of
lhe city and u REQUIRES no great stretch " the
the region that WIS once the city. as far rs pri-
waite residences were concerned. the fashion,
marked by tho Stats Yelling building. was
fifty years ago. almost the northern limit of city
Battery: and after tho bridge is finished and
Castle Garden Is removed. wealthy families
may again gravltate t. the Battery AMI find
there the most heathful as well as the most at
tratlve part Of Manhattan Island. Whore
could there be more delightful site for the
which stands the old Washington Hotci. with
lis view Of The lay over the green trees OF Bat
lis freedom from the dcafening din of the bust
ness streets. and It's nearnc~s 10 spots ncmOr-
able IN our early history Of the city and Of the
Then. the completion Of the bridge involves
the building Of a new broadway through part
Of the city that has for years been an oyesore
GRAFTON that will convert South. Front Water
Cherry. Hague, Gin. Rose, Frankfort. William
and North William into thoroughiarcs Of re-
speciality. and Chatham street into an avenue
Of honest trade.
| Tho New York terminus Of the great Suspen-
Sion Bridge Will be tho great business centre Of
| a population of millions, and the City Han
square Will necessarily become a ten-story part
of the city.
Tho City Hall. the finest specimen Of archi-
teciure IN the land. occupies Just the spot most
conyenirni for all who have business within its
| walls. And these walls. by the way. are SIX feet
| thick, and were made 10 endure. The time il
| not far distant when it will bc found eNpcdent
| 10 erect additional stories upon them. giving
room for n concentration Of the departments Of
! the city Govrrnment-say for example. the
! Fro department and Inc Police Department.
| especially the latter. which ought long ago to
| have been removed from its surroundings Of
| thieves dcns. gambling hclis, and unlicensed
| LIQUOR enubs.