New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-08
OPPOSING THE BRo0RLYN GRIDGE.
MANY WITNESSES BRING OUT THE ALLEGED Or
sTRUCTIONs TO IRAVEL THAT WILL RESULT
FROM IT'S COMPLI TON.

MANY WITNESSES BEING OFT THE ALLEGED Or
sTRUCuoNs TO TRAVEL THAT WILL RESULT
FROM IT'S COMPLETION.
The Assembly Committee appointed to cX-
anime ia regard to the Brooklyn Bridge CON
tnued ITS work yesterday Eight witnesses were exam
ined, when the committee then adjourned unul to-day
II is expected that the work viii be completed carly
next week. Geo II. Pcnnman, India merchant,
owning wharfage ana factory above the
Brooklyn Bridge, said that several cap
taius of large ships plying between Liverpool, Cnlna
and NcwYork had told him that they never would sign
contracts for this port unless clause was inserted
stpuatnc that the should be landed above
the bridge The Of this class Of ships varied
from 200 to LOCO. lie thought that these ships would
be diverted to ports where favorable contracts
could be made.
sgisnund wse an officer of the CITY Finance Depart
menj who OF the railroads and ferries, SAID
that there were 567 in the four railroads whose
tracks pass the approach Of the bridge on Cbatham-st
Probably 5000 cars would pass that point daily. He
thought that the construction Of the terminus to the
bridge would impede the travel OF these ears, since Tie
two streams travel would cross each other Block
AIDES would be continual O. the going i'll both
He thought the construction Of tho bridge would
deprive the city Of large revenue which II derives
from the sale Of franchises to the ferry companies.
When asked whether he thought the bridge would bo
safe, the witness caused some amusement by saying
that he thought "A mans chance would be good 10 he
blown of the top or knocked on by "A passing vessel
He dd not think the brd, would be an accommodation
10 the public. II the ferries stopped by the zee or
log the travel on the bridge. would be great that
travel on and about Chdthau-st. would be completely
blocked. ana great injury would result TO business III
mat iucaiiiy.
Ferry company icsthed va, ~ iGHlN, >, = me
ferries average # 10000 daily. Ilt! tvc
Aous. morIing % evening. Probably one-laf OF tnr
passengers used Ft0u Ferry. The DCats at tImo,
from North River On the houdilde H. thought tre
bridge would be advantageous IN general 10 property
with masts above a certain height from 60
Ing M East River. On the crosscxamina,
fo and Icc when there DC ay, vcirclcs were de-
laycd much longer than passengers, since the b9ais
ton Ferry were often dettned haf hour by vessels
passing before tue sps. lie Thought That The number
of yeSs, l. in LaSt River continually Increasing
II. Is. Harrington, OF Brooklyn, SAID that Brooklyn.
extending ght mies bacG rom The waterfront, might
III, long narrow Ciiy oil NcwGOrk. For some tine he
thong i, inc ferries would he 5ntly snilcent Tor ms
rrUacnPs 10 the bridge aud the whttI-lions On eacu
lie thought that desire for exercise and curiosity
would many to the bridge but that If one de-
sired expedition he would use M ferries The trucks
and GlayS would the ferrIes-the nearest route.
After the recess. john STEPHENSON streetcar manu-
facurtr testified the capacity and weight or cars.
II cars we're over the bridge BY an endless chain
and stationary engine, under four minutes Roadway,
ana at a rate OF ten miles an hour, about four cars
would be the bridge AZ one tlmc-tWO going each
way He knew Oi only one ROAD, ana tha III san Fran
cisco THAT obtained motive pow III this way. These
cars were nt horse cars under five minutes head
Way lie tLOugst That travel IN Chathanlst. would be
biOchadeu by tue proposed terminus
Cautan Walsh of the Guy Hal Police Precinct, tcsti
fed that continual biockaao would result on Chatham
s I case Tie travel from Brooklyn crossed the street
from thc DrDgc at that point.
Richard {. Net, tine agent Of the STANDARD on Works
al tiLnlcI's Point SAID that ne lad been requested By
sbipolcls AOl send vessels TO the East River works
on ac, ount OF LAe extra expense OF gong uhdcr i!e
bridge These owners preferred 10 nave the ships sent 10
lie We. haH ken works.
Auurst testified ilat the biIdge had caused Il dD pre-
caUop OF 80 per cent on the property ON the WHtcr
front above his conc U-iOIl partially based on
The claims made for reduction Of TN estimates Tor
taxation Ia the Fourth ana seventh Wards rcduc-
tiOn 80 20 40 cent the estimated value of
tho warehouses AID properly lad been made. There
Was 40 locality IA the city where the depreciation
50 great az and near the Eoat River waterfront The
value Of tine wharf property on North River had in
Ia about the proportion that the East River
lluperty uad decreased.