Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-09-07
New York Letter.
NEW YoRK, September 3. 1Ssl

NEW York, September o, 1881.
Mr. Editor:-The great suspension bridge
makes progress. The builders have abored upon
the flooring of the structure since last March, and
the iron cross-peces which will support the floor
are about half laid. From the East river it has
looked much like an irregular section of spiders
web. The laying of the floor is changing the
general appearance markedly. 1t has become
more bridge-like. The only means OF crossing 1t
for the present must still be the pathway which
the workmen and many others have long used.
This pathway is simple, consisting Of wooden
slabs fastened at short intervals upon two parallel
wire ropes. To keep from falling into the deep
water below two other ropes are stretched upon
uprights rising from the first two. The passer,
therefore, walks upon something like a ladder,
placed horizontally. This lattice work pathway
is raised far above the level Of the road, running
over the tops of the two huge towers which sup
port the whole. The roadway runs through the
towers at about half their height which last is
two hundred and eghty-six feet. The clear
height Of the roadway above high-water is one
hundred thirty-five feet The length OF the bridge
is somewhat above mile, and its width eighty
five feet. 1t is the most important American
bridge now under construction Construction
commenced in 1870, and it is expected to be
finished next year. There is whisper going
from mouth to mouth that certain people who
have TO do with this matter are increasing their
bank accounts too fast. But New York city,
with almost majority of foreign-born citizens,
and wonderfully prosperous, takes jobbing and
rings with the accompanying enormous taxation,
as part of the inevitable.
Another hridoa il now In nroceas of pona
two and one-half miles south of the mouth OF the
Harlem river and four and one-half miles north
from the huge suspension bridge already men
toned This is to be of less than half the length
Of the Brooklyn bridge 1t is to cross the East
river and Backwels Island to Ravenswood, in
Long Island city This is to cost five millions;
the Brooklyn bridge nine millions 1t will have,
as will the other railroad tracks crossing it, The
building of this structure is private enterprise.
Thus the swift growth OF the transportation sys-
tenn In and near New York city still goes on.
The metropolis has thirty-two horse lines, four
| elevated railway lines and four omnibus lines.
| The omnibus has been giving way OF late to the
others, which are more noisy, but more expedi.
| tious, roomy and convenient Facilities for trans
portation into the neighboring cities and villages
are excellent. Among the results OF this state OF
things are country life for the families OF city
workers clerks with moderate salaries, skilled
mechanics and any with an income above that
OF the day laborer; whole wards almost given NJ
to the more gregarious foreigner, German Irish
and Italian, or coored people, the consequent fire.
quency with which one hears strange tongues In
every place. Three hundred thousand people, ac
cordng to the Herald, come into our city every
morning and go out again at night, making oul
population at noon, six days in the week, mil
lion and half As to the suburban homes o
this daily ebb and How OF three hundred regiments
OF busy folks, more in another letter. BAKER.