New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-13
THE OTdKER BRIDGE DA W.

The views of Mr.. Robert l.. Darragh on the
Quaker Bridge Dam project, given elsewhere In
to-day's TRIBUNE, deserve the careful attention
of the people of this city. This gigantic work,
if ever undertaken, will cost $6,3l2,62O, &C
cordipg to the estimate of the Chief Engineer
of the Adueduct Commission. But there is a
strong probability, as Mr.. Darragh says, that
the cost will greatly exceed that sum.
Commissioner Thompson, who has shown
suspicious anxiety to have this enormous dam
built, estimates tho cost at sum much below
that named by Chief Engineer Church. The
experience of tho public with the esu-
mates of the Public Works Department
has not been such as to cause 1t TO accept
them without serious question, especially
when the figures are much below those OF the
Engineer of the Aqueduct Commission. The
Bronx River Conduit, work OF much less
magnitude, and with none OF the difficulties TO
be encountered in building the Quaker Bridge
DAM has already cost, under Mr.. Ihompsons
administration nearly twice the original estl-
mate. and is not yet nearly completed. If we
are 10 have repetition of this experience on the
dam if built, its cost will be at least $40 OOO,-
900. The estimate of engineers on the cost OF
any large public work is nearly always largely
exceeded by actual experience. In case
like that of the proposed dam, where the con-
ditions are Unprecedented, a large variation
from the estimate is to be expected.
But the cost is not alone in the dam itself. II
built number of subsidiary dams, some OF
them of large size, must also be erected; ana an
enormous sum will have to be expended IN the
erection and maintenance of b.. idges. All the
roads in Westchester County which will be in
terrupted by this vast body of water, sixteen
miles i'm circumference, will have to be rebuilt
and connected by bridges, all at the expense of
fine city. One of these bridges will be 1000 to
1 200 feet long, crossing the lake at least 125
feet above its bottom, and two other bridges
will be each from 800 to 500 feet long. All the
bridges as well over the lake as all tributary
streams and valleys to be flowed must be re-
built. with foundations carried down in several
instances to great depth in the bed OF the lake
or streams unless suspension bridges are built.
And these bridges must be forever maintained
by the city. This will give permanent employ
ment to "A small army of men at the expense of
the city. As Congressman Potter has well said,
il will be a never-ending undertaking, the cost
of which can at best be only mere guesswork.
And The city is urged to enter into this under
taking at time when vast sums are to be ex-
pended for new parks, improvements to the
waterfronts and in various other ways.
Far more substantial reasons than any yet
given will have to be adduced to Justify this
enormous undertaking. In fact, the weight of
reasoning, both on the score of cost and on that
of health, which is of much more Importance, is
altogether against the dam. AS shown by Mr..
Dl
drainage from $50 square miles, and the only
suutlet for this matter would be through the
aouednct into the houses of this city. This he
justly regards as threatening great calamity
TO this city al u time when there could be 40 es-