New-York tribune., 1886-08-22
A BRIDGE OVER THE HUDSON
TO CROSS THE RIVER AT PoUGHKEEPsIE.

PENNSYLVANIA AND HEw-rNGLASD TO DE CON-
| NFCrED-MEN INTEREs led IN THE ENTERPRISE.
1t was stated exclusively in THE TRIBUNE
yesterday that the Poughkeepsie Bridge Company or
ganzed 1871 for the purpose OF building groat ra
way bridge across the Hudson at Poughkeepse, bad
sold s charter syndicate Of capitalists for S5O0O0O
Further details show that this scheme never seriously
undertaken by the company which secured tho charter
In the hands OF the syndicate who now control
II will he pushed to immediate success The bridge.
including the vadnct the east shore Is expected
to about 81 1000 900 The Union Bridge Company
has contracted to construct it, and the officials say vii
be the finest railroad bridge IN the world II 10 designed
TO connect Pittsburg and Boston In direct route and
bring the coal fields and slae quarres OF Pennsyl
vania into direct communication with the New England
market
This was a pet plan OF the late J. Edgar Thomson,
tho president OF the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company. When the charter originally granted he
tho principal man In tho scheme. He subscribed
$1lO000O to carry out The directors OF the COM
pany were ]. II. Appleton, OF Springfield Mass presi.
dent; George r. Peton. OF Poughkeepsie vice-presl-
dent; F. j. Sterling. OF New-York secretary; J. NJ.
Jackson. OF New York. treasurer, and John /. Plar
Edward Ellsworth. r. p. Dickinson, Samuel Elliott
and c. W. Needham. Little was done to real
ize the objects OF tho charter. Tho surveys
were completed. plans arranged and one foundation
pier half constructed and another partly laid In that
condition the work was abandoned. Mr.. Thompson
died. and his compromised with tho company and
his large subscription OF S1lOOOO0 was cancelled
After that there was small hope OF the bridge being
built
through the efforts OF Arthur Knevals
and Ransom. Thoy tho attorneys for the original
company. and brought about the transfer OF tho
charter to the syndicate. Tho charter had been
tended. that all It's terms still In force The
papers havo been drawn up organizing the syndicate
into company under tho laws OF the State Of New
York. and they will probably be flied at Albany this
week. when the names OF all the persons Interested will
be known. At present 1t only be said that they
cude prominent Capitalist OF Philadelphia. another Of
New-Oreans several OF this city, and prominent ex.
Official OF the Treasury Department at Wash
ington. They are sad to represent sew
era millions OF dollars, and to be
financially than able to do the work. The Union
Bridge Company, which will build the structure is also
intereste Its contract provides that the bridge Is to
be finished fourteen months after the contract signed
II will be signed Immediately upon the corporate
ganzton OF the syndicate and from that time the work
will be forced ahead with all possible energy. The
bridge will be double .ntersec,ing trestle with two
cantever spans Tho three double ntersecting spans
be completed before the Is full Of Ice, and
the others be put regardless OF ice surface in
terruptons The bridge itself will be 262j feet long, and
tho viaduc and approaches will be 2s57 feet long, max
55l2 feet in total length. The top OF the bridge Will
double track. Below 1t roadways for ordinary traffic
will be laid. Tue bridge Will be built OF steel AMI the
viaduct OF There will DO six piers IN the
river, rising thirty feet above high water In order
properly TO lay the piers, which Is considered difficult
work. 1t will be necessary to down ninety-dve feet
into the mud and water In addition to the construc-
of tie bridge, the charter provides for the buing
OF two miles OF railway track out from the west shore OF
the river This the syndicate also undertakes.
The pier, which Is already partly built, will have
to be taken up and rebuilt 1t has been allowed
to stand In such condition that the stones have been
cracked by the frost ana knocked out OF place. When
tho work has been finally DONE the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad will be connected with the POugh'
keepsie Hartford and Boston. The Philadelphia aud
Reading, beginning at Harrisburg. Will Stating
ton. whence the Pennsylvania, Slatington and New
England will convey traffic as far as Pine Island n Y
At this point road fortytwo miles long will need to be
built 30 Poughkeepse, and the syndicate which builds
the bridge proposes also to construct tho road.
IIavns reached PoughKeepsie and crossed the
bridge, the Poughkeepse, Hartford and Boston will
tnue the run as Boston Corners. Thence Hart
ford will be reached the Hartford Connecticut and
Western Thence the New York, New-Haven and Hart
fordw run to Boston bywayof springfield and the New
York aud NcwEnsand over another route to tho
terminal city, These great markets having been reached
the supply OF the more remote NewEngand towns Will
be easy enough.
direct roltc to Boston than either OF these Is
contemplated by the members OF syndicate who declare
that they Will put 1t through ut early day This Will
be the Central Massachusetts Rtroai part OF
which, far as Holyoke, comprising strip OF twenty
miles is yet to DO laid From Westdeld Mass to Nor
folk Connecticut another limo OF twenty-three miles
mast be built, which labor devolves upon the synd-
In order reach Pennsy to aud from New
Eugland 1t is necessary defect from HOpcwel
down Fishki crossing tho Hudson at that point TO
Newburg by ferry. Tho syndicate claims that 1t will
duce price OF In the New gland marke. when
the bridge Is built at least eighty cents ton.