New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-25
BRIDGING THE HUDSON

Our esteemed contemporary, The SUM-" en-
tertained its readers on Sunday with the details
of several schemes, fantastic and otherwise,
by which passage is to be effected in The
conrse of wears across the Hudson River. Next
to the problem Of rapid transit up and down
New-Yorl City, none is of more pressing mo-
ment than that Of how to escape the dsadvan-
lagos of its insular situation. The city has
grown so amazingly during the last twenty
wears, and its position with regard to the COM
merce OF the entire continent has become so
lndisputably pre-eminent. that 1t cannot much
longer content itself with the primitive Terry
and fat-boat as the only means of transporting
passengers and freight from and between New
England and the South. 1t is highly probable
that 40 900 600 tons Of freight cross the Hud-
son every year, and the number OF passengers
who use the various ferries runs far up IN the
millions 1t is astonishing that the public has
so cng retained the feTyboat exclusively III
its service for this work.
II must obtain some better and quicker means
of transportation The time now lost out OF
every day by people who use Ncw-Jersey TO
slecn in but pursue their business occupations
here involves a great sacrifice The cost or
goods shipped between the South and West
and New England is considerably increased by
the DELAYS and expenses incident TO their ship
mcnt across this city. Travellers constantly
and Justly complain of the annoyance and
wasted time they suffer, and the limit Of en-
DURANGO must soon be reached. Inc SIn"
asserts that several syndicates are waiting
until they feel that the time is ripe before
Swinging upon the public choice assortment
-
of bridges warranted to land their passengers
at almost any Objective point OF the Jersey
shore. They arc not going to be satisfied WIN
one bridge.
One of these schemes possesses many attrac-
tions. II proposes a magnificent highway OF
steel and stone to he thrown across the river
from Washington Heights to the Palisades
# is 70 he connected by rail with all the West
orn and Southern railroads at a central depot
in Jersey CITY. with all the Northern and New
ENGLAND roads at a union depot in MorlSanla'
and with all the elevated lines in this city at
,bo;r northern tcrmini Engineers have de-
monstrated the feasibility of the plan, and It's
great utility to commerce and travci can oc
seen at glance.
Enterprises Of this sort move slowly TO
visible conclusion. They require vast outIays
~ money and arc the objects OF constant leg
islative attention of the unworthy kind Work
on tho Poughkecpsie bridge is now rapidly
pushed forward, and there is every probability
that it will soon be a completed fact. There
is no reason why it should interfere with the
scheme to span the Hudson at point that
would serve the necessities of this city. how
ever much bridge here would interfere with
It The Blackwclrs Island bridge so long
contemplated, is an urgent necessity. WIN
that and the one proposed over the HUDSON AZ
Washington Heights in operatlon ana WIN
viaduct roads running through the city up INTO
Wcstchcster County. Ncw-York would be IN a
position to extend and enlarge its business to
an incalculable degree If these improvements
were given us tomorrow, they would not be a
day in advance Of the public need. and without
them New-York's congcstcd population WORKS
Under difficulties and discouragcmcnts that
greatly reard its proper progress.