New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-29
SUNDAY EDITION.
JAN. 20, 1888.
SIMON STEVENS'S SCHEME.
A NEW BRIDGE ENTRANCE PROPOSED.
TO REMOVE SEVERAL BUILDINGS AND TO ERECT A


LARGE ONE FOR THE CITY.
An original and ingenious plan for increasing tho
New-York terminal facilities Of The Bridge has Leon
devised by Simon stevens, the wei known expert on
water front matters and yesterday IL placed before
Mayor Hewitt, the Sinking Fund Commissioners and
other municipal officers OF this city and brooklyn,
including tho Bridge trustees.
IL IS hardly fall 10 speak OF Mr.. Sfcyens's project
as one merely prosIdng for the much-nccdcd improve
ment at this end of the Bridge. This Is IT'S main OBJ
1cct. to be sure, but in addition IL also provides for
the erection OF a new Municipal Building, occupy
Ing the site upon which Frcnch's Hotel stands
the opening OF new thoroughfarc midway between
nassau aud William and extending from Frankfort,
ST. 10 Johnst. the construction OF new terminal
station for the Third Avenue Elevated Railroad Cd
the ground occupied by Illlien's Building; the aboL
ton OF the switch system the Bridge the c,carina
away OF all the surface isroad tracks in p.., now
south OF Chambersst, and several other changes
around Printing House Square and City Hall parA
hardly less radical.
TRYING TO SOLVE PERPLRXING PROBLEM.
MT. stevens has given great deal OF attention tn
TINS subject and he believes that he has solved what
Is generally considered be an exceedingly nerpcx
ing problem. He claims that he suggest, nothing
hat IS not entirely practicable aud ndo>ed Dy pIom-
ilent engineers Who have considered the matter
In the descriptive letter that accompanies the cal
oIaie diagrams that he has made showing Just What
he thinks should be DONE Mr. stevens unf,lc, Tho de-
ails OF his proposition The salient points Of
" arc IS lOuOWs.
1t goes without saying that increased terminal facilities
are necessity for the enormously increased and ncreasna
travel between the cities OF NewYork aud BROOKLYN End
ment engineers agree that the requisite facilities can b. nal
only by adopting the loop system az the ermnii OF The
Bridge In speaking more especially OF the York
terminus and how the loop" system could applied 10
this end OF the Bridge, have 10 Suggest thar all tho
ground between Park Row, Frankfort and William ss
south OF the Bridge, including Frenchs Hotel should bs
acquired upon which 70 erect an elevated railway
loop" within sweeping not less than 40 feet
in diameter, indicated the ground plan herewith sent
Upon this plan trains a each can be run -
feaoy ana safely on Roadway OF nincy seconds
cars are now the switch syscnfat The same inter
vals
The when is proposed 70 be olened midway
between Nassau and William nom John Frankfo.
can have AN outlet and inlet Park Row by passing
through arcade directly under rotunda Of the ter
nnai loop" In addition ~ the necessity OF acquiring
property for the purposes shown beg ~ suggest thai
there is very important additional reason, that
this site would readily be available the appropriate,
convenient aud advantageous OF any location heretofore
named for such Municipal Building 80 greatly
needed by the city Of New-York.
UGGESTIONS FOR MUNICIPAL ID ILDING.
The edhce be built ten stories high, and be
erected 10 not only the end OF the Bridge se ane
ground eight feet norhery OF 1t, but the enc block
southerly side between Park Row, Franklin and william
suggest that the first OF this Municipal
Building might be built OF granlte-the other eight OF
brick with Gotta trimmlnes-thorOughly proof,
with all modern Improvements, conyenience, elevators,
etc, etc., with facade OF about o6s feet Park Row.
The main and exit from the Bridge al park
Row Will be ample for passengers carriages wagons and
all kinds OF ahc The s0uheFy part OF the story
be arcade with a passsge-way entrance
from the The second story will b,
cuped wholly by terminal loop indicated the
plan, and In the building which have caused Ia 10
Adequate stairs and from
platforms the rotunda provided for those who
side OF the leave II the other Their
capacity should be equal that of the Bridge transit
suggest the triangle northery OF the Bridge, be-
tween Park and William ST., should be acquired by
the Manhattan Elevated Railway Company for the site OF
terminal station for Its purposes and uses well as con-
Meeting there with the Brooklyn Bridge-and that It's rail-
should with the second thereof, and that
its and station, Park Row below that point
be removed. To complete more perfectly terminal faci
ties In NewYork, and give free entrance 10 and exit from
the Bridge, further suggest that Park ROW shall b
wdened westerly side by adding thereto strip 70
be taken from the City Hall Park beginning at point On
Ma-st fifteen feet westerly Of the sidewalk PARK Row.
and running norhery curve touching he sou h.
westerly corner OF old Hall OF Records and running
thence norhery Chambersst through The centre OF hs
| engine house in that locality
suggest that when Park Row and the beginning Of
Chamberss shall be thus widened that the present surface
railway tracks Park Row. between the Post Onee and
Chambersst shall be removed therefom and transferred
10 westerly side OF Park Row and ana thss
all cars going TO and from the Post Office and Chatham
Square shall be required 10 go up ana down on inc westerly
instead eastey side Of Tryon Row also suggest
that the sidewalks on easerly side OF Park Row from
spruces 10 OF the Bridge be widened ten fee
! for the convenience OF foot passengers
II these suggestions should be ado ted eeneIay TOT 'ns
NewYork terminus ample space and facilities would e
nrovided for passengers vehicles OF all kinds that
doslr m use the Bridge and the ty would have a. egih
and convenient site for Municipal Building not on ou'
near the City Park, sufficient to accommodate nedy
~ not all the city departments that now occupy rented
premises. .
the probable expense that akng OF this KIND
would INVOLVE but II is thought by some engineers
who have xiven attention to the plan that S4,OOc0W
would cover everything.