The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-01-22

-.,.. "REMINISCENCES mes for Binding
tbs Mesrspelis ts the New Jersey shero
-ss.u IL be - bridge at Washsnste.
u.,,n,. or q bridge at Twcnty.third
~'.,s-Tn. m sat stupeudeus OF Eaxiaeer.
a.. rr.,eet.-A Bridge Twice ne Mig ss
m. One that Goes to Breskiys.
4.
THE DEMAND.
Thu North River affords advantages to
NJ yo,k CITY. but 1t affords Disadvantages
~ n aYords advantage In that 1t furnishes
.maonincspt water front at whose piers may
ao.t tbe JreiRhted steamships OF the ocean
,,nn alI tho s~eaports OF theworld. rs well as
a.. oommon canal boats towed from the lakes
,hrouub Clin.on's ditch and the Hudson. 1t
.Nord, disadvantage In that It delays and
motea incon, cnient, difficult, and costly the
..snsnortatlon to New York Of the great bulk
~ Tho AGRICULTURAL and the manufactured
nroducts and tho travelling people from all the
states and Territories west and south OF Its
shorcs, whether these products or these people
Arc bound for New York city itself or Tor the
New England region. A mar may mako an
uninterrupted Journey from the streets OF san
Francisco with o ticket for New York In his
pocket without once leaving his palace car until
he comes within sight of NJ anhattan Island
hut thon he must realize that his majestic trip
AcTOBb liz ! ~ opous
fashion not majestic. His fast express has
skimmed across tho prairie. skirted the
base OF lofty mountain ranges. ascended
and descended slopes. shot through long
tunnels, rumbled over splendid bridges.
and at last, after taking Its traveller over the
longes. railway route in the world. past most
imposing scenes Of natures work and r1umph
ant exhibitions Of mans engineering genius.
instead Of finishing Its journey with Q mt eli
max, stops In q dismal. ugly depot and sends
the traveller to New York in q ferryboat. 1t Is
an inglorious end to q glorious ride. The last
milo Of the trip from San Francisco to New
York has taken longer time, has caused more
discomfort, has cost more money, than did any
other In the journey. Ferries bear men and
fat boats carry cars OF freight. and so long as
ferries and fiat boats are depended upon for
transit across the North River. there must be
reckoned against the credit Of New York those
three items OF minutes lost. comfort sacrificed.
and expense Increased.
Thirty years ago Peter Cooper though to
Improve tho means Of crossing the Hudson.
Men before. mon since. have pondered upon
the same problem. To tunnel. to bridge the
stream would be the way. Gen orally and for
largo railroad business, at any rate. It has been
agreed that . bridge would be preferable. But
either would involve stupendous attempts In
engineering and the outlay Of vast sums Of
money. That Peter Cooper or some Of his con-
temporaries did not undertake to solve the
problem Ii perhaps evidence that the demand
for its solution was not pressing. To-day the
demand does press. Only at Albany. 100 miles
away from here, are the iron roads Of travel Of
the West and Of the East properly linked b.
the spans Of bridges.
The movement Of freight BY rail In New Eng
land. east Of the Hudson. Is placed at 30.000.0 900
tons q year. Of which . large part goes or comes
from west Of the Hudson. OF NEARLY Q dozen
large railroad companies having termini on
the west shore Of the Hudson, practically all
but one. the Now York Central. have to trans
port their shars Of this freight BY nat boat over
the North River. This ferriage costs from IS
TO $3.50 . cara largo sum for transportation
over Q distance OF loss han two miles. The
coal used In New England 10 estimated at be-
tween 12.000. 900 and $4,000. 900 tons each year.
Considering the location Of the coal fields and
the routes Of the railroads tapping them. one
half Of these shipments, or 10000 600 tons. could
be taken from the mines into New England
hall Ssiis 81 ehe H Rtdso than 81 any aS!o oth sa' r Quite.
There would 30 2 saving OF the ferry toll and 2
and iron NJ; England. across the Hudson. is
put at 100000 a year. That o great proper
uQu " tneSe Would, prefer 10 cross the river on
z bridge, without changing cars. Is undoubted.
between thirty minutes and one hour.
Every condition. which, calls for 2 bridge to
States to New England demands with equal
emphasis 9 bridge to connect New York city
directly. with the railroads touching the Jersey
shore 9f the river. Besides the larger interest
viii h The metropolis has In this AS the COM
Inercial focal point OF the North American con-
South and West converge. this city Of business
men needs, a bridge for local traffic with its
suburbs In Jersey Just us much rs It needs the
and the other Long Island towns. The Brook
Ign bridge, each year transfers 80. ZOO. 900 pas
sengers. 1t is. estimated that q North River
bridge, accessible for similar business would.
even though there is no city In Now Jersey as
large as Brooklyn, transfer 70, 900. 0OO.
II.
THE PoudHKEEPsIE. HUDSON. AND STORM KING