New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-22
NEED OF THE NEW BRIDGE
REASONS WHY IT OUGHT 10 BE BUILT.
A RALK WITH DR. RAINEY-AReUMENrs OF THE
PRoJEoToR AND FOUNDER.


ASH him to the present condition Of the enterprise
and It's prospects OF success. DR.. Rsincy made tho
following statement concerning the matter;
." After obtaining the Act OF Congress- March D.
1887 followed by the permit Of the Secretary OF war
In November Of that year, was urged by the presi-
dent Of the New-York Central to apply at once ior
the permit Of tho Board Of street Openings, so as 10
establish our right to connect with his system Of rail-
ways In Fourth ave-, as ordained by law.
~ fled my maps on April Q, 1887, appeaTed
month later before the Board delayed two months
longer by tho Mayor upon teehnlcality, and was
finally heard by the Board on July and IA, and
bitterly opposed by few property owners In Fourth
ave-, headed By Colonel Emmons Clarke and Everett
Wheeler who had with few others issued circular
which entirely msrepresented plans and purposes.
ain August 1887 Mr. Hewitt demanded as a con-
dition Of his permit to build that We should show
him that had already all the money to build the
bridge while he informed that We would ruin tho
and water pipes In Fourthave. 1t took almost
a year to examine the subject I'm the Department OF
Public Works In order to provo that these fears were
unfounded. At length in October, 1885, demanded of
the Mayor settlement Of the question: showing him
that the law gave us one year 10 expend 100000,
two years to expend 5000, 900 and then put
the question plainly: 'Will you execute the law OF
the State or defy It, and set up little law Of your
ownp Tho Mayor made no reply, but late In Deem
Der said TO tho Board that he had had report from
SoAA--N~--N-N-
Lowber Smith at replied 4 have examined
the subject carefully with General Newton, and report
that there engineering difficulties in connecting
the bridge with the Harlem Railroad, and that the
works will in way seriously affect the sewers or
water pipes of the city, Mr. Hewitt then remarked
This bridge is great public necessity. 1t ought to
be built. It must be built
MR.. BEEKMAN's INGENIOUS HOSTILITY.
Sic then referred the subject the Controller to
what lands any, had to be taken, and In conjunction
with the Corporation Counsel fix their value But the
Corporation Counsel delayed tho hearing before the
Controller from week to week, until he obtained an
adverse decision from Judge Van Brunt on con
domination proceedings for right of way on Black
VOLTS Island and thus the Controller has not yet made
his report to the Board
Meanwhile I applied 10 the Dock Department
early IN 1888 for permission TO build piers In tho
river Blackwolls Island. It took the Corpora
ton Counsel nearly four months TO inform that depart
ment that It had no authority in the promises l
next went 10 the Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund
In October. Mr.. Bcekman informed them that they
could not ALLEVIATE land under water that
island, because Il virtually under the control
Of the Commissioners OF Charities and Correction,
according TO section 3s5 OF the Consolidation Act
ian act by 1ustifylng such refusall. Fore
seeing all this had already brought suit and
tried to take land and near Blackwel's Island.
The Corporation Counsel claimed that tho city owned
state owned thence to the pier line, and that We
could not take from the city what It did not own.
He claimed further that need not go to the State,
for a law Of 1850 prohibited the Commissioners OF
tho Land ofce Granting that land TO any one except
10 the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of New
York, and that deadlock must therefore ensue,
which tho Legislature alone could unlock
Ho claimed, besides that as our law said that We
might acquire land either side OF the river, and
as the river there had four sides, It meant on our
ade in New-York and the other in Long Island,
with the necessity OF building a span and not
resting on Blackwel's Island say about 3,0OO feet
long twice as long the Brooklyn Bridge span IA
the unknown, 50 much as dreamed Of such span,
here was another deadlock and one that tho Legs
.ature alone could undo.
h contendcd further that while the law salG
that the bridge should BE built for railway carriage
and foot travel II was proven that intended TO
Law down rails ctc., in defiance Of the constitution.
ments. and even prosecutions, as I think, you lind
us looking for q remedy. We have Appealed 10 Vo
higher court, 30 the sovereign Legislature
HOW THE PLAN HAS BEEN MALIGNED.
sour opponents have endrcly mlsreprcsented tho
route which we propose to follow In our connection
OF the bridge with tho New-York Central Railroad
system They have asserted that the branchej Of the
bridge and elevated approaches arc to be constructed
in Fourth ave. from Forty nlnths st. 10 Ninety second
St. Now, these opponents have seen our drawings
and specifications presented to the Board OF Street
Openings and know beyond any doubt that this state
ment Is absolutely false. They know that VIC propose
and wish 10 enter the mouth OF new tunnel, leading
to the present Fourthave. tunnel at Sxty-sovcnth-
ST. where tho train Is lost TO sight, and they have
seen our sketches Of the ornamenteh tunnel mouth,
With the parapet fourteen feet HIGH at 6NtyseVcnth'
ST. and the promenade above which We offer 10 Duiid
and ornament. Our opponents have also circulated
drawings which give a virtually incorrect idea OF
our plans. Their drawing represents our eleVated
structure as almost filling Fourth-ayc, which Is lao
feet IN width. and the black band extends from tory-
nInh-st to Ninety sccond-st. Tho truth IS that our
double tracks will be only twentytour feet In width
ard right over the two central tracks OF the Harlem
RAILROAD II Will DO only fifteen and one-haI ieet
in height at sxty-Txth-st., ana cone ,n5 lytv
seventhst we will close the present ugly tunnel open
Ing, which the 9TH Regiment has tried In vain Tor
years TO close we w VAN By Setonr Ui sixty
sevenths st. across, under the approach ana back 10
the Opposite 5 Ds aS too Ssaos rSegns tie a%o
Of the bng noises smoke ana s1se a TT viii i pass
on This arm probably only after midnight"
GREAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE.
aour bridge was located with the purpose OF
making IL cost little as possible while ser'-
ing the public the best possibly; to run through
privae property only and not through the streets;
10 20 through blocks as nearly vacant as possible
hor from tho East River 10 ThIrdave there arc not
a balf-dozen good houses. II we except the Colored
Home which the owners are anxious TO remove
fsee Miss Booths report, 1sse-'s7); and finally to
nav Loyalty for all property taken and any property
that we may injure.
"Fourth-ave. Is railroad avenue, ana IL was
not designed for anything else. The great railroads
that run through It have done more to convenience
the American public and enrich tho city than all
other combined public enterprises, not excepting
the Erie Canal
EFrom the mouth OF our entrance tunnel Ut Sixty
seventh-st to the yard OF tho Central Fouthave Is
as nearly completely dead any street In New-io rk
living low, having many vacant blocks and being
abandoned by enterprise. From Slxty-seyentl-sL'
al be1ing nOrthW'arl, the
avenue is high. healthy and handsome. We will
not touch that part Of IT,"
"Do you think thai tho Arions have any right to
complaint asked the reporter.
At think not You know what some reformers
can do in getting up petitions In New-Yorh The