New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-13
ONE CITY OR TWOs
VIEWS ON THE UNION OF NETWORK AND
BROOKLYN.
WHAT PROMINENT MEN ON BOTH SIDES of LIE
EAST RIVER SAY ON THE sUBJEcr-IhE
orrrsrroN OF NEW BRIDGE

QUESTION OF A NEW BRIDGE
r4a subject Of the ACCESSIBILITY of q union OF the
cities of New-York and Brooklyn unoer ONO cay
government has been receiving consderaoie a'on'o
of late and taken in connection WIN INC ,o0o"U
.oo,r,e,dat,on Of Brooklyn's Mayor in which the
n,ud,ng of a second East River Bridge is earnestly
ayocatea forms an interesting topic OF discussion.
A Tribune reporter who sought ior inc opn'on' "
nyominent NEWCOMERS In both Official and private
life regarding these propositions iohnu 'ha' s'"'
variety of views entertained
w.yor Grant said: The union OF New-fork ana
proot,vn has been talked about at odd periocs ever
c,nce I can remember, but have yet TO near any
yood tangible reason for bringing II ABOUT Dei
supporting such project want % Know VIZ
benefit II viii be to Ncw-Yorh We have hearu Nun
local prophets rosy preooNon' =, 40 Gov
preat things such union Win 10 N
fhese cities and all the surrounding country put II
has all been so dim and shadowy and placed SO ial ~
the future usually, that man OF my uii""s .
turn of mind cannot appreciate 1t, suppose Hesaiu
,nr ,as nronosed new bridge over the East hVer,
do not think that should say anything eAcop.
a. o.nsraI way There is undoubtedly grea'
oss,tv for more facilities for speedy communication
tetwoen this and the other side OF the East h'or'
at have been too busy to acquamt mysen iuns
with Mayor Chapins recommendations put IL uooS
not seem 10 me that any VIII question 'ne
fact that the benefits arising from sucn ihoioas1u
accommodation would accrue almost wholly 10 inc
,,eon1e who live on tho brooklyn side, ana tho HI
fustIce therefore, of asking the peoplo Vi NO"
York TO incur any Of the expense OF ouiiuins "no
bridge is too apparent co need argumen. 70 ppso
A. NV position on the subject OF senemes
al, add to the indebtedness
80 This civ was fully expressed in my message, anu
a. g hardly necessary for to say that VIII no'
mako a chsnge in that policy In favor OF 'no eS
ment of another East River BRIDGE
a BELIEVER IN THE UNION OF THE CITIES
vss,dsnt Charles s. Smith, of the New York Chamber
NJ Commerce. said that he was firm oeneser ~ u'o
r,,,nate union of the two cities. 1T Is pound "
- "a sa,a and cannot be prevented great
.rnua longer Brooklyn will become part OF INC
.,,, of New-York Just Surrey has become part VI
t,e CORPORATION of London; and 1t VIII Dc connoo' ',
rosans OF bridges and tunnels over ana unuer INC H
river. as the growth of population demands IN u,s
same way as Londons bridges anil tunnels conneo'
tb.t CITY with the other side oil the Ihamos' ~
,mher Of bridges will be regulated By the NUMBER .,
,,eon,e who must cross the river, and the ques uo "
,rbo shall nay for their erection VIII be mucn si'p
when these two great cities are WELDED INTO ono'
be in favor Of taking in Jersey CITY too anu n" a
it a part Of the city OF New-forA' pu' iVi 'A'
n is in another State.S
control,er Theodore W. Myers thought that there
MIGHT be ultimate advantages connected Win cor
,,orate union of New-Y0rk and BrooAyn' ~ n'oiO
than probables be said, that the ume wiz come
,rhen n win be found necessary. but DO not euhh
has arrived as yet AS to the construction VI 'io
rs. River Bridge No. 2, proposed by Mayor Chaplin
T have aecided opinions. New-YOrk has borne her
share in the erection OF the presen'
MAGNIFICENT structure and one OF its most obvious
results has been to furnish people win tne
advantage Of being able TO 90 pusness !"
Ncwyork. and at the same time afford them an easy
..n from their lust share Of taxation by living on
Yone Island There Is no question about the present
prdpe being overtaxed and of the necessity 'or ID
creased means of transportation, but the oos' Va !"
should be borne by Brooklyn wholly ana ehurep'
Ncv-York receives benefit from the present brose'
and ve should surely get none from another ID
would perhaps, seem hard TO put obstacles IN inc
NAV of the relief that Is manifesty needed DUB
am not sure but that NewYork ought to demand
compensation for permitting another bridge 10 20
buft The most that be asked OF MS Is the Fignt
70 erect it, and then let Brooklyn build II at her OVID
srrense or better stin, let 1t be built by pnSase
enterprise"
.,,bout the city was sure that the next generation
ou,d sec Manhattan Island and much OF Long lsiano
under one city government 8 1t is only QUESTION
NJ tmes he said. AS regards the new East hiVer
Mavor Chaplin is perfectly right to its being
assss,tv hut all wrong In wanting New-York to
to,n in paying for It. The fact is IT. is wholly I'M
NECESSARY to call upon the treasury Oh
either city, the taxpayers, to raise
funds for the purpose Private enterprise can take
csre of that project II DO built for half the
money the first bridge cost / wiz contract to build
The second bridge ought to be at Grand-st. on the
Ncv.York sIde and 1 would extend It by means of
an elevated road clear across the city. say to tho
foot of Christopher feminist 1t would then con-
meet with ali the roads running north and south,
and for fvecent fare people could cross the river
and travel up or down, wherever they pleased. In
thu CITY, between the Battery and the upper end.
"a rapid transit road through Broadway, with
branches eastward and westward from Thirty third-
ST., ought to be built at the same time. and also
another elevated road both sides OF the island,
running from Grand-st on the East River clear
around by way Of Southst. and Westst. TO feminist.
on the North River. to connect with the ferries on
both rivers. This can all be done by private enter
prise and without drawing upon the taxpayers for
cent"
Mr.. BEEKMAN EXPLAINS OBSTACLES.
Corporation Counsel Beekman took strong ground
against a union Of the cities. SThere are many
obstacles in the way he said which cannot BIO over
come without working serious consequences to one or
both corporations. We have already population OF
million and half of Inhabitants with voting popu-
1ation Of 275000. The next division OF voting
precincts will raise the number Of observation-disclosures
to over 1000. The City Of New-York contains moro
people now than can conveniently taken Of in
one city government. The tendency ought to DO
toward smaller instead of larger communities.
Then look at the immense interests and franchises
owned by the corporation of the City OF New-fork
Look at her 'front.' with its immense incomes her
ferry franchises, her sinking fund, and her general
fund On what plan shall she share these with
Brooklyn, and other cities which may be brought In
form part of this city, Brooklyn is possessed OF
nothing she can give IN return for part
ownership in these things. Her waterfront
itself does not belong to her but is
city's prosperity and have covered It with private
ventures which have completely cut her on from tne
nom commercial enterprise Is completely almost as
II she were an inland town Thea again, Broouyn