New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-23
1 NEW BRIDGE OR A TUNNEL
ANOTHER CROSSING FOR THE HARLEM.

WHAT WILL THE HOLDERS OF AD'AOENi i"'i
rprv sAyr-A REPORT BY EXPERTS
oo,,sr.nc. regarding the onehundred -and-hfty-
c,.'' ,,'adnc, was held at the City Hall yesterday
rho,o were present Mayor Grant, Commssiohcr "i''
rov coptroler Myers, Corporation Couhsei oiaih'
,,sident Coleman al the Tax Department. anu iio'i
dcnt uutcbns of the Park department. i"0 W
o,,a,on discussed was whether claims ior uemasoo
nronertv Affected would be made. Lawson Az ui.oi
supported by other members OF inc % $3.50
rarnavers, Association, appeared again ana assuiea
a, go,a,s that no such claims would be Haue, OUT
10 ogered nothing in writing to prove that ne was
authorized 10 say So Corporation Couhsei Clalh sus
c.sed the holding Of another conference at "hcn 'o
nronerty owners could be present ana some oehpio
,rdorstandng reached. This proposition was agreed
70 The time for holding the conference VIII 10 an
nounced hereafter . A.. 4, .ho
~tl,c continent regarding this matter especially
a. IN whether a tunnel new bridge should DC Dui
IN Mace of McComb's Dam Bridge lie "ouiu hho
=. IL ceneral expression OF opinion upon the SUD-
,ect from those qualified to give one. III complaints
With the Mayors request Pre- ident liu'chins yes'oi
dow nresencd a report on this point which had been
uas 80 ,r park BOARD by Engineers Edward T. Van
UIntIe Thomas c. Clark, George W. Van Nuity anu
General John Newton. They were appointed some
time ago as a commission to investigate the "hoie
NATTER and they reported as follows
- g. III, unanimous opinion OF the Commission, In view
d, tho fact that bridge fixed span should give clear
noni,o in height Of less than 100 rect ABOVE hs"
o,or that such form Is inexpedlent and undesraoe
lis two terminating avenues are low leVei
honce all traffic the bridge would DC suo 70 no
INV onormous in the aggregate OF actually itng It's entire
oicbt some sixty or feet more thah "ouu NC
,,,rod I'm case OF either a drawbridge or tunnel
This would be practically found unbearaoe again, inc
rnroaches with gradient Of in 100 would require 10 DC
90 ,aast one half mile each This great length "ouu oe
opfv Ia
% aense barriers the opposite sides OF the ave
ho-o,n they were locateda condition OF things well
ustraed BY that portion Of Fourth ave ne
| md tentb.st containing the railroad VadueI'
In our opinion, the cost OF draw'span' aVing wheh
,a the legal requirement OF twentyfour feet above
b,ph water would, with the necessary a'a appo'he''
machinery atc be about $4,000. Considering Me III
rble and burdensome interruption to transit over 1t
connected with the OF drawbrdee as Wen as inc
doI.vs and risks f. presents navigation we al" led
conclusvey 10 the opinion that dra"Dnuse VIII not
give the best OF passing across the "r'e hNe
az the locality under confederation
Again. the impediments presented 10 Navigation ny
drawbrldce are very burdensome depending IN de-
gree upon the amount Of tonnage passing through H.
the draw is not promptly opened, as must iequcnuy
bappen the delayed boats lose their steease-way ana
80 .onsoouen,lv liable TO damage from collision. The
oht NJ wav for the proposed United states channel IN
the Harlem River has already cost nearly SZZoooo anu
the actual construction Of thu channel Is estimated 10
,,ouire an expenditure by the Government alone OF ABOUT
expenditure il would be folly to neutraze th
benefits to commerce and navigation OF the Improved
channel by allowing impeachment in the shape oil ua"-
bridge 70 be interposed 1t is not unreasonable 70 assume
that opportunities for transit will have eventually to De
nrov1ded along the Harlem River at distances OF not more
than haR a mile apart.
nhe cost ~ completing tunnel Of adequate capacity IN
cudnr lands should In Judgment exceed S@oooVVo
Built on the lines suggested above its length under inc
channel from opening TO opening would Do only aoou'
40 feet The approaches would best be an open cut with
bridges carrying intersecting streets across It, Inc
gradients Of approaches should not be greater IMAM
three feet 100 requiring length for e1eh approach Oh
about 500 feet 1t further recommended that inc
tunnel proper between channel bukheads to secure uo
most uerfect ventilation well as greater case ana
economy Of construction would best De uple one-'na
is IL should have two large sections for drve"ays on
either side OF smaller az higher level Tor foot"ays
Furthermore We urgently recommend that the uhlteo
states Government be induced to complete Its WORK Of
excavation for the channel ot and In tho Immediate
vicinity Of the proposed line Of crossing before eiIhei
| q tunnel or new bridge be begun