New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-01
BRTDGING WESE-ST.

EIsevvbere in this issue is an exceedingly
,;,orous aud MAINLY written article dealing with
the dangers and difficulties encountered py
foot sseneers in their efforts to fight way
through the mud. slime, trucks cars carts ana
cabs which in such fearful depths, degrees ana
Numbers inhabit West-st. AT the foot OF the
intersecting streets Cortlandt Liberty Cham
hers. and others, and along the waterfront OF
West-st are all the ferry houses through which
massage is taken to Jersey. Not less than
I9o 400 people are compelled every day 20
make this perilous journey across West-st'' ana
the wonder is how ever they manage to DO IL
without being drawn into whirlpool OF SHINE
muck. wheels hoofs and destruction. Even IL
thew do succeed in escaping with their lives
tbev are subjected to ten thousand disagreeable
exneriences. to contact with filth, to blows from
whips. wheels and tail-boards, to volcanoes Of
abuse. and it is with prayers of thanksgiving
and praise that they finally get from curb TO
ferry or from ferry to curb.
No people less patient, humble and long
suffering than the submissive inhabitants OF
this island would have endured such state OF
affairs so long. None less accustomed to bow
sub missively under the yoke of city govern
ment irresponsible and Inexpensive would en-
dure it ten days longer. 1t is simply amazing
that New orkers will 60 on day after day.
month after month. year after year, struggling
squirming and plunging across West-st without
protest or rebellion. Think of Macaulays en-
Iightened New Zealander standing on the top of
the PENNSYLVANIA ferry house watching that
fearful scene. Hear him gasp with amazement
and vexation, "Why in thunder don't these
people get up revolution or build bridge p
The idea of bridge will not be original with
the New Zealander 1t has even now occurred
to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and to
ether ferry owners, and some of them have even
offered to put up the structure. Imagine their
disgust when the sagacOuS Controller or the
city, Mr.. Myers, steps in with the objection
that they ought to pay the city good round
price for comforting a benefit upon the city
which the city should years and years ago. have
conferred upon itself This is the position Mr.
Myers takes 1t is hard to believe that he is in
earnest. If he is, one can but wonder what
ails him. The companies do not propose to
make the bridge a source of profit. They SIM
DIV desire to provide means by which their
passengers can cross WeSt-st. without being
liable to be run over. Apparently, Mr.. Myers
thought that this proposition offered him the
chance to show himself in the attitude of a
" stern defender of the peoples rghts' against
the entertainments" of powerful corpora
tcno But it doesn't. The people don't want
to be defended by Mr. Myers half as much az
they want to escape the deadly perilS of West
st. Let the city authorities quickly give it out
that any philanthropist, weak or powerful, sol
itaIy or corpOrate who wants to bridge West
st. can have the privilege of doing so, 50 long
AS he makes a good bridge. Or, better still
let the city do the work itself.