New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-29
BRIDGES OYER WEST STREET.
CONDITIONS OF THE PRIVILEGE.
. MuoH.NrEpDp ROOM TO THE THOUSANDS WHO
NOW FIGHT THEIR WAY AMONG
ruE TRICKS
THE TRUCKS.

The Importance and need of bridging wcstst, or In
some other way relieving the congestion with which
that and connecting th0roughfares has long been
AFFLICTED, have been frequently aud fully set forth IN
The Tribune. On Monday, after considefaoie oeas'
tho Board of Street openings granted permits LOT inc
erection of two bridges Wesst one 10 be but
nv the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and the other oy
the Central Railroad Of New-Jersey. The peutlohs
for these permits we're filed before the Board ia october
last but owing to the belief Of the City Controller that
the ctv should receive some compensation for tho
privilege no definite action has been taken until now.
Controller S. NJ Williams of the Central Railroad OF
NewJersey, WHO was seen yesterday at the company
Office No. 10 Liberty said: We expect TO go 10
work at once upon the construction OF the bridge. IL
will be buit at Rectorst, and VIII be for foot passen
gers only The purpose of the bridge, so lar as the
company is directly concerned, Is to accommodate tie
summer traffic Of steamers running TO Long Branch
and other places che Jersey coast These steamers
are doubledeckers and the western end OF lhe ouso
Will permit passengers to step directly upon the upper
decks OF these boats"
The bridge. which is to be built Of steel and iron.
IS. according 10 the permit to have capacity OF
carving a moving load Of not less than 100 POUNDS
nor souare foot TO have one clear span OF not less
than 100 feet to width Of not less than Id ieeV
and to have clear head-room OF not less thah sA
teen feet between the under side OF the bridge ana e
pavement below. No posts, piers, supports Ut Stars
are to ohstruct the sidewalk, anu thc DluSo W ~
provded with proper ratings for the safety OF passen
gers No stands for the sale Of any commodities ans
no signs or advertising pacards VIII be perhl''eo o
that part of the bridge covering the public street.
The bridge will be built under the supervision Oh 'ns
Commissioner Of Public Works
The same conditions accompany the permits for poth
bridges the companies being required to give bonas
In the sum of $4,000 each that they will keep the
structures in proper repair and hold the city harmless
IN
nnencc of the construction and maintenance OF the
Bridges which are to be absolutely free to all pc
Ne expect" said Mr.. Williams, "to have the
Rector-st bridge finished by the 1st OF May, when
the excursion season opens. Ii is TO be built you
understand, entirely at our own expense ana from
n we EXPECT to get only such benefit as might accrue
to from any corresponding Improvement 70 o h
rolling stock or boats. The public, however; VIII De
relieved in many ways. Footpassengers IN that dan
cerous locality will not need 70 cross between moving
trucks, strectcars and other vehicles; the now OF
wheeled traffic will not be much interrupted, ana
certainly the police force will have much less 10 90
than now | believe the building Of this bridge, ana
that proposed by the Pennsy lvania Company VIII marh
the beginning Of most important movement to re-
lieye the downtown streets OF their embarrassing
crowds. l think it probable that, within few
years. comparatively speaking, We shall have four
70 Harlem, and perhaps another elevated road ABOVE
that. The two little bridges are but a part OF tile
whole system of relief which, sooner or later, must
be put in 0peration.o
At the offices of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Jer
sey City, IL was said that II was probable that the
company would begin work on the bridge at Cort-
be given, however, 10 the time of beginning oper
atlons until the Philadelphia office had been heard
from. The company has in contemplation certain
Guiding the West-st footway, may be made at one
time.