New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-10
EXPANSION OF NETWORK.
VARIOUS BILLS AFFECTING THE CITY BE-
FORE THE LEGISLATURE.
PROPOSED BRIDGES OVER THE NORTH AND
EAST RIvERs-NEw-YoRK BEYOND
HARLEM


EAST RlvERs-NEw.YoRK BEYOND
THE HARLEM.
PROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIDuylJ
Albany, March 9.-It is plain from proposed
legislative enactments that soon new chapter
will he added to the future historians big book
on The Expansion Of New-York." Some capt.
tasts wish to fling a great railway bridge from
Manhattan Island westward across the Hudson
River. and permit the growth of the city in that
direction. Other capitalists would build another
railway bridge across the East River and run
railway trains from the Grand Central Depot
over it into the heart OF Long Island. Still other
capitalists would build another bridge of the
type of the present gigantic Brooklyn Bridge for
the accommodation Of foot passengers, teams and
rapid-transit trains from the foot OF Grand-st,
New York. to Broadway in the Eastern District of
Brooklyn. Then there is the big tunnel now III
process Of construction between Jersey City and
Ncw-York and another bill provides for the
construction of tunnel beneath the
East River, between Ncw-York and Brooklyn.
Added to these schemes are many for rapid
transit railways to connect the heart of New
J York with the Annexed District and Westminster
( County. Lastly, there is the plan of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railway TO build great docks at
| Staten Island for European steamships
Ii does not appear here that the city all
thorites have concerned themselves much about
these various bills for great bridges yet they
vitally concern the future welfare OF New-fork
For instance. have the city authorities expressed
their sentiments in a decisive manner about the
bill of Assemblyman Greene, of Orange County,
authorizing the construction Of gigantic rail-
way bridge over the Hudson River between New
York City and the shore Of New-Jerscy? II Is
strange that member of the Legislature VINO
does not live in New-Yark should introduce such
a bill. and it is natural that th/pcoplc who have
been pressing the bill should he accused of seek
ing to obtain the great franchise merely Tor the
purpose of selling it to the highest bidder. The
City of New-Yorl ought not 10 permit such a
franchise to pass into the hands of spectators
Moreover. the passage Of such a charter by spccu-
lators might hinder the building of a bridge
backed by responsible capitalists. This Dill was
debated in the Assembly last week. and the Sis
picion that those seeking the charter for The
bridge desire it for speculative purposes was IN
creased by the rejection by Assemblyman Greene
and others supporting the bill. of an amendment
providing that at least per cent of the capital
stock of .thc bridge company. SlO,Ooo,OOo, snail
be paid in-that is, 81 900 .o00-beiorc the fran
chise shall become valid one As the Dill now
stands. only $500, 900 need be paid in The New
I York Assembly mcn NOtcu lot tHe dnlcHuhi'H'' "H'
also for one which was rejected giving the city
authorities the naming of some OF the pridee
commissioners They complained also. through
Mr. Blumenthal. that the rights Of the city
were not protected in many ways. 1t unfortunately
happens that the New-York Assembymcn and
Senators do not win the esteem of their fellow
members of the Legislature, and hence when they
are in the right about any bill affecting New
York. as they rarely are. their words are not
needed Their protest against the advancement
of Mr.. Greene's bridge bill without further pro-
tccting the citys interests, was not. therefore,
Needed: the country members of the Assembly
stoutly supported the BILL and ordered il 10 n
third reading. If Mayor Grant or the leading
7 taxpayers Of Ncw-York think Mr.. Grecnc's
bill n harmful measure, they will have TO offer a
much stoutcr resistance at Albany TO the bill. be-
fore the committees Of the legislature. than they
have hitherto done. one would imagine. too,
that the city authorities would have something 70
say at Washington about the bill pending before
Congress for a railroad bridge across the Hudson
from Jersey City to Newly orlS. Apparently the
bridge proposed in the Washington bill will be of
colossal size and as much matter Of worldwide
wonder as the Firth of Forth Bridge, just opened
for travel in Scotland.
The Assembly also seems disposed TO pass DR..
Ranncys bill for a big railway bridge over tie
East River to connect the New-York Central, the
Harlem and the New-Nork and New-iavcn roads
with the Long Island Railroad and other rail-
roads on Long Island This bridge will be be-
tween three and four miles in length, ana VIII
run above houses in Ncw-Yorl over the East
River it will be 50 feet in height. The bri which
has been ordered TO a third reading, provides that
the bridge shall not have less than $50 feet eeva-
ton "above mean high-water' II is 10 be so
constructed as 10 provide for the accommodation
and transportation Of passengers ana Nehichs'
The following the important provisions OIL
this act, as found in its first section:
Except as In this otherwise provided, the SAID
bridge shall public road street or avenue
shall oyes or across ~ 70 prevent '' 1T"
use thereof by the public but all such public streets
roacs avenues shall be spanncd by suitable ar'he' or
suspended platforms which shall give the necessary height
fol passage under the for purposes Of pubic ta'
and transportation No street road or Avenue SHAH De
closed or occupied by said bridge its spproa hes "i
full compensation to the owners OF lands fronting on
the same and injured damaged by such construction for
all damages they sustain by reason thereof The
said bridge shall begin in the city Of Ne"'forh east Of
Park-aVe at the Grand Central Depot ana
across the River and Blackwell's Island a. night
angles the channels, at such point between fitru
and Nncty.second sts. viii arord and give reasonable
pfadcs facility approach. The sad bridge hhdI
conform strictly to It's elevation the form ana method
Of its construction and the location " ts piers ana
anchoages % plan thereof heretofore approved by the
Secretary the United States pursuant to III" pro-
visions Congress approved March j. 1851 anu
authorizing the construction Of bridge
across the East River. between the city Of Ne"f"fH
and Long Island" The said bridge shan DE- D"I1
with substantial railing siding, ana shall
be kept fully lighted through all hours Of the night tn"
construction OF said bridge shall be begun before The
Sd day March 1891, and the time for The beginning
Of such construction hereby extended 10 such date,
and said bridge shall be completed before the ~ dag OF
March 1888 The supreme Court shall extend the time
herein allowed for the beginning or the completion %
said bridge upon satisfactory proof that such beginning or
coipctlom delayed BY the pcndency OF legal
pror,cdnps and that said company has been duly dill
cent In bringing proceedings 70 final determination
The completion Of such construction 'ha' De- u'e"'' !"
Include the erection Of said bridge and It, approace and