Smyrna times., 1890-08-06
WHOLE NO. 1886.
New Bridge Over The Hudson.

If the proposed suspension bridge
over the Hudson from New York City
to HOboken shall become an accom-
plished fact, it will be the largest, SAT-
est and handsomest in the world. The
design is to put the work upon Ma
tional basis, and to place its construc-
ton and the regulation of its traffic
under the supervision of the Federal
authorities, in the person of the secre.
tary Of War. Connecting two states,
1t is really an interstate undertaking.
and it will serve as one of the main ar
teries of trade between the entire West
of the country and the metropolis.
The privilege of free use for the trans
mission of postal matter and right of
way for government telegraphs is to
be ceded in return for Federal recog-
milton.
The bridge is intended to carry six
railroad tracks, but it is to be built SO
that four additional ones can be built
when required. The cost of double
track bridge is estimated at $4,000, 900
and of six track bridge $l5,OOO,OOO,
four additional tracks can be provided
for at an additional cost of $1,000, 900.
The entire cost of construction, rights
of way &c, is estimated at $4,000, 600.
The necessity for so gigantic bridge
and the justification for its erection is
found in the records of the ferry pas
sengers over the Hudson River Fer
ries. Upon the New Jersey Shore a
number of railroads have their termi-
nj, nearly 900 trains arriving and de-
parting every day, and it is estimated
that 2O,OOO,OOO of their passengers
alone cross annually. Besides these
an equal number of other persons are
estimated to cross, making a total of
over 4O,OOO,OOO. Much delay is occas-
stoned by ice, by the fog and by OBJ
stacles to navigation in general. The
landings at the water front are also
found incOnvenient.
Its Western terminus, in the state of
OF New Jersey, is upon the meadows
between the Hackensack river and
Bergen Hill. 1t is to pass through this
hill by an open cut 100 feet wide. The
rock from this cut will give the best
possible material for concrete, and will
be utilized as such. It will probably
provide One-half the material required
for the concrete of the towers and an
chOrages.
On the eastern side of Bergen Hill,
after the cut has been passed, is the
first anchorage. This immense mass of
masonry is designed on somewhat
novel principles. The prevailing idea
in its construction is accessibility. It
is chambered, so that the cable and
anchor irons within it can be inspec-
ted, and their condition ascertaiped at
any time.
From this the four great cables will
start, each four feet in diameter, and
made up of steel wires laid parallel, as
in the East River Bridge. Each cable
is to be divided by cross pieces into
four quadrants. They are to be COM
pacted into a cylindrical shape, and
are to be covered with short steel
mantle or envelope, of such size as to
leave twO-inch air space all around
them. This will leave them accessible
for repairs or examination, while pro-
viding ventilation, and is an advance
on the old system of wire serving.
At the edge of the river on either
side the cables pass over steel suspen-
sion piers at height of 500 feet above
the water. These towers are of steel,
each including sixteen columns seven
feet in diameter at the bottom and five
feet at the top.