New-York tribune., 1891-12-25
TURNING THE FIRST SPADE.
GROUND BROKEN FOR THE NEW BRIDGE.

WORK TO BEGIN AT ONCE on THE ATTEMpr TO
SPAN THB HUDSON.
The first spadeful OF earth was removed yester-
day for the building Of the big bridge across the Hud-
son River by the New.Yori and New-Jersey Rridgc
Company. The excavation begun will, when COM
pleted, be filled with massive masonry. This VIII be
the foundation OF the abutment OF the bridge
On the Ncw,Jersey side.
Soon after 1c O'Clock yesterday, five coaches con-
taning directors OF the bridge company drove from
the Hoboken ferry through the rain up Bergenine
ave. TO tho northern boundary of weehawken, at q
point directly opposite Seventeth-st.. New-fork
Here the coaches stopped. The directors were con-
fIonted by large open field full Of smaI rocks The
field belonged formerly to the Cossett estate. 1t Is
mile and a half from the Guttenburg racetrnck,
and to the West Shore tunnel out into the
pouring rain the directors went from their coaches,
and Charles d. Brush, the assistant engineer hold
ing an umbrella over Andrew II. Green's head, hnr-
ried him twenty feet distant where large square
Of land marked by red and white
poles. Here TO Mr.. Green was handed a
spade and he drove 1t into the turf and thus began
the actual work Of the construction OF the great
bridge. Those who this act were Charles NJ
Vail, Evan Thomas James T. Sparkman, directors !;
George W. Green, counsel Charles II. swan, auditor
Thomas c. Clark, chief engineer Charles B. Brush as
sistant engineer, and General Henry A. Barnum.
It has been the intention OF Andrew IL. Green
to make an address On the ground after he had dug
the little hole, but the rain prevented It, Assistant
Engineer Brush invited the party to adjourn to
the directors In the water tower OF the Hack
ensack Water Company, mile Distant and the Invita-
ton was accepted Chairman Green, after the party
arrived at the water tower made speech on the
importance Of the the bridge to the further development
Of New-York City. Other speakers followed. E.
Thomas president Of the Produce Exchange. congrat-
ulated the directors on the progress that had been
made. General Barnum said he Joined In the con.
graduation because he knew Of many Of the difficulties
the directors had met In securing the necessary esa
ton. He wished the engineers having the con-
struction in charge the same success Roebling had
with the Brooklyn Bridge.
Chief Engineer Clarhe said the question was often
asked che bridge would pay when built To this
he replied that every passenger on the pennsylvania
Railroad had q trunk with him, the Cost % forty
cents on each trunk would pay the fixed charges Of
the whole scheme. Charles ii. swan, the secretary,
said q gang of men would begin work on Ao0day ana
thar the work would be pushed as raLHIy Us possiDe
When the meeting adjourned II was 70 meet next
Wednesday In Sixtyseveth-st, between Eleventh ana
for the construction of the abutmeT at that place
While the speeches were being made, Ex-Governor
Rodnan NJ Price and dozen Zy-Jersey directors
were In search Of their New York brethren. They
had arrived at the Cossctt estate ten minutes after
Chairman Green and the Others had gone 70 the
from place to place IN the storm, bn failed 70 bad
any trace Of the missing men. They even went 10
the town hall, and not finding llem there gave up
the search IN despair.