New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-28
rur MlTTFR or DRA VBRlDGES.

10 the Park Commissioners decide to grant
The netition of the railroads which use the prIn-
c;naI railroad bridge over the Harlem River,
tbor action will be gratifying to an enormous
r,mber of people. Tens Of thousands who are
oornelled to cross the Third-ave. and Second
o,,a bridges daily are embarrassed, INSTRUCTED
and DELAYED by the frequent opening Of the
draws to permit the passage OF trivial and In
SIGNIFICANT vessels. This petition IS not by any
means alone in the interests of the railroads
or ~ the passengers on the trains it is in the
interest of every person who has occasion 10
mass over drawbridge in any part of the coun-
trv NOT that the action of the Park Commls-
sioners Of New-Yorl can have any legal weight
with other bodies which control drawbrldges ;
hut the tendency has been both in New fork
and New-Jersey to sacrifice the convenience OF
tho general public in order that few captains
IF little tugboats, OF small steamers, canal
boats and craft of that kind, may get through
q draw without delay, while great crowds OF
eager and impatient persons are compehed "
wait until the draw is closed. 1t Is both nuic-
ulous and irritating at almost any hour OF the
day 10 see the Third-ave. bridge SWING open
N ALLOW some diminutive vessel to 20 through
with only one or two persons on board ana
with no commission which need compel any
haste on its part. We may venture 10 nope
that If the draw of the railroad bridge remains
shut for certain busy hours in the day. the
draws of the Third-ave. and other bridges over
the Harlem River may also be closed III the
same way. and that this action will set IN mo-
ton wave of public sentiment which VIII nave
its effect on the whole system of handling draw
bridges in every part of the United States.
II has been suggested that if the petitions
Of the railroads is granted the law OF the
United States concerning the free Navigation
of navigabIe streams would be violated. lhiS
would be an excellent time to settle the ques-
ton. il there is any doubt upon the suolecO'
Nv all means let the Park Commissioners say
vos 10 the request laid before them, and theh
the aggrieved persons, if there are any, can 90
before the courts and have the matter properly
adjusted. If such action should be decided Dy
the courts to be illegal, then the people ought
70 appeal to Congress. 1t is improper, un]usS
and absurd that so many people should De ue-
layed and their interests sacrificed at the draw
bridges within the limits of the city OF New
York in order to satisfy the whims and capnces
IF n very few. Stand on the Third-ave.
bridge any day either in the morning or the
afternoon and see some putting little tug come
ND. or some excursion steamer of insignificant
dimensions come down, or see the draw SWING
open while a little float, representing an al
most invisible investment, and carrying inter-
ests of no Importance whatever, keeps multi
tude of eager and impatient persons waiting
until it makes it's way through. 1t almost seems
as if the Third-ave. draw would be opened at
any time in order to let mere bumboat pass,
and at the railroad bridge the great express
trains. the crowded suburban trains, the chief
part of the traffic of some of the most important
railroads in the world must pause and wait
for the passage of some midget of boat not
worth one hundred dollars. This Is an anti
quated illogical and nonsensical condition OF
affairs. 1t is time for the great majority OF the
people to see to it that their interests are prop
erly locked after in these matters, and that
their goings TO and fro are not restrained and
obstructed in order that some CheSequakes-
Creek sort of water transportation OF micro
scopic extent and value shall be pushed on
without pausing for a moment.