New-York tribune., 1891-12-25
Ay OBNOXIOUS BRIDGE BILL.


ulate the construction of bridges across the Hud-
son River and the East River at the city OF New
York and to prescribe the dimensions OF the
same" which has been introduced in the Senate
by Mr.. Hiscock is obscure. Senator lliscock
seems to have introduced it by request, though
at the request of whom he has not yet made
known IL has been supposed that it was a
little scheme devised by the president OF the
New-York and Brooklyn Ferry Company, for
the purpose of hindering the construction OF any
| bridge that might tend to diminish that COM
| pany's receipts; but Mr.. O'DOnohue soemnly
| AYERS that he knew nothing whatever about it
until he read it's provisions in the newspapers.
Whatever its origin, the bill is an extraordinary
| one. containing provisions unmistakably designed
| to render difficult thai which should be made
as easy as possible-the linking OF Manhattan
Island by means of bridges to the adjacent shores
| of Long Island and New-Jersey.
Some of the provisions contained in this meas
| ure are simply groesque. Take, for example,
| the one giving the Secretary of War power to
| fix the rates Of toll Oh all bridges hereafter to
| be built. The absurdity Of this is evident on
moments reflection. The only interest that the
| National Government has or can have in the
| construction of bridges over navigabe streams
| is to see that navigation is not interfered with
| or Obstructed. There its duty begins and ends.
The question Of tolls is essentially local one TO
| be settled either by the authorities of the two
| Cities by the Legislature, or by any company
| that may undertake the vast work Of construct
| ing bridge. To empower the Secretary of War
to act in such matter is hardly more peposter-
| Gus than it would be to authorize him to fix the
| -: hall ba in
| city. The right of the Government to determine
the height of future bridges in order that there
may be free passage for vessels is not questioned.
But this bill fixes the height of all bridges over
| both rivers at 15O feet at the middle Of the
stream and 140 feet at the piers. The wisdom
| of this, as respects the East River at least is
clearly open to question. The present bridge is
| 1876 feet above high water at the middle point
| and 100 feet at the towers. Its height was
| fixed by the War Department, and it is not un-
reasonable that it should serve as crierion
for any other bridges that may be built between
| New York and Long Island. The present bridge
has not proved to be an obstruction to naviga-
| ton. A few vessels ape forced to house their
| tOpmasts when passing under it, and in the last
| year two vessels have had their masts carried
| away by coming in contact with it. To lower
| the masts for several bridges would be no more
| trouble than to lower them for one Besides to
increase the height of great river span is largo
| ly 10 increase its cost, and at the same time to
| compel the putting forth Of greater power for
every train, every man and every horse that
cross it, AS applied to the East River, this pro-
! vision of the bill is clearly unreasonable.
| Other provisions, which we cannot consider
AZ, INN fly nh.
surd, for instance, to enact that all future bridges
shall be at least one mile apart. The time may
come when two bridges within half mile OF
| each other may be demanded. OF course, il
there is business for both and capital to build
| both, they ought TO be built. If one mile is to
| be regarded as the proper distance between
! bridges why may not the limit be fixed at two
miles, or five, or some distance that would be
absolutely prohibitory? Then, again, one re-
quirement of the bill is that all bridges built
hereafter shall consist of a single span between
existing pier head lines. 1t looks as if this re-
quirement was specially intended to prevent the
erection of the Blackwelps Island Bridge, which
is planned to be built with pier on the island
that gives it its name. But when we read that
no pier or other obstruction to navigation, either
of permanent or temporary character shall at
any time be permitted between the said pier
| head lines" wo are forced 10 the conclusion thas
the bill in hand is intended to block the building
of any and all bridges, since oven the sinking
| of caisson would thus be prohibited.
The words authorize and regulate should
be stricken from the title of this measure, and
words prevent and prohibit' substituted. 1t
is bill without single feature to recommend
! Ii. Senator Hsoock cannot do New-Ysrk and