New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-28
THE NORTH RIVER BRIDGE QUESTION
UNITED STATES ENGINEERS HEAR ARGUMENTS
ON BOTH SIDES.

UNITED STATES ENGINEERS HEAR ARGCMENIS
ON BOTH SIDES.
The Board OF United states Engineers, appointed
u Inspect the plans and to listen to arguments III
favor If the proposed North River Bridge from BLOOM
field and Twelfth sts., jersey City, to Twenty second
st.. near Tenth-ave, this cts. held f., last public
meeting at the Army Building yesterday. me boaN
IS composed II Generals II. l.. Abbott and F. Il. Com
stock. Colonies Houston and Gillespie, al Of whom
were present. The structure viii be II suspension
bridge 5000 feet long with two steel towers. The
spqp Will bc $500 feet. The bridge will be 131
feet above watcr level IN the centre Of the span ana
12j feet at the two tower,. II Will have four railway
track, and a promenade. but 10 cariagcWay. Con
siderable opposition Is shown e. the buIdHS OF ue
bridge by people owning scLoo4cgs and ships which
pas, mp and down The Hudson.
EIwa.d IIincEen, who represented the Board OF
Cpmmls irners - Pilots aud tho Maritime Exchange,
trou,ht tnnt # would b. better fr the maritime IN
tcrcs., Of Sew York 10 have ;Ac bridge 100 feet high
he spoke II the difficulty AID expense TO which the
owners ~ largo scho0urrs aad ships were put when
tlcy wished . pas, under the Brooklyn Bridge, aad
,ad that in bis opinion TIE shipping interests VI
WILLIAMSBURG; ard Other points Of brooklyn had greatly
declined since the erection Ok the Bridge. Captain
Anderson. Il Port Richmond. staten Island, was in
| favor Of tho bridge. but thought that it should be
hi-l enough 70 allow vessels Of the largest size TO
sail mp and down the llIdsOn without lowering their
masts. lie thought that 10 wa, an outrage to allow
a private corporation to build a bridge across tho
Hudson River l33 feet high.
Twenty year. ago. he sad, coastlng vessels aver
aged frIn 200 20 700 tons each. Now they run
mom 1000 % 5000 ton. each. The coasting trade =
increasing annually, especially IN coal and ice.
Ilrc, hundred and thirteen sailing vessels were made
m Maine last year. The North River Bridge would in
,ure commerce more than the brooklyn Bridge has
done. owing to tie large tovr, which would be cat
or by %, c%rcton.'
captain Williams. u Cedar CioelI. y. j., who owns
% number OF vessel, which sail from Baltimore 10 this
port. aid: "Hy schooner, are kept ont OF Long Island
| -ouud on account of the Brooklyn Bridge. OF course
VIC can lower the topmasts Of our big schouer,, but
the expense Of this. together with the ucCcs AIRY delay.
Will amount to about $500 each time The report Of the
Deputy Commissioner Of Public Works regarding the
| proposed structure not having been received, the board
granted that department and all other city depart
mcut>. "a, We'll H. the Maritime Exchange, a reason
aLlo time 10 pr,pdIc their objections AID Tile them
with the board for is use at II, private meetings.
L.ow,on y. Fuller made an earnest plea for
the bridge. and slid that 10 would greatly facilitate
the growth Of the city. particularly the upper part Of
Il. lie said that In h, opinion The day was fast ap-
preaching when steamboats, would entirely SupcrSedo
Sailing vessels. lie thought that l3j feet was u
sufficient height for The bridge.