The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-20
BIG BRIDGE BLACK EYE
The U. S. Senate Refuses to Author
iZe the Culver Cantilever
Scheme.
Special to the Jersey City Nevs.

WASHINGTON, May 90, 1892. Senator
Hiscock secured yesterday the defeat Of
the New York and New Jersey Bridge
bill. advocated by Senator Hill before the
Senate Commerce Committee some time
ago, and before that time opposed by
Mayor Grant and the New York City
Council by letter and resolutions.
Senator Hiscock argued before the COM
mittee today that the only purpose of
those back of the bill was to sell fran
chise or to coerce the Hudson River
sit. The New York Legislature, he said,
had enacted bill to give effect to care
fully prepared scheme to provide rapid
transit for New York City. Politics had
been eliminated entirely from it, and it
was being pushed as rapidly as possible.
The best lawyers and the best business
men of New York had bestowed their at
tention upon it, and this second bridge,
whose approaches would run practically
to Central Park, was beyond question a
threat against the rapid transit project,
and the public so regarded it. If Congress
passed the bill, neither of the proposed
bridges would be built within the life
time of the members of the committee.
unless one company bought up the other.
and the absorber must be the Hudson
River Bridge Company.
Mr.. Vest suggested that the act pro-
vided for q forfeiture Of charter IL the
bridge were not built within five years
aud Senator Hiscock replied that after
that time there must be litigation, and
everyone knew the trouble in forfeiting
charters. He did not want to make
charges against gentlemen, but the frst
bridge had solid, responsible men behind
it who meant to push it and he had
/ hal ,niy 80 hn
second bridge.
Senator Vest said that that had at first
been his impression. but he had asked
Senator Hill directly if 1t were ''snide"
affair and the Senator replied that he
knew the people were entirely solvent and
in earnest.
Mr.. Hiscock replied that he was not
going to take issue with his colleague, but
Mr.. Hill had been more fortunate than
himself in his contact with these people.
Senator Gorman-Mr. Hewitt is connected with
1t.
Senator Hiscock (emphaticalIy) is not con-
nected with 1t. All Mr.. Hewitt wrote was that
he favored a bridge across the North River. If
Hewitt, Cooper, and men of that character came
here and said they would put their shoulders to
the work of building the bridge it would modify
my opinion very greatly.
After Mr.. Hiscock was heard the COM
mittee decided bv practically party vote
to recommend that the bill be not passed.
The Bridge and Its Projectors.
The New York and New Jersey Bridge
Company secured charter from the New
York Legislature in April. 1890. They
had previously got possession of an old
charter granted by the New Jersey As
sembly in 1868. Ground was broken for
the bridge at Union Township, on
December "a, 1891. and at point in Six
ty-sixth street, New York, on December
81 following. The bridge was to have
been built on the cantilever plan with a
2,400 feet span $50 feet above North River.
The structure was to have cost $12, ,000,-
The principal incorporators of the COM
paby are Andrew H. Greene, Isidor
Straus, Colonel r. K. Hahn. Charles NJ
Vail. Evan Thomas and Charles H. Swan.
The North River Bridge Company, of
which Jordan L. Mott is the head, has
been authorized by Congress to build
what is known as the Lindenthal Suspen-
sion Bridge. The plans were approved by
the Secretary of War on December 49,,
1891.
Colonel F. K. Hahn. Commissioner of
the New York and New Jersey Bridge.
was seen by a reporter last night at his
home. No. 165 West Fifty-eighth street.
New York. He said he had no idea what
the future plans of the company would
be.
Ex-senator Edwards this morning said
"Our charter still holds good, and there
is lome doubt in my mind as to whether
we actually require the approval of the Sem
ate. OF course by receiving the approval
of that body many obstacles are recovered
but it will not Kill the scheme by any
means. 1t is possible to pass the bill
over the report of the committee but
it Is a difficult task to accomplish.
We will continue our work and at the
proper time have the matter brought be-
fore the Senate again. There is no doubt
in my mind but what the bridge will 20
through all right"
President E. f. G. Young of the First
National Bank is highly elated over the
Knockout sustained by the opponents OF
his bridge scheme.
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