New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-10
AN INDISPENSABLE BRIDGE SCHEME.

Senator David B. Hill is pretty sure to be
on the wrong side of every question when
affects the prosperity and welfare OF New
York City. Mayor Grant has sept a protest
TO the Committee on Commerce of the United
States Senate against the ndefensible scheme
of the New-York and NewJersey Bridge Com
pany to damage and dcface a considerable part
of Manhattan Island. Senator Hill has come
forward as a champion of this speculative )oo'
Il is doubtful if the community generally real
ICES the extent of this ambitious plan' or inc
results to the city which would follow the con-
struction of such a bridge as this company de-
sires to build. 1t would practically conllSca'e
to the uses of this company long stretch OF
the water front 1t would make useless Tor
residence purposes an immense area just below
Riverside Drive and extending down to the
vicinity of Thirtv-sixth- st. and Broadway. IL
would seriously interfere with building opera
tiOns and improvements over an extensive
territory on the West Side, and generally would
worl, an ncalculable amount of mischief and
harm.
Some of the opponents of this proposed
bridge say with force and reason that Ii this
company is to be allowed to construct any
bridge at ALL it ought TO be compelled to go
above One-hundred and -fOtiethst From that
mart of Manhattan Island a bridge could be
built to the New-Jersey shore which would
not lay waste the region just below kivers'de
Park. and would cause no such extensive dam
ages or DETACHMENT. The shore is bold there
and rises sharply from the water IL would
not be necessary to carry the bridge structure
nearly so far back into the interior OF the
island as it is now intended to carry it under
tie plans of this company. IL Is OF the utmost
importance that the Senate Committee on Com
merce. which has this stupendous scheme under
consideration, should investigate it with the
greatest pains and care, and understand thor
ouehlv how serious will be the consequences
TO this metropolis if the bridge is built IN the
manner now intended The charter was worked
through the New York Legislature by unjustiti
able methods Logrolling and every sort OF
devious means for obtaining votes were en-
poyed to secure this charter, but when the
charter was passed at Albany, NEWCOMERS
did not comprehend that this scheme involved
the construction of an enormous system OF APP
proaches many miles in length, and if success
fully carried out would mean the building OF
a great railway system under the guise of APP
breaches to the bridge.
The Ncw-YOrk and New-Jerscy Bridge Com
pany has not obtained the approval and sup
port of the New-Yor Chamber of Commerce,
| of any representative body of business men, or
| of any organization of influential New-Yoik-
ers 1t is, in fact, a speculative raid upon in
terests of vast importance and value 1t has
| not as yet a substantial and solid character.
| The leading capitalists of the city have not yet
| given il any aid or countenance so far as can
| be discovered. Until it shall enlist the support
of such bodies as the Chamber of Commerce
until the municipal authorities, and New-York-
ers whose influence and character command
| the respect and esteem of their fellow citizens
unite in asking that Congress shall grant the
tremendously valuable privileges which this
company seeks. this scheme does not merit q
favorable report from the Senate Committee
1t is full of dangers to the metropolis. The
Mayor is entirely justified in opposing it, and
| Senator Hill is continuing his usual policy OF
mischief and injury to this city when he at
tempts to secure favorable report from the
/ Senate Committee.