The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-08
HARLEM RIVER IMPROVEMENT
Tho board OF Engineers Opposed 20 FfN
Bridges Only TVsenty.four Feet High.

Tho board OF Engineers Opposed 20 FiSel
Bridges Only TN*enty.four Feet High.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 7.-Gen schoneld. Acting
Secretary or War has sent to the Senate Com.
mittee on Commerce q report Of tho Board OF
Engineers. answering certain questions Sub.
mitted by the Committee in reference to the
Improvement Of the Harlem River. The Board
is Of the opinion that the present and prospso.
tive navigation OF the Harlem River cannot b
carried on under fixed bridges only twenty.
four feet above high water II adds:
THE Harlem River. in its natural and
present condition. is a large and important
part OF New York harbor. and affords excellent
locations for wharves. manufactures. ship.
pied water fronts on Manhattan Island. The
rapidly increasing demands Of commerce and
should be done to diminish the harbor accom- n.
modations. On the contrary. they should b
increased. as /. now being done 6y tho Gov:
eminent and private parties on the Harlem
iioard i: .herei0rs: e the opinion tina. Il:
fhird avenue to Eighth avenue is unwise and
inexpelent."
canal and the distance from sstabiisbed p COM IN:
city are not such as to preclude the motion
mage, When the Improvement is completed
into the Harlem by the East River at Hsli
Gate. and receive and discharge cargoes with.
out tho Inconvenience OF navigating the In at
River south OF its junction with the Harlem,
where the channel is crowded and tho our.
rents are swift.
Another question asked by tho committee
was whether the probable utility Of the cat al
will not 10 exhausted In a few years In the
carriage of building materials designed kol
that portion OF the city north OF the Harl au
River. and whether all such traffic could DO
be accommodated by craft rugged with hinG e
or telescope smOkestacks and masts. To
the Board answers that tho present ira HI
in building materials must continue as tnl
az buildings are erected and repaired in thl
Harlem district. A large part OF this tra MD
might be cnrred in vessels SO rugged, but Tho
Board believes there will always be a dem Ind
for the use Of vessels that o. not have Cd
would be an onerous imposition.
The Bonrd thinks that the interruption Of
transverse traffic over the bridges By the
opening OF the draws has been overstated.
SUCH passages. even II large. can be limited
TO hours when they W i'll not i'm pede transv verse
traffic i'll an onerous degree.
In answer t. another question tho Board
says that n certain part of the water front OF
New York city Is rs yet unoccupied by wharves,
piers. and other commercial structures. but
much OF it is unavailable at present for
docks: &C.. from the want OF proper ap-
wharvce and ohor structures. The Board be-
levcs that the water front OF Harlem River
should not be DESTROYED or damaged by the
erection o.! obstructive bridges over the river.
The Board puts its veto on the suggestion
made by Mr.. Simeon Stevens Of New York
westerly t. Eighth avenue. be filled In. and
the land filled in reclaimed and used for bust
moss purposes. 1t is neither practicable nor
wise. says the Board.