New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-11
TIE HARLEM RIVER AND IT'S BRIDGES.

A COMMENT on THE OPENING OF THE DRAW
FOR GALE AND \ BARREL OF APPLES
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Hon. Chauncey NJ Depew, president Of the
New-York Central Railway. gives, in this days issue.
gloomy statement Of the railroad bridge over the Har
lem River, the draw Of which was kept olen at ono
time, half an hour to allow the passage Of tug
with a barge whose cargo consisted OF barrel OF
apples and calf, that trains the roads using
the bridge delayed on the Hudson River road
far back as Cr0ton, on the Harlem for back rs
White Plains and on the New-lIaven far Green
wlch thus obiging $1,000 passengers wait for the
passing of the calf and the barrel OF apples. 1t was
enough TO make this liberal minded and genial gentle
man KICK and kick hard, the $4,000 men, women
and children would in turn kick him. for he had
covenanted to take them through on time, ut least II
not in safety TO life and limb Several questions arise
touching this matter.
First, which had the right OF waysl 1t Is worthy
OF note that in 1870 before Congress made the second
grant fr the Harlem Improvement, General Hunter,
OF Indiana. then member of the House Sup'Com-
mitec Commerce. made. with the writer. thorough
survey Of the Harlem River and Its surrounding walters,
in revenue vessel furnished by the Collector Vi the
Port Representative Hunter reported TO the House
Committee on Commerce that the Harlem RIVER was
an arm OF the sea- whose tides ebb and now through
It's entire length. Being thus part OF the ocean,
Congress claims the right Of way on Its waters. MI
DtipcW VIII hardly Ocny tlht inc h"hNi' oN'''V"
before the Hudson River and the Harlem railroads
were built.
Another fact IS worthy Of notice that the State law
requires the bridges over the Harlem to be twenty
four feet I'm the clear above water, So that
tugs and barges can pass underneath without
the opening Of the draw. Does Mr.. Dcpew
intend TO nullify the statute law as South
Carolina did, when President Andrew Jackson
had his Attorney General read tho statute 10
John C. Cahonnl Old Hickory said that the statute
must be obeycd. and it was. The Texas ana racine
Railroad has Just completed bridge ut the Peco5
Canon COS feet high and ESQ feet long. II 1t paws
this road To build such bridge would 1t not pay the
New York Central road To build proper Dndae anu
approaches over the Harlem Rivcrl
SGcond-Is it not weknOwn fact that all water
craft In tdcwntcr are vessels, whether carrying
mlllon-dollar cargo seeding cargocs, or carrying
cali and = barTl OF apples. Nnu, also T. no. w
Youngest child travelling the Central ROAD cNuue
10 receive all the safeguards against accidents ana
loss Of life Mr.. Dopcw says that this detention o.
cured last summer. lie does not mention now many
live, have been Lost during this period from neglect o
duty on that rOad 49,, l.,
Thrd- Mr. Dcpcw fails to mention why this dc
fcntinn Of half m hour occurred one liners from
me article that each time a tug with ~'OW ana 4
calf and "A barrel ~ apples pa,sc, through ilHII'W
that three or fonr minute, generally enough for the
passage Of vessels. WHY 1, th> extraordinary incident
cited ~ though II wcrc Ordinary one
And las w. while Mr.. lrp"w doubtless uu0cirtAn',
Il 10 be an admitted fact That the New Tor" 'chua
and Hudson River Railroad and control, the
cy Of New York. does be wish II "a control ana own
me Atlantic Ocean alsol CHARLES SIOi GllIoN.
New-Yorl. April ], lsO2.