The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-02-02
SOME nrafrs1sorxcrs OF OLD 1rass.
Long Before a North River Bridge Was
TbcuCht or

Long Before n North River Fridge wns
Tbought or
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuS-Sr. The
momory Of winters passed long ago Is revived
by the Siberian weather which wc lately hnve
experienced: the good old times when werode
up town in the stage alcighs OF Kip & Brown.
when merry bells jingled on the Macomb's
Dam road. and Ice formed. occasionally. q
natural bridge over tho East Rivor. I remem-
Der when snow was pilod up throughout tho
length Of tho middle OF Broadway 30 high that
II obstructed tho view across tho street from
the frat story windows.
In 1857 my firm dealt with B.. a mnuufac-
turer OF china who kept his account In a Will
liamsburgh bank. After luncheon, on a cold
wintor day. / started to havo his checl. for
several thousand dollars certified by his bank.
Us we did not want to use It otherwise. Leav-
ing by the ferryboat at Peck slip. Iarrived in
good season to accomplish the object Of my
journey. The return was more difficult. how
ever. Ice had accumulated in the East River.
SO that we did not reach tho New York side
been waiting In the office .or me. expecting to
use the money on that day. but finally had left
in despair about seeing me again.
Some years previously | lived In the board
ing house OF Mrs. f.. 81 Barclay street. and
my host girl was in Bloomfield street. Ho-
boken. She was sitting in her fathers parlor
OH q flno winter evening waiting for me to
tako her to the lremen's ball. where I had
been rash enough to invite her. Not minding
tho warning OF my friends. I started In my
swallow tail" on regulation time. by tho
Chancellor Livingston. but did not get far be-
fore wo we're stuck fast in masses OF ice. Tho
wheels absolutely refused to turn: with our
assistance some Of the deck hands finally al
lowed themselves to be lowered By ropes. with
lanterns In one hand and shovels in the other.
to remove the obstruction from the blades Of
our paddles. By heroic efforts they finally
succeeded 80 as to DO able to move. We effect
cd a landing at Hobokon about midnight. and
/ met a reception from my lady as cold as the
ice was in the river. We arrived at the ball in
sived our rs spirlts :t but / / will never for SUSn the
worry OF that long evening.
was as rraVs. up : a0E srfp .0T Ho is e ' of sh ssG ieW
Lines OF cars which existed soon were disabled.
vicinity. Of tho Crystal Palace: when the snow
had drifted many feet high: facing u, cold
on the way. and nearly exhausted when 1
REACHED Reservoir square. which is now known
The persons who erumble because trains are
crowded. and swear when they are behind
Eiver i" no longer att ta = with S' the Dc! dela n1 q
the old times since the bridge 10 com pl cted.
A similar structure over tho Hudson is
planned, and It seems strange that objections
should be, raised against building. It: but
there has been opposition to all the improve
ments which have ever been proposed. For
examples we need not turn to the dark ages.
hnrned at the stake; In our own time De
cause he wanted to connect the waters Of our
great lakes with the Hudson BY his Erie Canal
eoptsmpIaied; ny native ta,au town t Of Mspstsr sent
n delegate. to Berlin in opposition: Post chaises
were good enough for the old fogies who
actually succeeded In diverting the danger to
hhnm ma distant 1ra t an; ana IS 1 tss village. which
Tho opposition to the brooklyn Bridge and
to our elevated roads was hard to overcome.
Fears that, property would depreciate By the
latter may In some instances have been real.
At where one has been injured. The elevated
roads have developed the northern portion OF
the city and created values which would have
barely existed without them.
The opposition to the New Jersey bridge or
the west side that they may be ruined. Their
loader was formerly known as q genial gentle
man Of leisure this scheme spoiled his tenn.
G Gerii He nanpT;n n t to own va, more sbi1syy-t tSun nd
public Is ready to, bny ju-t at present. The
about It constantly. In his dreams he secs
snorting engines pass from Jersey over o huge
pot; during the day HIS favorite occupation IL
to abuse the promoters Of the enterprise.
Until he and his friends can sell their lots to
advantage they probably will not relent. We
i Sis 1 1eTty y yss So sFs. S sSS SsTs 4Ss stSS1 IL e. Ss. =
NEW YORK Feb. 1. 81