The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-11
Big BRIDGE SCHEME
Congress Practically Ger
tain to Aut horize the
Construction.
SECRETARY SWANS WORK
Commercial Bodies Favor 1t and
the Objections Are Personal
and puerile.


Der of additional votes were promised
today for the New York uptown BRIDGE"
said Secretary Swan, OF the NewYork and
New Jersey Company. yesterday. II re.
ceive letters every day from Senator's and
Representatives assuring me Of their
wlllingn ess to support with their in
fiuence and their votes the Bridge bill
when it shall come before Congress.
Such assurances are encouraging. al
though we already have a great majority
of both houses secured. These letters
bear out the claim that just as soon as
the Bridge bill was understood it would
be passed."
saw Philip B. Thompson. Jr., the at
torney of she company. and asked him
what he thought OF the prospects for the
passage Of the Bridge bill in the carly
months of the session. Il think" said
Mr.. Thompson, THAT the bill will u
doubtedly be passed il the early
months OF the next session of Congress.
The objections urged against the pas
sage of he bill are personal and puerile.
The necessity for the bridge has been
recognized for more han forty years, out
there were physical obj ~ections TO its con-
Y uCClOu WuiCu Outy tu6 2T6dt SbIluco
recently made in steel and iron and other
structural material and civil engineeri ng
have made practical and possible.
A LEGISLATION.
las far back as 1858 the New Jersey
Legislature, recognizing the necessity
for more rapid and easier access to the
City of New York by the bridging of the
Hudson River. passed the necessary laws.
Similar legislation upo the part OF the
State of New York was not obtained
from the Legislature until 1890. under
the administration of the then Governor
and now Senator Da vid b. Hill. While
the action of the two States affords
ample authority for the legal construc-
ton OF the bridge, YET the consent OF
Congress TO it and the approval of the
plans by the Secretary or Wal is Of the
utmost imporsance to ~nattonalize the
enterprise q give it prominence and
stability"
What is the source of opposition to
the construction Of this bridget"
We'll, III the first place, 1t is that
natural opposition which every great
enterprise meets. II always means the
taking without consent of The owners of
private property upon the payment of
just compensation, which is naturally
distasteful TO everyone. because it is
unknown at the time who will be dis
turbed, and the entrance OF railroads
into cities necessarily interferes to some
extent with the free use OF the streets
and avenues along which il must be
built and over which it must pass. This
excites the opposition of those charged
with maintaining them N ~eugenders
conflicts with local authorities. But this
bridge Will not close any street or ave-
nue.. 1t will go through the blocks.
THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT.
THE city authorities made some slight
Ia a., %k~ kfiI .-kf1h 1850,
them them the controlling power in the
location of the approaches, which the
bridge company early recognized as pro-
per and right. They have not onIy with
drawn their objection, but now agree
that it is not only q necessity but will be-
an inestimable boon to The great COM
mercial interests of the city. The Boards
of Trade. the Chamber Of Commerce and
exchanges of the city have menoraiizsd
Congress for its passage. More than "
hundred of the presidents. vice presi-
denrs and cashiers OF the leading banks
in the city have petitioued Congress 20
pass the bill. Property owners along the
route Of its approaches. numbering
twenty thousand, have asked for IL. The
united delegations of both Houss aud
Senate from New YORK support the bill,
and nearly all the members from the
State of New Jersey will be for 1t. There
seems to be no doubt of the passage OF
the bill"
CONGRESS NEVER REFUSES.
docs Congress ever refuae a charter
for a bridge?"
Where the States nave authorized it
the annals of Congress do not furnish a
single instance where it's consent has not
been given. The great bridge across the
Mississippi at ST. Louis only carries
1900, 900 passengers per year n yet pays.
and since 1t was erected two other
bridges have been constructed at St.
Louis. There are five or six bridges at
Cincinnati over the Ohio River. The
Thames at London has many bridges to
accommodate the traffic, some of them
built long ago, with spans SO short
that they would not be permitted at this
late day, aad yet we fnd the
great city of New York, through
which seven-eighths of the i'm.
ports of the country come, has no
better communication with her outside
customers south and southwest than an
old fashioned ferryDoat. Last winteri on
account of the ice, 1t took two hours to
get across the river. This ls fresh in the
memory OF the people Of New York City
and the travelling public. There is 10 W
no objection left to the bridge except Oh
the part OF some real estate owners,
known as the West End Improvement
Company, who complain that such a
structure would be an unsightly OBJECT
and obstruct their view across the Hud.
son River. ( have no doubt that the
Bridge bill will be passed. as Congress
Will not listen to objections Of such a
Himsy nature.
~ A