The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-12-28
FOR 4 ONB-SPAN BRIDGE
Directors Approve the Suspen-
sion Plan for the Hudson if
1t viii not Cost Over
$4,000, 900.

NEW YORK. Dec. 2s, 1s94-The direc-
tors of the New York and New Jersey
Bridge Company met yesterday in the
Park Bank Bnilding and practically
adopted plans for a suspension bridge.
in compliance with the decision of the
Secretary of War. That decision pro-
hibited the construction of a cantilever
bridge. with a pier in the North River,
u as was planned originally.
After Secretary Lamont's decision had
been made known the directors passed
q resolution, December 20. instructing
Secretary Charles H. Swan of the Com
pany, to confer with Theodore Cooper,
one of 4he commission Of expert bridge
engineers appointed by the President
under the act of Congress of June Z,
1894, and secure his services in preparing
general specifications for a suspension
railroad bridge with six tracks.
FOR HEAVY TRAFFIC.
1t was stated in the resolution that
the bridge must be suitable in all re-
spects for heavy traffic at high speed;
that it must be both safe and prac-
ticable to accommodate the needs of the
railroads approaching the city by way
of New Jersey, with the view that upon
such specifications, bid and proposals
shall be advertised for, under the usual
guarantees and safeguards, in order to
ascertain whether the cost of such a
bridge ~approximates the estimate $23,-
900, o00referred to in the report of the
Secretary of War.
Secretary Swan has had several con-
ferences with Mr.. Cooper and other
well known engineers. A large number
of the stockholders were present yester--
day to hear his report, which said:
1T will be necessary before proper
specifications can be prepared, that the
location of the bridge, which must be
between Fifty-ninth and Sixty-ninth
streets in the city of New York, be fixed
and determined. 1t is desirable hat Mr..
Cooper be requested to examine the
ground and the surveys made by En-
gineer Charles B.. Brush and recommend
q proper location.
"A great diversity of estimates upon
4 suspension bridge is shown by the
report of the Secretary of War, the
estimated cost ranging between $35, 367,671
and 1923, 900, 600. The best way of arriving
at the facts is by advertising for respon-
sible bids upon the specifications refer
red to.
WILL SECURE BEST PLAN.
Although the public would have
reched the goal of an early bridging of
the Hudson if the cantilever plan had
been approved, we should strive in every
way to secure the best plan for a bridge
hat shall be adequate to the wants of
IF the public"
After a discussion by the New York
corporation lasting two hours and a
half the report was handed over to the
New Jersey corporation for considera--
ton. 1t is predicted by, Mr.. Swans
suggestions will meet with unanimous
approval.
After the meeting Mr.. Swan said the
New York company had adopted the
suspension plan. The only question
now to be decided he said, lis that of
cost. If a suspension bridge can be
built for $2S, coo, 900 we will nave no
trouble in paying interest and fixed
charges, and consequently will have no
trouble in getting the capital. The can
tilever bridge was to cost s22, 600, 1000, and
we had the money all pledged. The
extra 81, 000,0 900 will not be hard to raise.
We would not think of going into the
enterprise if the bridge was to cost
$S5, 900, 00O. as the plans of one engineer
Indicate. There is not enough business
to pay the interest on such a sum of
money.
ut viii take Mr.. Cooper about sixty
days to figure out the cost of the new
bridge. Then the figures will be passed
upon by the company, and If every
thing comes out as we now Expect
work will be begun on the new bridge
by the middle of next year.