The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-17
THE NORTH RIVER BRIDGE
,xa oFTHEGREATR RAILROAD
nrcrunE IS NOW ASSURED.
.,,on. All Overcoms-Its Centre Span
VIII Bo Nine Feet Higher Than
Brooklyn Bridge.

The President has signed the New York
and New Jersey Bridge bill. and the
next step to be taken by the promoters
of the enterprise Is to- submit the plans,
which have already been drawn, for the
approval of the Secretary Of War. says
the New York Sun. The officials OF the
Bridge Company are greatly pleased at
the passage Of the bill. which has met
much opposition, including at times that
of the Mayor Of New York and the
Chamber of Commerce. The predecessor
OF this bill was killed by President Cleve-
lands veto.
The chief objection urged has been
against the construction OF piers in the
river. A new bill was prepared, follow
ing the recommendation OF I. l.. Casey,
chief ENGINEER OF the United states
Army. providing that the bridge shall
be constructed with single span over
the entire river between towers or piers
located between the shore and the estao-
lished plcr-head lines In either state,
and no pier or other obstruction TO nav
igation, either of a temporary or perma-
nent character, shall be constructed IN
the river between said towers or piers
and the said bridge
The new bill also provides mat th9
New York terminus OF the bridge snail
be between Fifty-niAth ard SlXty-nintn
streets, and that the bridge shall be con,
structed with such length OF span ana
at such elevation as the secretary o.
War shall require, provided hoWeVa,
that II shall afford under any conditiohs
Of load or temperature MINIMUM cieaa
headWay above high alter OF IoI les7
than $50 feet at the centre OF the spdh'
The bill further says
THAT said companies may locate, con-
struct and maintain over such prlds'
and the approaches thereto railroad
tracks for the use Of railroads. provided
that any railroad on either side OF salo
river shall be permitted 10 connect lts
tracks with the said bridge approaches,
and shall have equal rights or trahsl.
for rs rolling stocks, cars passengsts
and freight upon equal ana equltI,U..''r,
terms. and II n dispute os to the equaliX
or equity Of the terns shall arise II s I
be submitted to and decided by the sec
rotary OF War: provided that the I9Sa.
ton of all approaches OF said brlase
in the city OF New York shall be eppI,tn,,
ed by the Commissioners Of the Slnklns
Fund of the city Of New YORK; ana pIUU-
vided further, that no railroad or Isn-
roads shall be operated on the appltaa'c."e
of said bridge companies IN the Cltg VI
New York. except on such appToaCnss
as sholl have been approved by the Sink
Ing Fund Commissioners OF the CITY ol
New York; provided, also, that the tern.
'approaches,' as used IN thiS act shail
be construed to g incluae osllE su,L
W
on either side Of said bridge as IS neces-
sary 10 reach the grade Of the bridge
from the grade Of the streets at Whlch
said approaches begin 10 rise, in order
10 bring the two elevations together upon
and by grade Of not less than 70 Feet
TO the mile"
The company must complete the bridge
within ten years from its DeglnnlhK,
spending on its construction az least
$1,000 the first year. and 100000 a
wear until its completion. The work Will
be begun. officers Of the company say,
as soon as Secretary Lamont approves
the plans. The bridge will be suspend
ed cantileVer bridge and viii cost, In
GLIDING approaches In the neighborhood
Of 100000. It's promoters say II pro-
badly will be completed in four years.
At the centre 10 Will be 10 feet hlgner
than the Brooklyn bridge, thereby AFFORD
ing some ono n chance 70 eclipse the
record Of steve Brodie.
The bridge will be purely railway
bridge with six tracks, for trains or all
the railroad systems now terminating on
the Jersey shore, including the Pennsyl.
vania, Jersey Central, Erie, y. i. ana
W. West Shore. Ontario and Western
ana others II has been reckoned that
40 trains can pass over the bridge IN
a day. This project looks toward the
erection of a union station on the west
side 10 provide a terminus for all these
railroads. According 10 the company
Mans h is proposed TO take two Guy
blocks. each 200 by 500 feet, and bounded
by Forty-second. Forty-third and Forty,
fourth streets, by Seventh avenue, and
broadway and Eighth avenue, giving an
area OF nearly four acres. on this VIII
be crested two buildings. each 200 by 800
Fortv-third street. These win contain
the usual waiting and other rooms and
ticket Offices, an arrival platform and
departure platform, each OF 20 tracks, a
terminal hotel. a general receiving and
dlstributing post ofice for the city, and
a house for express and perishable
freight. also IS stores with their cellars
and about $50 business offices for the
the Hudson river will be connected with
the station at Broadway and Forty
second street by q steel .yiaduct the
and the total length about l0.6SO feet
The main grade from bridge to station
will be 50 feet per 100, or IS feet per mile.