The record-union., 1894-06-16
SPANNING THE HUDSON.
The Great Bridge Will Eclipse the
Brooklyn Bridge.
Investigation of the New York Police
and the Result = The Hoffman
House Being Torn Down to Make
Room for a Magnificent Hotel.

Regular Correspondence OF RECoRD-ON1oN.l
New YORK, June Sit is late in the
season for this city to be lively, but as
things look now there is no reason to ex-
pect any pause in the development of any
of the interesting matters well under
way, and new business is constantly
arising. When President Cleveland
yesterday signed the New York and New
Jersey bridge bill he got out Of the path
of an enterprise of great magnitude and
of great importance to New York.
Interest in the sensational disclosures
made before the Police Investigation
Committee, however. detract from the
attention given here to other things.
Still there was some little stir of a remi-
niscent sort, when it became known
yesterday that the old Hoffman House
was to be pulled down to make room for
larger, more magnificent hotel.
Hudson River should have been
bridged long ago. Efforts in this direc-
tion were begun as soon as the Brooklyn
Bridge was completed in 1883. 1t was
talked of during all the period of thirteen
years when the Brooklyn Bridge was
building. Since then the promoters of
the project have struggled through hired
Legislatures, against prejudice, rival
interests and finally have won the last
long fight III Washington. Serious con-
cessions have been made all along the
line of the protracted fight. and these, as
we'll as the defeated Interests, may yet
cause further delay and make renewed
legislation necessary. For according to
the terms OF the bill, the plans must be
submitted for approval 10 the Secretary
of War before the close of The first year,
a second year has run out. The plans are
nearly ready, but the purchase OF ground
for the termini and the securing OF cap
ital may, with some interference from
opposing interest, require the legislation
of the privilege TO postpone.
These resisting interests are very for
midable. The New York Central Rail-
road Company has the only terminus in
the city at present. The value OF that is,
of course, enormous. That company has
opposed and will to the last minute stand
in the way of the bridge unless it is COM
promised with. The only hope of the re-
moval of tEiS obstacle is that of future ab
sorption by that company OF certain par
allel roads on the Jersey side of the
Hudson. Even then, however, the
bridge company will have 10 arrange with
the numerous ferry companies that now
carry the enormous traffic that crosses
the river to and from New York every
day. Some OF these ferry companies, on
the other hand, are controlled by the Jer-
sey roads and roads that have terminii in
Jersey City, Hoboken, etc., on the west
side of the Hudson.
These roads, eleven in number, are in
vited TO enter the bridge company with
capital. When the bridge is built, we
may be sure they will control it, for it is
conspicuOuSly their interests that will be
served by the great span. AS yet, how
rlTsr,f
these many competing roads has not
been consumnIated. In this fact lies the
menace to the project and to public in
terest. The lncorporators have so much
chan ce for making deals that 1t is hardly
possible that none will occur to scandal
iZe outsiders. The fact is, as | know per-
sonally, some holders of stock are in it
merely TO make trade. AS for political
difficulties, they have been settled. Tam
many fought the enterprise till last year
III Decembe the company conceded to
that power the right to fix the location of
the New ork terminus and some other
lesser points unknown To ME.
The importance to this city of such a
bridge is easily made clear to those who
read the letter Of last week on the Rapid
Transit problem. The bridge would OBJ
viate in large part the limiting influence
of the narrownesS of Manhattan Island.
1t would make a leak in the west side of
the city and allow an overflow into Jer-
Sey. New Workers rs whole do not
wisn that, but individually they have
Sought II and more would do so ii the ID-
tercourse were as easy, comfortable and
rapid, as bridge would render it. Bus
mess mon naturally desire the bridge be-
cause Of the facilities it would furnish for
transporting freight TO and from the
whole country west and south. How
large q business would be thus directly
L l.
that in one year (lS9l) more than l30 000,-
coo tons of freight was transported over
the river by ferry boats, train boats, etc.
This means that that amount of stuff was
handled twice when bridge would en-
able one change. In that same year the
passenger traffic was S0000,000 people,
who arrived or departed by means of
ferryboats from and to trains in Jersey
City.
According to the present plans, six
railroad tracks will be laid on the bridge,
giving it a capacity for nearly 800 trains
day. No provision is made tor foot or
carriage passengers, but the Consolidated
Traction Company, lately formed of all
the Jersey and Hoboken surface car lines,
may and are expected 10 alter that detail.
They must do it or they Will see their
passengers carried clear over their heads
by the steam companies, now being in
1ured by these electric railways.
In dimensions the projected bridge will
far outmeasure the Brooklyn bridge,
which now is the glory of the world, in
beauty, span and night In form il will
be cantilever bridge. but not very beau
tiful because of the break in the middle
that looks like draw. The enormous
sweep OF the span may obviate this. A
span of 5000 feet brooklyn bridge is /, 900
feet between piers will be a wonderful
feat. enough to make the spider reflect as
to the advisability of giving men any
more hints. The Hudson River span
will be $50 feet above high water, fifteen
above the Brooklyn bridge. 1t is to cost
S40,000,0OO and be completed in four years
from the date of its acceptance by the
Secretary of War. The four years. guar
antee is OF course nonsense, but | follow
the plans and specifications.
In this city the terminus is to be on two
blocks two hundred by eight hun
dred feet eachl, bounded by Forty
second, Forty third and Forty-fourth
streets, by Seventh avenue, Broadway
and Eighth avenue. Two buildings will
be put up, connected over Forty-second
street by small bridge. In these will be
the usual requisites of a great station.
ticket and other offices. waiting-rooins. a
hotel, Postot1ice and storehouse Be
tween the bridge and these buildings there
viii stretch a steel viaduct. The whole
plant will be used in common by the
railroads that join to construct the bridge
with the projectors of it.
The Hudson River bridge, New York
ers fear. is only possibility of the dis
tant future, like rapid transit and other
good things. SO they keep their eyes on
the evil things that are at hand aud the
good things that are near at hand
1t is an admirable trait in the Eastern
man that makes him reserve his sludg-
ment, while ready to state his conviction
openly. People hero have believed for
years that there was corruption in the
police department.; now they are con-