The evening world., 1894-07-16
OPPOSED TO PIERS.
Chamber of Commerce Will Fight
the New Bridge Plans.
Favors a Suspension Structure,
but Not CantiIever.
IL Would Interfere with Commerce
and Menace Navigation.

Further opposition to the present
plans for the construction Of the New
York and New Jersey Bridge across the
Hudson River was markedly developed
this morning, and from quite powerful
and somewhat unexpected source.
Now 1t Is the New York Chamber OF
Commerce that objects to the bridge. on
the grounds that the construction OF the
proposed two big piers in the river bed
is not only an unwarranted interference
with commerce. but serious menace
to the safety OF river navigation.
Should the Chamber OF Commences
objections be sustained, the Bridge
Company must change Its plans from a
cantilever construction to a suspension
scheme. This means a bridge span
length of 800 feet. instead OF 700 feet,
as at present planned, under the can't
lever scheme. which Is an increase of
, about 80 per cent. in length and an in
crease OF several millions In the cost Of
construction.
II the Chambers views are Endorsed.
all the work OF considering the borings
and present plans of the Board OF Ex-
pert Engineers, sitting in the United
States Army Building. will have been
for naught.
Tomorrow morning at IL. so o'clock the
Board Of Expert Engineers, appointed
by President Cleveland to consider the
length OF the bridge span, viii give a
public hearing TO Special Committee
sistlng Of Gustav II. Schwab. OF the
North German Lloyds Steamship Com
pany; James Simmons, President OF the
Coykendall, Nice-President of a leading
towboat company of New York.
The views Of the Committee VII be
brand. He will lay before the Board
engineering statistics to prove. that a
bridge can be constructed without Its
piers encroaching at all on the river
span will De both safe and practical.
Gustave Schwab, Chairman of the
Chambers special Committee, expressed
an Evening World" reporter this morn
ing,
phatically protests against the construc..
ton of any bridge piers in the river bed
outside Of the pier head lines, and will
do all that possibly lies in its power"
said he ito prevent the injury to COM
merce and navigation that the Hudson
River Bridge on its present proposed
plans would certainly cause"
I'VE have got the advice OF the best
engineers In America. among them Mr..
Bridge. that the Hudson River can sI,e.y
be SPAWNED by bridge whose piers do
not obstruct the new bed. or course q
cantilever bridge is out OF the question
and the suspension plan alone Is practi-
cable, owing to the large Increase in the
lergth of span.
1.-The Chamber thinks It is an outrage
that the Bridge Company to save Il few
; million dollars. should undertake to in
Jure New York's commerce and naviga
ton many times that amount; We shai
fight the present plans tooth and mai
,, and use every effort and influence to pre-
vent the proposed outrage.
THE Chamber Is not opposed to tn
construction of bridge across the Hud
son River: indeed. II will welcome thu
construction of dozen. but the rive
must be kept clear Nor does the Cham
Der care a cent as to where the bridge
are located. They will be welcome ev
ry hundred feet If the constructors 81
desire
The Board OF Expert Engineers me
again this morning In executive session
in the United States Army Building
E Major Raymond. Chairman OF thu
I Board, said that to-morrow's meeting
when the Chamber OF Commences pro
test will be heard. would be open to thu
nphlip