The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-03

BRIDGE PLAN FIXED
New York Commissioners
Accept A Scheme for
Spanning the Hudson.
MASSIVE STRUCTURE OF STEEL
1t Will Cost s25,Ooo,OOO and Will
Be Suspended From Twelve
Cables.
MASSIVE STRUCTURE OF STEEL

The New York State Bridge Commis-
sion met Saturday morning, in the oH-
ces of the New York and New Jersey
Bridge Company, at No. 24 roadway
and. after looking over several plans OF
bridges to be built across the HUDSON
River fnall% accepted one which was
sent in by the Union Bridge Company,
od-New York
Contrary to expectation, there was no
friction between the rival New York and
New Jersey interests. The latter were
represented by William Forster, Treas
urer of the New Jersey Company Mr..
Forster upheld vice-President Spark
mans action in submitting a plan to the
Secretary of War before it had been APP
proved by the State Commission.
This was merely done" he said, "as
a matter of Formally. We simply wished
to get our plans on file as a matter of
rsrord.'
The New York Site Commission is COM
posed of Andrew H. Green, chairman;
frank X. Hahn, Charles NJ Vail. Evan
Thomas. Isidor Strauss. Beside these
there were present Yesterday representa-
tives of several conIpanie-.
Before aking uD the subject OF the
plans a communication from the BOARD
of Aldermen was read. setting forth the
resolutions favoring a bridge adopted by
that body on May Z.
COOPERsS RECOMMENDATIONS.
A communication was also read from
Theodore Cooper. the consulting engin-
eer of the commission. Mr.. Cooper
among other things said in his letter.
THE company has. under the act, one
year from June q, 1885, in which to sub
nit Their completed plans and drawings.
But they must file with the Secretary of
War before June Z, next, a general plan
showing the location, length of span,
s~>osition of piers, elevation above high
water mark and other general data
MORE TIME FOR EXAMINATION.
Continuing he says
IT do not understand that the New
York Bridge Commission is limited to
any time which would conflict with the
above. 1 would recommend, therefore,
that the commission for the present lin
it their approval to a general plan, such
as also would be acceptable by the Seere-
tary Of War, as in accordance with the
Act of Congress. This will leave further
time for a careful examination of the de-
tail plans, which will determine the final
character of the proposed bridge.
II dc not believe the capacity AND
strength of this structure would be left
to the individual views of the several
proposers. A bridge hat will not meet
the demands of the railroads which will
connect with it or any future demands
of the traffic CT the city of New York
would be a failure.
That the present methods of n
ing freight upon the island of Manhat-
tan Will be s~upplanted at some future
time by some better system is u~ndoubted
and in my opinion the completion of a
satisfactory bridgezover the Hudson.
River will go far to hasten Its accom-
plishment. 1t would, therefore, be we'll
for the New York Bridge Commission to
exercise it's powers in fixing the mini
mum capacity and strength of the pro-
SCOPE OF THE PLAN.
The plan accepted and approved by the
commission Saturday was drawn by
Engineer Charles Macdonald, of the
Union Bridge Company. The latter con
lions as to the cost of building the pro-
posed bridge. and the time required for
The proposed bridge will he a massive
and imposing structure of steel and ma
sonry. It's New York approaches viii be
between sixty,eighth and sixty-ninth
streets. 1t will contain six tracks. -
IT will be a suspension bridge. The
towers are to be of steel and 557 feet In
height each. These will rest upon foun-
dations of solid masonry extending 70 a
depth of 1875 feet below high water. The
steel framework supporting the bridge
will be 200 feet in height at the highest
point. VII
side will run from the latter anchorage
to the proposed station at seventh aye
nues and Forty-third street by the FOL
Easterly. between sixty-eighth and
Sixty ninth streets. to a point 730 feet
west of Eleventh avenue, curving 10
the right at Sixty-sixth street to a point
$50 feet west of Eleventh avenue; thence
outherly and parallel to Eleventh ave.
nue. to a point twenty-five feet south OF
Forty-sixth street; thence curving to q
point fifty feet north Of Forly-tnlro
nue.: thence e~asterly and parallel to For
Afy-third street to the westerly line OF
The bridge will be 1875 feet in width. Il
IN be suspended from twelve cables. 1t
al be $50 feet above mean nigh wafer
Bic towers win be BIO feet apart, ieaV-
Ebg the entire river free for navigation.
Tn cost of such a structure is guar
3anteed by the Union Bridge Company
mt TO exceed s25, 600. 900. Commission er
Green said yesterday that Engineer Mac.
donald's plans proposed the s~[rohges5
and cheapest structure of all that NAG
been submitted. They will be sent t9
nv Wednesday. Meanwhile Engineer
Cooper will study over the Union Bridge
Conpany's plan and render a report on
n 10 the States Commission today.