The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-03-06
This paper IS Democratic IN principles
and is Independent hints rie,cs on q" local
questions.
The Big Bridge Project.

The New York and New Jersey Bridge
Company seems to mean business. 1t
has gone into the formulation of plans
seem to guarantee good faith. The dec
~larations of Engineer Cooper, also, in
dictate tina the projectors entertain very
broad views. Their design is not to ac-
commodate a part of New York's traffic
but all of it, including freight; they are
not content to build for this age only,
but for centuries.
The estimate of $23, 900. 900 which accom-
panies the specifications is of course to
cover only the actual construction of the
Bridge. The purchase and condemnation
of lands at both extremities and the
erection of terminal buildings in New
York must be added. and so must the in
terest of the money advanced by capt.
talists for a period of three or four
years while the work is in progress. 1t
is probable that a total investment of
about $50, 900, 600 is involved in the enter
prise.
1t is no small thing to look forward to.
the annual realization of enough rental
from the railway companies to pay in
terest on this sum. and to pay for re-
pairs and cost of maintenance of the
structure. 1t seems certain that not
much less than 5000, 900 a year would be
necessary to make the Bridge a pay
ing institution. This represents 100000 a
week or about S14, 900 a day. To the man
unaccustomed to deal with railroad
quantities, this may look like a hopeless
attainment: but it is to be assumed that
the gentlemen who are embarking in
the scheme see their way clear ahead.
and know where the money is to come
from.
The effect of the Bridge on jersey
City's interests depends very largely on
the Interpretation that is to be put upon
the freight feature of the prospectus.
We get very. very little out of the pas
senger traffic of the railroads. The peo-
pie come from everywhere il millions
and just pass US by, without leaving a
cent among us any more than they do
in a town through which the train
dashes without stopping. This sort of
traffic we can lose without a second
thought.
But it is different with freight. If the
Bridge were to take away all or the
greater part of our freight business. it
would infict just such an injury upon
US as the Albany bridge did upon that
city, many years ago. when it's import
ance as a point of transfer was wiped
out for ever by a stride in railway en-
freight for consumption in New York and
the shipments of New York's own pro-
ducts were to be handled by the Bridge,
the change would not be SO important.
but previous publications indicate a much
more extensive design, embracing all
freight movements in which the Eastern
States are concerned. and even contem-
plating a new point of departure for
transatlantic steamers, somewhere on the
Sound.
OF course. we ave no way of checking
an enterprise of this sort, even though
it might work great injury to the city.
Progress strides on, regardless of cities
as of individuals. But it geatly in
creases the onus Upon us of building up
the future of the place in other direc-
tons. Facilities for new manufacturing
industries, such as the Junction Rail-
road is designed to afford, should be pro-
NOTED, and the city should be made as
attractive as possible as a place of SUI
burban residence. Great public improve
ments, such as the provision of a new
supply of water, should be pushed
ahead. Bridge or no bridge. we have re-
markable natural advantages, and even
the Bridge may help to develop our
possibilities as a residential centre. Any
way, we may be near a turning point
in our history as a municipality, and il
is only common sense that we hould
carefully weigh the situation, and be
ready to make the most of any favor
able opportunities that offer and equally
to counteract any dangers or injuries that
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