The evening world., 1895-05-18
new BRIDGE
Much NEEDED.
Third Avenue Temporary
Structure Put to a
Heavy Strain.
GRAVE FEAR Of A CALAMITY.
Little Prospect Of a Speedy Com
pletion Of the Much Needed
Crossing.
the MAYOR APPEALED TO.
No Has Set the Corporation Coun-
eel at Work to See Where the
Blame Belongs.

Owners Of property on either side OF
the Harlem River. in the vicinity OF
Third avenue, are raising an outcry
arainst the slothful manner in which the
work Of building the new bridge at that
point Is being prosecuted. They have
protested to Mayor Strong. and have
been Joined in the protest by everybody
living on the other side OF the river.
Ias we'll as business men generally. who
are compelled to use the temporary
wooden structure in going to and from
their homes.
The fault. 1t is claimed. does not lie
with the contractor. John w. Hopper.
but with city officers 1t Is feared that
one Of these days there may be serious
accident. In which event an awful re-
sponsibllity will rest upon some ones
shoulders.
Two years ago there was united de-
mand for this new bridge. The Old
Third avenue drawbridge. 1t was Sener-
ally conceded. had long outlived its use
fulness. All kinds OF meetings were
held In the Mayors Office. and there
were trips to Albany and elsewhere.
Finally plans for the bridge were de-
signed by Thomas Curtis Clarke. under
the direction of q. w. Birdsall. Chief
Engineer OF the Croton Aqueduct. lr
stead Of the bridge crossing from Third
avenue. however. 1t was deemed advls-
able to approach from Lexington ave-
nue., and terminate at point on Second
avenue on the other side Of the river at
One Hundred and Thirty fourth street
The bridge, as designed. was to he 2.S0I
feet long. and the roadway eighty-six
feet wide.
The cost. including the value OF prop
erty acquired by the city. was estimated
At 81 l.JOO.OW. The contract was given ic
John w. Hopper. of one Hundred and
Twenty-hfth street; 1t is Just nineteen
months since the latter completed The
Temporary wooden bridge which lies e.
the right OF Third avenue. Then the old
structure was torn down.
1t Was claimed that the new bridge
would be opened to the public within
eighteen months. During those nine
teen months the heaviest Kind OF traffic
h,s All ss tne a 1,H 1s,
Railroad cross 1t, and from early mora
ang until late At night there H. steady
Stream OF trucks and vehicles 1t is
estimated that between 6.JOU and 7WU
krucks, vans and carts cross every day.
An Evening World'' reporter stood ON
the bridge recently from until o'clock
y. NJ. and counted LIB vehicles.
The temporary bridge Is built exclu-
sively of wood. The above figures show
wnat grounds there are for fear eN-
bridge. that 1t may. one day, topple over
Fortunately Mr.. Hopper knew some
thing of The laws delay" and made the
is eridGs mmeh stronger than
ent there IL little fear of the bridge
Ealing, but what may happen in IA year
or 50 & Is not pleasant to conjeeture
III the work OH the new bridge is de-
: layed in the future as in the past. then
fhere Is a possibility of its being com
pleted In the next century. Not IA stone
river. one OF the piers on the south
S.de Is only halfway completed, and
that IS about all that has been done.
side required for PfRs the approaches m e 'ohas has
not even been condemned
~ Is on this one point that residents
claim the Commissioner OF Appraisal
Is indifferent: that he holds sessions
weeks drart, and that the work of
condemninS the property has dragged
plshed.
1t was in order to have the Commits
eioner stirred up about the matter tina,
= delegation waited upon the Mayor
two days ago, and laid before him ali
the facts, EN-Judge Henry l.. McCowr
headed the deputation. Lawyer Bass
speeches. The danger of the presen,
structure was pointed out. and tn,
Mayor was told how real estate an,
business interests generally were heint
ruined Until the condemnation pro
ceedings have been completed the con
tractor can do nothing,
The Mayor promised to look into tn,
matter. He has already done so, an,
the Corporation Counsel has taken hol,
and will find out at whose door tn
fault lies. Unless they hear somethnl
definite by Wednesday, the property
owners will invade the City Hall in
body.