St. Paul daily globe., 1895-06-02
24o, 600, 900 pounds. steel at AZ


The enormous cost of the longer can
! tilever at once put it out of considera-
ton, and it remained to choose between
! the shorter span, with a pier in the
! river, and the suspension bridge. The
difference in cost is more striking in
appearance than in reality, for the con-
struction of the cantilever involved the
erection of a. pier in midriver, with
foundation 260 feet below the sea Level,
or more than 100 feet deeper than has
ever before been attempted. In the
suspension bridge, on the other hana'
there is nothing unknown. Although
the dimensions of the bridge are lar
greater than those of any existing struct-
ure they are all calculable, and may
be considered as determinate in cost
without any question as to contingen-
cies. The foundations would be only
125 feet deep. Furthermore, a suspen-
sion bridge can be made readily adapt
able to increased traffic demand, which
a cantilever cannot.
The army board experts not only
decided that a 3,200-foot span was prac-
ticable, but also estimated that, if
necessary, the span could be extend
ed to 4,335 feet and still be within the
limit of engineering possibility.
MAY COST $6O,OOO, 900.
Taking the structure and terminals
into consideration, it is estimated that
the cost will be S45,000,000, but even if
it required a capital of S60,000,000 it is
believed that the bridge would earn a
fair income on that sum.
According to the most conservative
estimates, S5,O0O,0CO people use the
North River ferries every year. The
number using the East River ferries is
$4,000, 900, and the Brooklyn bridge
carries 100000. Hence nearly one
half of the traffic is carried by the
bridge, and this number might be
largely increased by improved facili-
ties.
On this basis it is figured that at
least 28000000 will use the new bridge.
The yearly number of passengers ar
irving at the Grand Central station is
Il, 25O, 600, or about 70 per cent of all ar
irving in the city from through trains.
A large proportion of this traffic will be
diverted by the through accommoda-
tions the other roads will be able to
provide when the bridge is built. The
minimum estimate that has been made
places the yearly number of passengers
paying toll across the bridge at 14,G00,-
600.
The daily arrivals of milk, flour, meat
and produce are S57 cars. Adding to
this small allowance for express, the
new bridge should get at least 1000 cars
a day. From these items alone the
possible revenue is as follows:
100000 passengers at Is cents. 50, 100 900
$50, 600 cars at $4............... /, 400, eco
Total gross revenue. ......... SO, 500 900
Repairs, taxes and sundries n
(about Sc per cent?. ............S 81 $50, coo
Net income. e....................S2 so, ,250, ,090
This is regarded as a low estimate
by railroad men, as it takes no con-
sideration in the increase in population
on the New Jersey side that the bridge
will produce.
EAST RIVER BRIDGE. n
The East River bridge is comparaZ
lively easy of construction, as two of
it's piers will rest on Blackwell'S S island
midway between the New York and
Brooklyn shores. The river span On
each side of the island will be S46 feet,
while the island span will be 615 feet.
The bottom of the bridge will be 135
feet above the river at high water
mark, the same height as the Brooklyn
bridge. This structure will cost $S, ,OOO,:-
Co.,
1t will have four railway tracks
with carriageways and walks on either
side. The superstructure will consist
of cantilever trussese and the steel in