The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-02
THIS COLOSSUS WILL FE A RECORD BREAKER
Six Railroad Tracks, Two Roadways, Two Foot
paths and Two Bicycle Paths
BROOKLYN BRIDGE TINY BY COMPARISON

work. that the new bridge will make
the most radical departure, not only from
the old one, but from every previously
existing structure in the world. When
completed, it will take its place, and IN
Til mightier successor arises, hold il as
the engineering marvel of the early years
OF the twentieth century.
the old bridge has two foot ways, two
carriage ways and two railroad tracks.
The new bridge will have six railroad
tracks, two carriage ways, two foot paths
and two bicycle paths. Two of the rail-
road tracks are for elevated cars, which,
without doubt, will secure connections On
both sides OF the river, SO tnat passengers
can go twenty or twent y-five miles say
from jamaica 10 Yonkers without once de-
scending to the level OF the street, possibly
without even changing cars. The other
four tracks are for surface cars, diyen
either by electricity or compressed air; two
OF them approaching and leaving from the
north aud two from the south to serve the
different parts of the city. An architect
ural expert will early be called into CON
sultation TO keep in mind the aesthetic
quality OF the great structure. 1t will
have. instead OF pinched terminals, de-
bouching upon narrow streets, broad
plaza at either end, perhaps SEQ by 800
feet in size, equal to several city blocks,
"nIcn can be ranged car stands
for twenty, thirty or forty different car
lines, III necessary, each falling into it's
place, receiving its passengers and join
ing in the line for the procession across
the bridge. 1t is calculated that some
so per cent of the traffic will be passenger
traffic.
Yet if a person wishes to walk or wheel
over the river and enjoy the unequaled
panorama from the summit of the arch he
can do SO without danger TO his neck, for
on either side of the wide plaza a foot path
and a bicycle path will sweep in an easy
curve toward the big towers. gradually
arising at a somewhat higher gradient than
that OF the carriage track, until as they
reach the bridge proper they are directly
above the carriageways. By this arrange
ment the width of the new bridge is keptat
11S feet. Even at that. it is fully 30 per
cent wider than the old.
After this statement of he dimensions OF
the plaZas at the terminal of the bridge,
it will hardly he necessary TO add that there
is no congestion OF traffic % be apprehended
in any of the streets approaching it. 1t is
as if the thongs which will pass over areto
be buttered out thin over Il wide area, SO
that each stream can seek its channel with
out interfering with any other. Still, it
is likely that the main lines of approach on
either side will he widened by the city
authorities, although with this the bridge
commissioners and engineer have nothing
to do.
In another regard the builders of the
new link between the two cities have
learned i valuable lesson from the disas-
trous experience of the Old, and that is
in the matter of administ RI ton. 1t has
cost the people OF New York and Brooklyn
more than $50 900 900 to build and admin
lister the present Brooklyn bridge up To date.
Its income, vast as it has been, has been
an inadequate compensation for the cost
OF the structure, partly because of the
expensive and Anticipated ways in which
its various activities are conducted, which
are, again, rendered necessary by the
limitations of the termini. 1t has a COM
plete engineering staff, separate police
force, separate lighting contracts. its
own cars, cables, engines, and railway
staffs. 1t costs many times as much TO
switch the ears back and forth from one
track to another within the stations them
selves as it does to haul them all the
way across the bridge.
The new bridge will have neither police
force nor railway staff nor any employees
whatever excepting an engineer, Il superin-
tendent, and some inspectors. The cities,
which long before its completion will be
but the one city of Greater New York, will
streets precisely as they do the rest Of
their territory. No rolling stock will be
required, because the bridge will be made
thoroughfare OF which the cars of any
surface or elevated railway will he per-
United to make use at will, upon such terms
as the commissioners may lay down for
the genera. safety and the general good
Away up town in Brooklyn a man may
board bis rnorAing car. surface or eieyate',.
and, instead of changing at the bridge en-
trance and jofning in the scramble for a
seat or standing room only, for ride OF but
six or eight minutes, will roll on across
the bridge in the same car without stay or
detention Ind the same at night upon his
RETURN. What sum per passenger the car
lines will be required TO pay for their use
of the bridge is a question which, of course,
the future will be left to determine; but,
however small the rate, it is easy to see
that the immense throngs which use the
bridge wiif-provide a sufficient revenue to
pa the interest upon the cost of the struc-
ture. because its maintenance expenses
will be almost pOtbing.
Probably this decision to make the new
span thorOushfare for all who wish to
use IL upon the commissioners terms is the
wisest which could be made. 1t is the
wisest economy of the time of the passen-
ger and of the money of the taxpayers.
1t should be added that engineers do not
begin planning for great works by dra wing
pretty pictures to show how they will look
when completed. They begin at the begin
ming. The unofficial Illustration which &C.
companies this article is drawn from the
description to show the general character
of the structure and the grouping OF It's
lines OF traffic, and is not supposed to be
accurate in detail.