New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-03
MORE BRIDGES AND BETTER FERRIES. |

After January l. 1898, the great community
whose millions Of people occupy Manhattan ISL
and. Staten Island the western part of Long
Island and the southern part of the main
land of the Empire State will become one
huge municipality. The welding OF the vari-
Gus elements Of this mighty metropolis should
be promoted and strengthened by the rapid
development Of all practicable means OF
communication between all the divisions Of
the vast area which will compose the Great
pr NewYOrk. 1t is matter Of deep re-
greet thar the people OF New-Iork. of Staten
Island. Of Long Island and Of the region be
yond the Harlem did not awake half-century
ago to n conviction of the superb future that
was before them. If the citizens Of these re-
gions had realized fifty years ago how mag
nificent would be the expansion of all this terri
tory they might have enlarged many streets
which could have been enlarged then at mod
crate expense; many crooked paths might have
been made straight then: many new roads and
avenues might have been cut through then with
no eXtravagant outlay. and ample preparations
might have been set on foot for the noble city
which next year will take its place as second
among the cities Of the world Not only were
the people Of fifty years ago shOrt-sighted and
remiss in regard to the poeniaties OF New
York City and its suburbs. but the citizens Of
only few years ago failed to look ahead and
to make ready for the tremendous expansion
which is now manifest on every hand, and
which will go on with accelerated speed in the
last years of this century and through the centu-
res to come. II is true that many lines Of sur
face travel and many miles Of structures on
stills have been put through in NewYork and
Brooklyn. on Staten Island. and above the Ifar
lem within recent years. Striking advances
have been made in the speed with which cars
are run In every part Of the domain Of the
Greater NewYOrk. 1t takes far less time to
get from the most distant limit Of Brooklyn to
the rcmotest spot in the present NewYork than
ii took a few years ago. Nevertheless. 1t is oh
vious that great deal remains to be achieved
in shortening the time of travel between the
divisions of the Greater New-YOrk and in in
creasng the facilities and comforts Of such
travel
No doubt the exasperating delays which have
beset the work of the Rapid Transit Commits
sion OH Manhattan Island will be overcome
within few years at most and even the most
violent and embittered enemies of a true rapid
transit system in this metropolis will find them
selves discounted and routed utterly before the
iamsbridge the boroughs are now teeming with
schemes for transporting the millions of pas
sengers which must he transported every day
in tho near future Brooklyn also is fertile in
similar plans. and the projectors Of various sys-
tens are anxious 10 search ont even the re
hottest hooks and corners and recesscs Of Staten
Island
The need of additional bridges between Man
haitian Island and Long Island is serious and
urgent The commission which has in charge
the construction of the new East River bridge
is acting with energy. and seems to be pushing
the work with all possible speed. The present
Board Of Trustees Of the Brooklyn Bridge is
trying To broaden still further the means OF
transit over that structure. 1t is unfortunate
that the tedious waits in putting together the
Blackwell's Island bridge have been 50 pro-
longed That bridge will I've an Improvement
OF solid worth. and it will bring about mo-
mentOus changes. The necessary capital ought
to he raised within a short time and the str,lci-
IRE should be finished with all the haste com
patible with absolute safety. Blackwelrs ISL
and bridge Is a pressing need. Other bridges
also ought 10 he set up between Manhattan Isl
and and Long Island within a few years The
provision Of q great variety of thoroughfares be-
tween the Borough of Manhattan and The Bor-
ough Of Brooklyn should be secured at the earli-
est practicable date
But The ferry companies can do a great deal
for the benefit OF the people of the Greater New
York If they will act with public spirit aud with
enterprise. Some of the fcrryboats on the North
River are noble neutrality-suspicious. swift, well
constructed and ingeniously adapted to be wide
ly useful to the public. But many Of the ferry
companies whose boats traverse the East River
and many Of the companies whose vessels run
down the harbor. and others whose routes touch
various points in New-Jersey. are far behind
the times in every way. Their boats are slow.
uncomfortable and much too small in many
eases Several Of these ferries are disnally un-