New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-01
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL
BRIDGES ACROSS THE HARLEM.

hank OF a stream and there are large CONNER
cia interests 10 which 1t is OF great importance
to find quick outlet, for speedy inercommuhlca-
ton between the banks: (2) that where such
population and such commercial interests are
suffering and being retarded for want OF such
communication and there is a structure immedi-
ately available for that purpose. as between theh
and overfed street railway corporation the CITY
property will be turned over I" the latter
Senate bill No. 81 directly contravenes ooth these
propositions Your attention is earnestly calIed 10
its thoroughly corrupt intent and the fraud upon
which 1t is based.
More than thirty years ago the Legislature iore-
seeing the rapid spread Of the city toward ana De-
yond the Harlem waterway. indicated lts pol1y
for the construction of a number OF Dndges oFc'
that stream. The various steps by walch mag
nifcent structures have gradually been erected
across that artery need not be recounted mere sur
fee it 10 say that In the natural and sensible
course OF events the larger bridges snoulu come
first where the congestion OF trafhc ana OF popu-
aton is greatest This position has been reversed
in the history Of bridges across the Harlem. VI
population In what is known as the North SIDE OF
than $1,000 souls. nine-tenths lie IN tlaf Por-
ton bounded by the Sound. the Harlem River, one
hundred nd-forty -nnth-st to Morris-ave Motifs
ave to One-hundred-a and sixty -hrst-st' One-huh-
dred -sixth-hrst-st to Thrd-ave Third-ave- TO
One-hundred- nd seventy -ffth-st. and One-huh-
dred-and seventy -hfth-st. 10 the Sound North OF
population is contiguous to the Harlem River anu
rapid transit across 1t is required. Besides
they have four large bridges. and hye-siXhs OF
this population Is congested south OF One-huhareu-
and-sxty-frst-st.. and an enormous Pop'I uo'
thereof in Mott Haven and the district to the east
Yet white the expected district lying aloHs ule
Harlem north OF Observation-Disclosures st-S on
the east and Observation-Disclosures fth-st on the
west bank consisting entirely Of vacant property
owned by land spectators. possesses seVeral Oh
the most beautiful structures in this country, oi
| which the Seventh-ave Cor Central ana Nashing-
ton bridges are types the whole region referred 10
possesses-except the Third Avenue Bridge far to
the south and still In course Of erection, and the
Madison Avenue Bridge at OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
eighth-st which is a worthless railroad ana loot
bridge constantly out OF order-no means or com
mlnicaton whatever with Manhattan Island ms
| entire section can only reach the island by long
detour.
In Juna 1851 the Legislature sought 70 remedy
this defect by Chapter of the laws of that year
Owing TO financial conditions, twelve years were
| allowed in which TO commence the construction OF
a bridge at an expense of 81, 10000 in addition TO
easements ut acknowledgements on
the southwest TO Observation-Disclosures
| upon the northeast bank. Within 500 feet Of the
| Grand Central Bridge the north thereof, Is the
bridge from the upper end Of the West sac u Sis
| nam date Ne work and Northern and formerly
| New York and Yonkers Railroad. Between ines
| draw-spar thereof, which is comparatively new
! This was erected pending the construction OF N
! Iegislature wisely dire ted that upon the compile
ton OF the latter this span which Is not onE al
but a dangerous obstruction to the navleau2h OF
the Harlem ship canal sn94a rgnG :" t5 or
! and-forty-nnth-st., about 300 Feet south OF "
| Central Bridge ard perhaps 1900 feet north OF me
| old Madison Avenue Bridge above referred TO- II
| Is now al dangerous angie IN the river. ine Il''
| lem is more I'D more fulfilling its destiny as
"A
large span which is III feet In the clear on slae'
! must turn almost completely around to accommo-
! clear less than 300 feet away, and crossing AT an
wv as VII as possible TO the railroad bridge just
! there should be 500 feet Of clear water pet"ee"
The removal OF this old span though the T 2ct Is
mandatory rested Of course, with the PARK boarl.
| This Board proceeded up 70 certain day to carrS
out the intent OF the Legislature The act arowe of
$50 0N for the building Of approaches ana some oI
the ctys best engineers reported that the expense
| the amount directed by the Legislature to he APP
! pronriatcd would cover the necessary construction
TN Tha PSrk Board applied to the Board Of Estimate
| and Apportonment for $3.50 10 make the necessary
| surveys and soundngs for this temporary bridge,
! and the latter Board immediately allowed IT, This
| carried the matter 70 April 1896 ,,..
In May last the thousands OF Interested residents
! and property-owners learned that an Application
had been put in on behalf OF the Union Raiway
| site. as a means of crossing the river ana cohhecs
| ing ii with the elevated road. Business men am
| property owners. with aggregate investments OF
| many millions Of dollars demanded hearing ana
secured 1t with some difficulty but, In spite OF tns
| pany was indorsed by none but a few vacant-lot
! snecuiators a handful Of politicians and a few re-
| spectacle residents living along the contagious
branch Of the trolley system, protests were seem
nsSr ,ooE yam anotbe ste carrying out he
obvious purpose of the act and on repeated 0cca-
sons It's members asserted We should never nave
At it's meeting on July d. 1896, The undersigned;
representing as counsel more than hundred small
| owners and a long list OF business men ana resi-
dents of Mott Haven served upon the Park Board
The Park Board noted on It's official minutes. pub
lished In the newspapers the following DAY ana IL
The City Record" soon thereafter, that these de-
mands had been referred &c the Corporation Coun-
sci for advice and the Commissioners yerDa tb
| stated subsequent dates that TINS had beeh the
! disposition OF the demands have before me a
| letter dated November &C. 1896 showing that up 70
that time the Corporation counsel had never hearu
OF the matter. differences are obvious =,
| our worthy Mayor has been and is with us IN
our attempts to obtain rights. II is only with
in a week that any but few OF the people Of Ine
! Iation or in fact that legislation was pending at
| all. The present act is intended 70 fasten Gown
| bridge at its old Site for the benefit Of the most
corrupt corporation in this city land while nave nave
| no anti-corporate mania this IL saylng a soOe
deal. it's corruption being evidenced by our court
This trolley company. which is still building its
| branches with the taxes il owes the city IL TO
have our span fo- gift; and there being no legls-
! iaflon under which can get brldg- IN the near
| future we are expected. probably. TO 90 ana build
ANY supposed consent OF any assoclaHon Oh e
| representation 70 the nature OF the pehdihgI
legislation There are not l1Ii4 60 ~ =, - .
| believe row that this same act provides Ior me
| immediate construction OF our permanent pIiuse
md there are not six who have ever seen the act.
| have read that act carefully, and see nothing 10
nrevsn, me trolley company refusing to deal with
/ H. park Department after the Park Department
! has built these approaches and almost closed the
Harlem. and applying elseWhere aTr r rneI
II sums up 10 this: That section % ms Cir :
| f-i,,d and having "A number OF handsome bridges
A. its vacant tracts get none IN IT'S Oldest ana
! 5ensev populated portion and where are IN CON
| s,ant oneration 4 great many or IN" largest IN
drstr,es I'm the entire city II corrupt corporation
/ ~n5ars,o ndirg legislative methods desires the
We str,Ictures for It's own use. In conclusion
| only wish 10 say that the trolley company car,
yr-Ss,aii coming events well that u constructed
s tracks right up the line OF his bridge alnos.