New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-24
MAYOR WANTS A NEW BRIDGE
TO SPAN THE EAST RIVER AT BLACK
WELLS ISLAND.
THE RoAHD or PUBLIC fMPRoy f-dENTs TAKES
4 PRELIMINARY SrEP-fNCREASE or As
sEssEp VALUATION EXPECTED.

THE ROAED OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS TAKES
PRELIMINARY INCREASE or As
srssEp VALUATION EXPECTED.
Mayor Van wyck yesterday sent a letter to tho
BOARD - Public Improvement asking that Board
10 talk. The initial steps for tho construction of
bridge across the East River between Queens ard
Manhattan. ut Blackweifs Island.
\ bliIg. az this point mas long been asked FOR by
the people OF Long Island City and Queens, and re-
Gently delegation from Long Island city. Jamaica
aud Flushing called on the Mayor to ask him 10
push the preliminary work. II will be impossible
10 raise ANY money FOR the project for some time
by issuing bonds. bu, part Of the money appro-
prlated FOR the Typographical bureau can o- used
I'm making preliminary surveys
In his letter the Mayor asked that the matter or
the proposed bridge receive prompt attention from
the Board SD that action might he taken by thu
Municipal Assembly at an early date. A similar
request was made 10 the Board at yesterdays meet
ing by q delegation Of citizens OF Manhattan and
queens. who appeared TO appeal TO the BOARD 10
take some steps toward the ultimate construction
of the bridge.
Walter J Foster OF Queens. was the first speaker ,
on behalf Of committee OF forty. appointed last
spring meeting OF taHpaysGS nsh 10 hc'P a.Un
mat property IN queens was sunrt'ns -, ' .',ss
because % the lack OF speedy communicating WIN
Manhattan. Property had deprecated In value. ne
said. and property-ownefs mad MOI me ihe"ms ~
make improvements II was believed IN Quret,S.
borough. but this has not proved so. The bridge
he contendcd. could be built at a moderate COZ;
from the increased valuation 81 property III queens
would pay Tor H. 800, -.
Professor j. Rarhlme OF the public schools OF
Queens followed Mr. Foster. and made an "arhe-t
y, on FOR Tie proposed bridge He said mat Eack-
wells Island formed n natural barrier In the way
nf travel between Manhattan and queens. as. o"-
nc 20 the situation Of the island. ferries romd not
fourth SITS on the East River. Professor Barhme
said no realized the embarrassed condition OF me
.'fv treasury and did net ask or expect iinnehlatr
r.sults hut he wanted the Board 10 take some
action as evidence that the bridge would De begun
as soon as the funds were aNallahi"
President HOlahan remarked ihat mo press ="
,.'. .ff, ,h. Mayor and all who had studied me
,rtiar3 u..ro highly i'm favor OF the bridge and he
thought some action should De taken. iI"mp
action nc added would be or great assl~tah''
r., ma ,nnographical department I'm the drawing or
rcu mans of tho city. The Board accordingly
,assed resolution authorizing the commissioner
~ Brldgos to take the matter in hand and decide
what would be the best place for me new DriHs"
r.rortug To tho Board the result or his inVestlga
ions Nr Foster on behalf ~ the delegation from
Ouaenq thanked the Board FOR TINS a'uoh' anu
with tho other witnesses retired.
Tho fact that tho Mayor has ordered me bo'ru
20 Lo eos toward beginning another prdgr across
.,. I.st Pi,.r shows that the city oinci1lS nave
r.,rd wa, 20 reduce the debt proportion so That
fhc limit vii not ~ reached after January l.
p.,pir a, the city Hall believe that II Is now
r,i,.ilv certain that assessed valuations Will no
i,,.rnsed So that the city Will hav" forty or ittN
millions TO spond after the beginning OF the year.
Controller Colcr said yesterday tnat nc Woulu
,rok. mo- further efforts toward having the S-O-
ON o,0 of county debt eliminated from considcra-
Atom lu tho calculation OF the city debt In thnt
case tho only practical remedy left for the cry
officials is to increase the assessed valuation OF