The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-06
C0LER BALKS AT BRIDGES.
srGgEsTs TUNNELS INSTEAD, WHICH
MIKES THE MAYOR ANGRY.

Mayor Hints That tho Com ptroiier IL Work
ing for tho Long Island Railroad and
That Augers tho Comptroller-Board OF
Estimate Votes sa,oOo,O00 for Bridges
Comptroller Coer ran afoul OF one OF the
Mayors pet schemes yesterday at the meeting
n, the Board OF Estimate. when he proposed
tbat instead OF two bridges across the East
Ever numb OF tunnels be built The Mayor
has announced It as the policy OF his admins
tration to build bridges. Comptroller Coler
believes that tunnels would be more conven-
len, and cheaper. and yesterday the Mayor
told him that he was working in the interest Of
ths Long Island Railroad.
Mr. Coer went to the meeting armed with n
long communication. In which he said that he
hoped the board would postpone action in order
that the subject might be fully investigated and
asked that the Board OF Public Improvements
he instructed to make n full investigation OF
the CONT arative desirability Of tunnels and
bridges. Mr.. Coler said that the city was in no
financial condition to enter now upon the ex
penditurc OF S2S0O0.OU0. the estimated cost OF
HE bridges. and also to carry on the other great
pubic works which are In hand. In support
ri his contention that tunnels are more con-
yenient than bridges and l. IS expensive. Mr..
CoIer pointed out that they had been success
fuIIy Tried inLondon. and that their terminals
e1uid be so extended as to make access to them
convenient to very much larger number OF
people than could he accommodated at the
eNr Golfer hal reports from W. II. Parsons.
Chief Engineer Of tho Rapid Transit Commits
sion and the engineering firm OF Jacobs Il
Davies. TO support his contention in regard to
tunnels. The engineers said that tunnels
we're preferable TO bridges on account Of their
economy in construction and maintenance the
fact that no expense az approaches is ncces;
sary, that they are more easily located, and
that tho gradients are descending ana not
Mayor Van wyck had been informed Of the
Controllers purpose TO try to substitute tun;
nels Tor bridges. and he was In no very good
humor when the meeting began While the
exhaustive report OF the SomptrSIler AMI ms
tured II with Interruptions. In one part Of the
Controllers report. he said the tunnels would
accom- m0da'e railways.
POD the Mayor. The railroads wanted to de-
the report. went on after he had said u few
words more. The Mayor Interrupted him
again.
The,s tunnels are f2r the sole Hss Of the
tunnels why don't they. build them. This
whole thing Is nothing but scheme o. the
prevent the construction OF bridges aud to
iorce the city 70 construct tunnels for its use
board l. Committed 10 bridges. year ago you
voted with me or these bridges
You have no right 70 say that have been
The Comptroller. "ldontknow why you make
such am accusation. II you can show me that
bridges are tier than tunnels. will vote for
them
scheme" said the Mayor. 1 have felt their
influence
Then the Mayor had three reports read from
Chief Engineer Martin Of the Department Of
Bridges. Chief Engineer Prohasco AMI Chief
Engineer Buck. All Of them said that bridges
were the only solution OF the traffic problem
They were as emphatic In declaring that tun-
nels coull not accommodate the people as Mr.
Colar's expert had been that tunnels were the
only way. When these reports had been read
the Mayor smiled In q self-satisaed way
Il idu't go to the Long Island Railroad for
my Information" he said.
Then the Mayor introduced two resolutions
aprrupriatlng -. 900. 900 each for the prelimi-
nary work on the two bridges for which sketch
plans have been Drawn. Comptroller Coler was
the only member NJ the BOARD who voted
aGans' these resolutions. Mr.. Coler said that
until the approval Of the War Department was
secured. The Mayor gave orders that
copies OF the resolutions appropriating the
money should be sent to the Municipal
Assembly, az Its meeting in the after e,
resolutions were adopted. In the Board
OF Aldermen they were referred to the Com
mittee on. Finance under the rules. They will
be taken up at the meeting OF the board on
Friday and an effort will be made, to pass
them. The, Tammany members will vote for
HSs % so ,hay viii he Sss oT ,ss2s u
great deal OF opposition to the proposed bridge
terminal In Brooklyn among the Aldermen
from that borough. At yesterdays meeting an
EFFORT was made TO pass a resolution authoriZ-
tract for the necessary soundings and borings.
IL failed of abortion.