New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-06
COLER PREFERS TUNNELS.
BUT BOARD OF ESTIMATE FAvORS TWO
MORE EAST RIVER BRIDGES.

PORTED BY REPORTS FROM MAR
TIN AND BUCK.
The plan OF the Tammany officials TO construct
two bridges across the East River to connect
Manhattan Borough with Brooklyn was opposed
vigorously at the meeting of the Board OF Estimate
and Apportonment yesterday by Controller Coler.
who presented a long report In favor OF substitute
ing tunnels for the proposed bridges. MT Coier
had TO sustain his report. two long letters from
prominent engineers. declaring that the tunnels
would cost less than the bridges. would be less ex-
pensive to keep in repair would require less LAND
for approaches. and would be safer and more SER
viceabe for the running OF trains. One letter was
written by William Barclay Parsons chief engi-
neer OF the Rapid Transit Commission and the
other was written by Jacobs q Davies. long ar
ray OF facts and figures was presented to sustain
the Controllers plan.
At the outset OF his report the Controller said
that the estimated cost OF the two bridges planned
by the Board OF Public improvements was s2SSH,-
100. The Issue OF bonds to the amount OF s2ONW.
which the Board OF Estimate had been asked to
authorize. would commit the city to the whole cost
contemplated The Controller therefore asked for
delay in the authorization OF the bonds. and for
the consideration OF his plan TO substitute tunnels
His report continued in part:
The advantages of tunnel building over bridge
building have never been officially considered by
any board or department Of the city government
and the general public Is believe; wholly unin-
formed as TO the extent TO which the former has
supplanted the latter in England means OF
crossing nayigabe streams. Only the few who
1 the 1sS ea tie hn sd
vantages Of this means Of transportation To cite
in fact-it will doubtless surprise most people to
learn that the tunnel under the East River con,
and half feet in diameter. which Is four inches
more than that OF the City and South London
poses in the city Of London The East River gas
tunnel, besides holding the large mains OF the
by freight cars. This tunnel could be duplicated
SSy f m 9G & ess than w t or
one for eastbound and one for westbound trains
The Controllers report declared that the tunnels
could be constructed within two years while the
building OF the bridges would require more time
than that. Long approaches would be required for
the bridges account of the great height
CURED. The approaches could not be made to begin
and end at the right points for the relief OF con-
gested traffic, while the tunnels could have their
entrances at the right places. In conclusion the
Controller wrote:
II 100000 to be spent in tunnels from four
to six times as many passengers could be carried
as the two proposed bridges would accommodate;
the tunnels would be ready for use long before the
the places where and whence they wanted to go,
and not deposited in Inaccessible localities, and the
oughfares OF Brooklyn would be relieved; In all
probability much less than 100000 would accom-
But H. on the other hand, this $50 900, oo-being
the hast dGFs that the cy 81 has w 10 b9ges
which admittedly VIII not satisfy the demands OF
hausted and the city rendered helpless to afford any
further Improvement In transit facilities
When the Controllers report had been read Mr..
Golfer offered resolution calling for delay in the
issue Of bonds to enable the Commissioner OF
Bridges to investigate and report on the feasibility
OF his plan.
The Mayor. who apparently had anticipated the
| Controllers move, asked for a report from Bridge
| Engineer Martin. Mr.. Martins report was against
the tunnels 1t said that their construction would
| amount for approaches. In Manhattan the terni,
nal stations would be 100 feet underground and al
vators. To have elevators enough would make
When ali things we're taken in account he said,
| tunnels would cost great deal more than bridges
voted IN favor Of these two Bridges do not know
what has happened since then to change mis- opn,
ion. He has committed himself to bridges between t
and brooklyn don't or knGw a why ome
| over the spirit Of his dreams"
The Mayor mex, produced report from from II EnF
BuG regkng as he dd so hat the norma
| ton had not been procured from the Long Island
h9a no hSeed by Mr. H coe
| The Mayor then offered a resolution authorizing
| cover preliminary work.
The resolution was adopted, the Controller alone
| voting against Il. The Controllers resolution TO
postpone action was beaten. He alone voted for 1t.
| President Grout Of Brooklyn said yesterday that
he was in favor OF opposing any East River tunnel
plans that did not provide for a grade connection
at Broadway between the East River tunnel road
! and the rapid transit system. When President
Baldwin OF the Long Island Railroad had his at
tention called TO Mr.. CIRCUITS statement yesterday
| he said:
| The plans Of the East River tunnel contemplate
| tust such a connection at or near broadway. mat
is solution OF rapid transit for the city There
| IL no rapid transit at present. Running a lot or
| cars IL not rapid transit. so long as the cars be-
come congested and fail to deliver the passengers
AT their destinations There will not be any rapid
| transit until trains make long and rapid runs be-
| tween stops The tunnels will allow OF that being
| done That Is what is done in London
| The Bank OF England is the centre OF London.
| Four tunnel lines lead from the square near the
| bank That is the only way that the great mass OF
| people there could possibly be handled. The Rapid
| Transit Commissioners will decide whether II Is
| wise to have a grade connection at the intersec-
ton OF the tunnel with the Broadway tunnel line.
| or an elevator system. the same in London. II
| would be feasible, doubt. by running uptown a
ways for the East River tunnel line to strike the
underground rapid transit grade with their tracks
| so az TO make the ride continuous between Har-
| lem and Jamaica. But the elevator system could
| be worked 10 advantage, the elevators could be
made large, and there would be only one lift. and
that short one, from the grade OF the East River
| tunnel which will be below the rapid transit
| tracks, 10 the grade Of the latter.