New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10
TUNNELS AND BRIDGES.

Controller Coler IS expressing his opinion OF
the Tammany bridge orgy with refreshing frank
moss His determination TO continue his Efforts
~ raverse the error which his colleagues nave
heen led into should arouse the general pubic 10
take some interest In these schemes TO commit
the CITY suddenly to an expenditure OF solne
$40 100000 for bridges without any evidence
that they are either necessary on the sites
chosen or are the best means Of accomplishing
,nterborough transit No doubt better commune
co+ion across the East River is greatly needed,
hut the Improvement should be undertaken
with Intelligence and moderation instead OF
with haste and Mayoral billingsgate.
Mr. Van Wick is convinced that 1t would
+ol,e MANY tunnels 10 furnish the carrying ca
nactv for all sorts Of traffic Of one bridge. This
NAV or may not be true. But, even If 1t is, 1t IS
M sufficient argument against tunnels instead
of bridges. In the first place the problem Is not
n furnish at each crossing carriage drives and
footpaths. but to open up new and rapid passen-
ger railroad routes. Many drives and walks
across the river might be desirable as luxuries,
and II the city had plenty Of money to spend II
would be well enough to have them. But the
city has no money to waste Therefore, II IL
can get the essentials Of communication more
with bridges 1t should do So Take, for In
stance the proposed bridge to reach the Brook
lvn shore between the present Bridge and the
Navy Yard Nobody will pretend that that Is
seriously needed for wagon and foot traffic. 1t
70 wanted for cars Two tracks under the bed
of the river would relieve the present structure
as much as two tracks above its surface This
line is so close to the old Bridge that the addi-
/ ia nrOmpnD1ps
needed enough to justly the greatly increased
expense Of bridge The other proposed bridge,
at BlackwelIs Island, Is characterized by the
| Controller, In a letter which he has just pub
! lished, as "by far the more extravagant as it Is
the less necessary of the two schemes" and he
| holds that n tunnel for 100000 would accom-
plish all that is really needed for the public good
| there, while bridge, which would be practi-
cally no more beneficial. would cost S13,000.0O0.
When the bridge to Broadway, Brooklyn, now
under construction, Is completed, it will. II Is
estimated be the natural outlet Of about 40 per
cent OF the traffic which now crosses the exist
ing structure 1t will certainly relieve II 10 a
considerable extent. Why should this Bridge
which is TO be relieved be almost paralleled by
another bridge useful almost entirely TO rail-
roads. when a tunnel would do it as well and
with far less delay and expense? This bridge
was originally projected as Il private railroad
route. and the city will possibly have to pur-
chase from railroad interests their old franchises
for the privilege Of building them the bridge
which at one time they pretended they were go
ing TO build for themselves With two bridges
across the East River the reasonable demands
! of horse and foot traffic will be met for some
! time TO come. There is no special congestion for
! Thorn now Ferries must continue In use for
much OF the draying. To South Brooklyn. for
instance, n bridge Is not feasible. tunnel IN
that direction would accommodate the passen'
ger traffic and help TO dffuse 1t, which is spe-
cially TO be desired In this crowded community
Besides, II would practically continue the Man
haitian underground rapid transit system.
We can understand how people with fran
chises TO be bought and people with personal in
terests In bridge building should prefer bridges
to tunnels. But no good reason has been shown