Rock Island Argus., 1900-07-19
"A CITY OF BIG BRIDGES.
New York. to Have Four Across
the East River.
FEATURES OF NEW STRUCTURES.

VIII Cross the HudsOn-1t VIII De
Nearly Twice Large as Any
known Suspension Bridge - East
River Bridge n Marvel.
BY its position New York is certain
to become a city of many and mighty
bridges writes Earl W. Mayo in Aims
lees Magazine for July. The Brooklyn
bridge has been one of the city's glO-
ries since its completion and has been
reckoned one of the wonders of the
world. But other bridges far surpasS-
ing 1t are now projected. The compile
tiOn of a series of great bridges across
the East, North and Harlem rivers will
do more than provide a great cOnven-
ience. They will give the city an ap-
pearance of sightlinesS and finish
which will greatly heighten its impress
sion Of magnificence and power. As
bridge architecture in its present form
is distinctively an American product
it is worth while to consider at some
length the character of these new
structures and their probable effect up
on the city.
Bridge construction in New York
will go on at a rapid rate for the next
which now constitute the greater city
no less than four new bridges to span
the East river are planned or actually
in process of construction. On the
western side of the city the greatest
bridge Of the world is projected to
cross the Hudson, and contracts for its
erection have been let. Add to these
the existing Brooklyn bridge and the
half dozen great spans that now cross
the Harlem, and New York seems to be
in fair way soon to realize its des-
tiny in this particular direction.
"Of these various enterprises the one
furthest afoot at present is the new
East river bridge. 1t is to connect
Brooklyn and Manhattan at a point
about a mile above the present bridge.
Its piers are now above the water, and,
as those familiar with bridge building
are aware, this means that in point of
time it Is more than half completed.
According to the plans of the con-
structOrs. it is to be ready for use by
the end of the year 1901.
"The East river bridge is the model
of the other three bridges which will
be built about the city. One of these
is to cross the river midway between
the two bridges mentioned, a second is
to be located about n mile above the
East river bridge, and a third is to
connect Manhattan with Long Island
City. This will not be a suspension
bridge, but cantalever. with one pier
resting on the lower end of BlackwelPs
island.
although the new East river bridge
engineering marvel, it is not likely to
hold first place for long. 1t will be
eclipsed almost as soon as it is finished
by a great railway bridge across the
Hudson between New York and New
Jersey. 1t is promised that this will
be the most wonderful span of its kind
in the world. 1t will be nearly twice
as large as any suspension bridge now
in existence. Its steel towers will rise
to the height of 5ST feet above high
water, more than $50 feet above the
statue of Liberty and half again as
high as the tallest skyscraper in the
city. Its main span will stretch 3,254
feet between piers, twice as far as
those of the Brooklyn and East river
bridges. The bridge complete will be
more than two miles long.
"The purpose of the New York and
New Jersey bridge is to afford entrance
to the city for the various railroads
now having their terminals on the Jer
sey shore. When fully completed, 1t
will include an immense union terminal
station in the vicinity Of Seventh ave
nue. and Fifty-first street, in New York.
The construction of this bridge, like
that of the East river bridge, is in the
hands of a commission. Contracts for
a part of the work have been let, and
the promoters of the project say that
the bridge will be completed in seven
years. 1t will cost So, ,00o, 600 and with
the land approaches and the site for
terminal will involve the expenditure
of fully $60.OOO,OOO. But it will be the
Colossus among bridges.
"The effect of all these bridges with
their lofty steel columns and slender
spans will be very graceful and pleas
ing, and they will do much to give the
city a distinctive and attractive charac-
ter. The usefulness of the Brooklyn
bridge has been hampered and its APP
pearance impaired by inadequate ap-
proaches- The new bridges will not
suffer from this defect, for the ap-
proaches are to begin four or five
blocks away, and by their artistic
treatment the surrounding district will
be greatly improved"