New-York tribune., 1901-02-27

The building of the tower foundations for Bridge
No. 8. from Westinghouse, in Brooklyn, 10 the
Manhattan shore, line with Chatham
Square, viii be opened on Monday March III.
More than ever is the question being asked.
'Ts the proposed new bridge from Washington
ST as much needed as number Of tunnels?
The new bridge is TO be between the Brooklyn
and New East River bridges. Twelve or thirteen
double tunnels can be built for what it would
cost. and they be built in about one-half
The time.
The more the tunnel system Of interborough
transportation Is studied by engineers and level
headed citizens the more it recommends itself
With the debt limit so dangerously near, and
with the Board of Education asking for sl4 ooo-
600 for new schoolhoUses. il is more than ever
q question among thoughtful citizens whether
the Board Of Estimate and Apportionment is
not committing a grave mistake in going ahead
With bridge building programme thar is de-
plorahly slow and enormously expensive.
recent investigation by Controller Coer
showed that the East River Gas Company's
tunnel. which is ten and a half feet in diamete-
four inches more than that of the City and
South London tunnel now in daily use for
transportation purposes in the city Of London
could be duplicated to-day for considerably less
than $500 900. or between $4,000 and 5000 900
for two tunnels, one for eastbound and one for
"estbound traffic. Trains over the Brook
lyn Bridge at q maximum speed of about ten
,nlles an hour. Through a tunnel they could he
run az from thirty 10 forty miles an hour, Civ
ing the tunnel tracks fully twice the capacity Of
those. on the Bridge.
John Y. Davies. one Of the constructors Of the
Fast River Gas Company, replying TO q request
by Controller Coler for data on tunnel building,
says:
From the suburbs the travel is Of course, largest
also 70 every part - the island. II is obvious
then; that what is needed is intersect every
~ -, me seventeen main north and south railway
hnes AZ numerous points by and west lines
making through connection of the most rapid kind
- the eastern side OF tie East River. Tunnels are
The only feasible solution Of this problem The
.,ornfortable Irnit is about fifrae, nc me me
River passenger movement. equivalent 10 10000
double track tunnel 70 carry this number of
passengers can be constructed do the same bust
ss either Of the two bridges proposed fron,
suitable terminal points on either SIDE Of the Fa ST
River and De fitted with ehicient terminal stations
Blackwelrs Island bridge. estimated 10 cost some
fa5 smd Tor =, % t9 in place soo Of the lower
estate would be needed for the tunnel construction
- The city could use its own street property For
the amount proposed 10 be expended for the TWO
bridges now under construction less than twelve
,s @ PsrS n,.iicT er ~ sn0ra. sn1 ~ Is obvious
than the concentration Of travel for bridges
Mr. Davies submitted TO the controller man
showing a system Of four east and west lines
from Brooklyn and Queens TO Manhattan which
he is confident would fairly and uniformly dis
tribute the traffic, follows:
First-trom West-st. along and below Canal Sui
INan ana Grand SITS. 10 aud below the East River
10 heni-aVe: and under that street 10 Flushing
ave. near Nsllabout Market. This line would be
three and half miles long. and s. $50 com
plete with stations
Second-'rossing Fourteenth-s;-. from the North
River 20 and under the East River 70 and under
North Ninth-st. Brooklyn. with terminus at Union