New-York tribune., 1901-04-29
P. r. r. MAY BUILD A BRIDGE
THOUGHT TO BE LEADING MOVEMENT
FOR TWENTY-THIRD-ST STRUCTURE.

!
RAINEs BILL sCHEME-oFFICERs OF
THE NEW-YORK AND NEw-JERSEY
BRIDGE COMPANY EvAsIvE
What is considered as still further proof of
the opposition of the railroads to the New-York
and NewJersey bridge plan. as embodied in the
bill of Senator Raines, the unusual reti-
cence and evasiveness yesterday of the officers
and directors of this bridge company When
seen by Tribune reporters not one of them at
! tempted to deny the statements made by the
presidents of the Erie, Pennsylvania, ontario
and Western and other railroads having termi-
| nails on the Jersey side of the North River. to
the effect that a Fifty-ninth-st. bridge
| wholly impracticable either for freight or pas
sengers, as printed in The Tribune yesterday;
and not one, even when pressed for an answer.
tried 70 show that even single railroad favored
the scheme.
! Delos e. Culver, who has been the prime
mover in the plan for a bridge across the North
River at Fifty-nnth-st., considerably agi
tated over the statements of the railroad
When seen by Tribune reporter at his home.
No. 124 West Ninety -ffth-st.. he at once asked:
rs it true that these railroad men have COM
bned against the Fifty-ninth-st. bridge. as L
read in The Tribune this morning."
Yes" the reporter answered Officers Of al
most all the lines carrying freight into New
! York from the Jersey side of the Hudson say
/ that a bridge at Fifty -nnth-st. is too far up
stream, and is thus impracticable either for
freight passengers
Because it is too far north?' interrupted Mr'
Culver. with questioning tone of voice. Then.
after moments pause, he added
The engineering OF this bridge is not fully
understood I do not believe these railroad men
will oppose the plan after they investigate
it more carefully. The plan for a West-st. rail-
road approach TO the bridge is bound to
appeal to them after more mature considera
ton
But is it not fact, Mr.. Culver was asked,
that at the present time the railroads do not
favor the project?"
No I can't say that was the answer Il
have known these railroad men for the last
thirty years. and I believe they will welcome
such undertaking"
Have you the assurance OF any railroad that
1t will the bridge after it is built?"
LAS to that I can't say
Us there railroad, then, that can he
said to be back Of such tremendous enter
prise?'
NO RIGHT TO SPEAK OF 1T.
"I have no right to speak OF that?" was the
answer
How. then can the people OF New-York City
De expected 10 grant trancnlseS lot lne use OF
its waterfront by elevated railroads II it Is
impossible TO know 10 whom they are giving
such valuable franchses?"
"All that I can say is that capital is behind
the project. and all VIII be made public in
time"
Mr. Culver then complained OF I'll health. and
the interview closed.
Other officers of the company refused abso-
lutely to speak on the subject One of them
said in reply to the question whether the Fifty
ninth-st. bridge not considered impracti-
cable for freight purposes by railroad be-
adequate terminals could be obtained
in this city:
/ I have nothing to say to these statements 1
/ do not consider it proper at this time discuss
! the bridge bill at all
A conference held yesterday afternoon
at the home of James S. Clarkson. president of
/ the New-York and New-Jersey Bridge Com
pany. at No. West Eighty-eighth-s Several
officers of the company attended the meeting.
which lasted several hours.
! At the end Mr.. Clarkson could not be seen
although reported TO be in his apartments
From what could be learned the meeting was
for the purpose of preparing for the hearing on
the bridge bill before Governor OdelI to-mor-
row.
! Railroad men who were seen yesterday univer-
sally continued TO condemn the Fifty-ninth-st
bridge with West-st. elevated railroad for an
approach as wholly impracticable and as
! paper picture" The only bridge that could be
built over the North River they said. should
be no further north than Twenty-third- and
! should be used only for passengers.
! PENNSYLVANIA ROAD IN THE LEAD
Information was also obtained that the Penn
sylvania Railroad had taken the initiative
in pushing the construction of the Twenty-third-
/ st. bridge for which franchise is held by the
North River Bridge Company. Such action is
said to have been preciptated by the activity
of the New-York and New-Jersey Bridge Com
pany in its efforts to obtain further franchises
by legislation for its proposed structure at Fifty
ninth-st.
A prominent officer of a railroad whose east
ern terminus is at Jersey City said last night
| that the plan to build a passenger bridge from
the New-Jersey shore to Twenty thirds was
thought that the six roads running into Jersey
City which now transfer their passengers to
| this city by water could easily combine their
| capital for the erection of a magnificent bridge
and commodious terminal this side Of the
river. He believed that the bridge would be
built before eighteen months
Asked what particular company was RESPONSE
BILE for the revival of interest in the North
River Bridge Companys plan he said:
II believe that the Pennsylvania Railroad is
back of the project. With it's allied companies
it controls the major part of the passenger
traffic which enters New York from the
op1 Nvnet . t.,