The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-05-13
'P.R.R. BACK BRIDGE.
Counsel for North River
Company Announces
Corporations In
terest.
WILL COST s8O,OOO,oOo
Trains Will Cross the Water
at Full Speed Twelve
Tracks Planned.

William J. Amend, counsel for the
North River Bridge Company and one
of its directors, yesterday made the
definite announcement that the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad is back of the company s
scheme to build a bridge from Hoboken
! to Manhattan.
He said that contracts were now being
negotiated between the bridge company
and the various railroad companies whose
| traffic will be accommodated by the
| bridge. AS soon as these could be exc
| cuted, he said. work on the structure
would be commenced. 1t is estimated
| that the bridge can be completed within
four years.
| The bridge is to be only for the trans
portation OF passengers, and the plan in
wolves the erection of an enormous ter
minal, bounded by Sixth and Seventh
avenues, Twenty-fourth and Twenty
eighth streets. 1t is thus intended to land
New Jerseys daily army of commuters.
as well as through passengers from the
South and West, in the heart of the
metropolis.
The bridge will be the largest in the
world There will be sixteen tracks for
railroad trains, and the strength of the
structure will be such that they can be
run at full speed. Above them will be
trolley tracks, driveways, bicycle paths
and footways. The estimated cost of the
bridge, with its approaches and the pas
senger terminus, is $4,000, 900. There is
large factor of uncertainty in the price
TO be paid for the four blocks for the ter
mlnal, which are to be acquired by con-
demnation proceedings.
1t was considered appropriate to make
the announcement of the company's
plans immediately after the veto of the
New York and New Jersey Bridge Com
pany grab. According to Mr. Amend.
however, the corporation which he rep
resents would have carried out its plans
even if the Governor had signed the
other company's bill.
Mr. Amends statements were confirmed
py MS brother, Edward B. Amend, also
director of the North River Bridge
company, who is associated with him in
the practice of law at No. Beekman
street, New York
Wnen Alr Amend declared in positive
terms that the Pennsylvania Railroad
had adopted the bridge plan his attention
was called to an alleged interview with
Chief Engineer w. H. Brown of the
Pennsylyania, published two weeks ago.
in which he was quoted as saying that
the company had Investigated ali sorts OF
bridge and tunnel schemes, and that the
only practical method of transportation
between Jersey City and New York was
by water
All that need be said in answer to
that, said Mr. Amend, sis that Samuel
Rea, Fourth Vice-President of the Peno-
sylvania, and his brother, Thomas B.
Rea, are directors of our company. in
which they represent Pennsylvania in
terests, Mr.. Rea's presence in our direc-
torate means that this bridge is to be
built and that the Pennsylvania Rail-
road is committed to the undertaking.
The Pennsylvania continued Mr.
Amend was the first of the New Jer-
sey lines to become interested in the
building of the bridge 1t wants a pas
senger terminal in this city, so that it can
compete for Western business on equal
terms with the New York Central
"As soon as the other railroads
learned that the Pennsylvania had de-
cided to lend its aid to carry out our
plans they became anxious to secure tie
privilege of using the bridge. The West
Shore was the last to fall into line, but
it is now negotiating with us.
Because of the great interests involved
and the many details to be adjusted, it
will take a long time to draw the con-
tracts between our company and the rail-
roads.
1T is necessary to complete these con-
tracts before applying to capitalists for
| money to build the structure. But there
will be no difficulty in obtaining all the
money required
Many things have occurred to delay
the building of the bridge, but the sue
cess of the plan now seems assured. We
secured a charter from Congress in 1890.
1T has been necessary to test our rights
under this charter, which have been car
ried to the United States Supreme Court.
We have established the fact that we are
legally protected in every way, and espe-
cially with respect to the important right
to condemn lands for terminal purposes
This is absolutely essential to the sue
cess of our plans
We have no charters from the States
of New York and New Jersey, and need
none; but we shall have to ask the New
York Legislature for the right to close
Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth and Twenty
seventh streets, between Sixth and Sew
enth avenues, in order to make room for
our terminal
We desired to have the terminal extend
to Twenty-third street, but the land III
that block would have cost too much.
shall have to negotiate with the city Off
cials regarding the amounts to be paid
for such street franchises as we shall re-
quire.
I'VE anticipate no trouble with either
the State or city authorities because we
intend to deal openly with them. They
will know just what interests are behind
us and just what we intend to do
I'VE do not want to grab any streets
for railroad purposes. Our bridge ap-
proaches. however, will cross Twenty
third and Twenty-fourth streets diagonal
", the terminus of the main span of the
bridge being at Twenty-second street. The
structure Of the approach will be over the
tops of buildings. and rights for thas
purpose will have to be acquired.
"In addition to the main structure it
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