New-York tribune., 1901-04-28
RAILROADS AGAINST III.
Continued from first page.

There is no particular hurry about IT, SAID
he They can make it impossible for any o'her
company to build 1t. The project Will oouo'ieSS
be carried out within the next year or TWO 1t
is very large undertaking. and the companies
would not pay a great deal TO the city lol any
rights owned by the city. As matter OF Iact
they could not afford to- While it might be
feasible to elevated road cars over the
bridge to points downtown. still there wouid not
be much in that, the Sixth-ave. ana Nhhtn-
ave. elevated roads are now handing ourihs
the busy hours many trains as they can.
They could not afford to allow any outside COM
panies to put on many trains for strictly Jersey
traffic. If the bridge is built at all, it VIII he
constructed to facilitate the passenger express
and mail service of the railroads having their
terminals in Jersey City
The only other bridge company having the
right, granted by Congress, to build bridge
the North River is the North River
Bridge Company, with New-York office at NO.
~ Cedarst. It's officers follows: Gustav
Lindenthal, president; F. W. Schwartz sec
retary; directors-Jordan L. Mott. Samuel Rea'
Thomas B. Rea Edward r. Amend, W. j.
Amend and Chauncey NJ. Dutton.
Il connected time ago with the
North River Bridge Company" said William
Brookfeld yesterday. That company has no
New-Jersey Company. Jordan i. Mott was
president of the North River company when 1
in it. The engineer was Mr.. Lillienthal,
of Pittsburg and Charles F. MacLean, now
Justice of the Supreme Court was its counsel.
1 resigned some time ago. I believe that the
Governor ought to kill the so-called West Street
Bridge BILL
PRESIDENT THOMAS'S VIEWS.
+. b. Thomas. president of the Erie Railroad,
in comparing the two plans of building bridge
over the North River. the one landing at Fifty
nnth-st., contemplated in the Raines bill, and
the other at Twenty third-st.. according to the
plan of the railroad companies. said last night:
bridge for passengers over the Hudson is prae
ST. l do not believe q bridge for freight trains
Wit, within the scope of practicabiIity at any point
St, 9th an elevated railroad down West-st. is all
sunnort for me Inc railroads. have never gained any any
POSITIVE the Erter DAD has never looked with favor
Where in West-st. could terminal facilities be OBJ
talned to accommodate all these trains? Nowhere
no" could the trains on an elevated structure dis
ThNge thelr cargoes to ships at the water level?
4 passenger bridge over the river is feasbly but
not at FIFTY y-ninth-st 1t would be round about
business in Sew-York For Instance. in It Would take
a a commuter living In the Oranges almost as long
train over the bridge as it does now to go by the
The plan of a passenger bridge with terminal
al Nnth-ave. and Twenty tnird-st. is possible and
In the course Of some years may be built. But IL
can only be for passengers and suburban travel.
FREIGHT BRIDGE IMPRACTICABLE.
Thomas p. Fowler president OF the New
York, Ontario and Western, said last night
that he regarded a freight bridge over the
North River. either Fifty-nnth-st. or at
twenty third-st., as impraCtiCable. In explain
ing his reasons 10 a Tribune reporter he said:
"A bridge over the North River that would be
large and strong enough for freight trains would
cost no less than SJOOOOOOO With bonds for
this amount issued at per cent $2.J0o0 900
would be required each year to pay the inter
est This would necessitate an annual total or
gross earning OF S1O0OoGoo.
Now. in order To carry enough freight to earn
S1o,Oo0.0oo in tolls each year. the bridge would
demand acres on acres OF land In Manhattan
for terminal purposes. In my mind this would
be impossible. Land is so expensive in New
York City that space for proper terminal facili-
ties would incur incalculable expense"
How do you regard the plan to build pas
senger bridge at Twenty-third-st. - asked.
Such a plan may be feasible" was the an
swer and if so. it is the only feasible PROPOSE
ton yet made. Passengers could be landed
a station in Twenty third-st and Ninth-ave.,
with loop facilities that perhaps obtaina-
BILE
why do you say. then. that terminals for
freight trains obtainable?' was asked.
Because" the reply. "a great dea; more
room is needed for freight than for passenger
trains You must have yards for switching
trains for storing cargoes and for cleaning the
running stock
do you think Of any Improvement over the
present system of bringing freight across the
river by water?'
NO, do not II appears TO me that, situated
as the island OF Manhattan is, water is the only
practica BILE means of transportation for freight
BY means of lighters in the river and of wagons
land, believe freight can be distributed in
New York with the least expense and the
greatest convenience"