New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-04

tiles between the boroughs Of Manhattan and
Brooklyn.
The tunnel is in line with modern ideas The
construction of tunnels is looking forward into
the future. This is the age of tunnels and the
sooner we are alive to that fact the better. That
they are more convenient than bridges cannot
be contrOverted. To illustrate my point I need
only call attention to the fact that tunnel can
be made to come up at whatever point best
meets the surrounding traffic requirements
whereas bridge is limited to its approaches.
The Williamsburg Bridge. for example, will land
the people Of Brooklyn in a part of the island
OF Manhattan in which the vast majority VIII
not want to remain and who will necessarily be
forced TO take various car lines; tunnel ter
minal could have been planned nearer nat.
ural centre of radiation, and with only small
fraction of the cost.
A BRIDGE TOO STEEP FOR TRUCKS.
1T has been said that a bridge is superior to
tunnel in that it permits carriages, wagons
and horses to cross. As matter Of fact if one
will watch the traffic on the roadways of the
Brooklyn Bridge, the only wagons that cross
the bridge with a few exceptions, are empty.
The grade is such and the long pull is so heavy
on the horses that loaded trucks and wagons
the ferries. The empty wagons, further-
more gain little time by using the bridge, so
that the abandonment of the Manhattan Bridge
for tunnels would not work such hardship on
truckmen and carriage drivers as Is generally
supposed" , 40,
Controller Grout said yesterday that at the
present time he could not favor the abandon
ment of the Manhattan Bridge for one, two. or
even more tunnels. He appeared TO think that
the city was now committed to the bridge prof.
ect and for that reason it should go ahead
with il. He also said:
1T must be remembered that the Manhattan
Bridge will have eight tracks which, estirnat-
ing the cost al $4,000 OO0, would be at the rate
of So 100000 for each pair of tracks Or, take
Mr.. Lndenthars figures that there VIII be Stl-
100000 all told invested in bridges, with the
completion of the Manhattan Bridge ana the
BlackwelTs Island Bridge. Now the Brooklyn
Bridge has four tracks. the Williamsburg Brldge
will have six the Manhattan Bridge eight ana
the BlackwelI's Island Bridge Will have SIX; rms
makes a total of twenty-four pairs OF tracks, at
a little less than 100000 a pair. This think
would be better and cheaper than the same
number of tracks within tunnels ,
According to engineers who have STUDIED the
conditions for tunnel construction IN the East
River II is the consensus of opinion that a SIN
gle tunnel could be built for not more than
81 900 600 The tunnel Of the Consolidated Gas
COMPANY which is ten feet In diameter, cost
only $500 600 Double tunnels would. AZ this
rate cost in the neighborhood Of S2,hoooOo. 80
that according TO these figures, the poroughs
of Manhattan and The Bronx could have
twentv-four tracks laid In tunnels for cost
Of S25 600 OOO to So 600 counting in contin-
gent expenditures for the acquisition OF property
near the terminals which would be a saving of
So OO0O 900 at the least over the cost OF -FOUR
bridges.