New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-24
THE BRIDGE WASTE.

At the hearing given by the Board OF EST
MAZE and Apportionment on the NeW-Aork
Central Improvement plans the city olhclaiS
present showed a lively appreciation or the IN
Jury done 10 property by great gash cut
through the city separating one part OF II from
another. The references to the proposed
widened and uncovered track space south or
E-iftv-fftb.st as a work of destruction ana
sayagery seemed TO meet with favor In
similar spirit Mayor Low "A few days ago de
clared that under no circumstances would an
elevated railroad be built to connect the ter
minaIs of the East River bridges. 1t is con
sidered absolutely necessary that such con
nections should be put under ground, where they
will not interfere with traffic or detract from
the appearance Of the streets.
This is a wise principle to adopt In the de-
veIopment of the city and It ought TO be adj
hered to. Yet curiously enough this city. not
withstanding this enlightened view of its rulers
and their desire TO clear the streets of present
encumbrances is at work cutting another great
cash 10 be a work of destruction and savagery.
1t is preparing to desoate with 4 new Chinese
wall broad strips from Fulton-st. and De kalb-
ave TO the East River in Brooklyn, and from
the Bowery and Canal-st. to the East River in
Manhattan Anybody who studies the influence
Of the present bridge approaches knows what
devastation that means. This bridge was start
ed under the Tammany regime, and there seems
10 be no power strong enough and farseeing
enough 10 change the plan and secure equal
transit facilities TO Brooklyn at less expense,
and in less time, without Disagreement Of the
city. by means of tunnels. Here we are call
agreeing that the tracks connecting bridges
must be underground. and at the same time
the city is going to pour out unnecessary mill
IL. TiTafr
tunnels up into the air 1t is not likely that the
projected Manhattan Bridge can be completed
for much less than S25O00OO0 A large amount
of land for these extraordinarily long termi-
mails must be acquired at vast initial expense.
That land will then be withdrawn from the
assessment roll, which means continuing loss
10 the city. Then the long approaches Will cut
the city. interfering with traffic just as the
open subway of the New-York Central does,
and impairing the value Of real estate over a
large area
Now if this was the only relief for congestion
of traffic we should have to endure it. There
is, however another better q cheaper and
a more speedy relief. With steam as a motive
power tunnels were at a disadvantage. But
this is the age Of electricity, and people can
now travel underground with perfect comfort
and safety. A tunnel could be built on the
general line or the Manhattan Bridge without
any considerable purchase of private property,
and without any injury to the neighborhood or
any loss TO the tax rolls. The tracks could
run under streets almost all the way from De
Kalbave., and from the BOwery to the river;
and two tracks could be in operation in about
three years TO relieve the Brooklyn crush, while
the bridge is not likely TO be completed in six
years. Then, if more tracks were needed at
that point, other tunnels could be pushed rap
idly TO completion for less money than 1t would
take 10 build the bridge.
Mayor Van Wyck entered upon this extrava-
CANT and barbarous scheme Of improvement"
and it seems impossible to change the plan, but
sometimes NEWCOMERS, as they look at their
disfgured town and their heavy tax bills and
recall how by proper management they might
have had better facilities for nothing under
such contract as was made for the South
Ferry tunnel, will wonder at their own
stupidity. We have discussed this matter be
fore, but we have never found an advocate OF
the bridge, whether official or otherwise, who
defended it with any reasonable argument. en-
cheering or financial. All we can ever learn
is that "the plan can't be changed"