New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-01
STOP 7HE BRIDGE WASTE.

across the East River they ought carefully to
consider the possibility of obtaining equal
public benefit in shorter time and at less cost
by means OF tunnels. The williamsburg Bridge
is already far toward completion that it
must of course be finished. But the facts
which The Tribune presents in detail on an
other page of this issue raise a serious question
whether Ii would not be better to abandon the
small amount of work done the other pro
posed bridges and substitute for them tunnels
which could be built in half the time and for
third the cost.
1t is the height of folly to continue to waste
money just because a false preliminary step
has been taken. Under the Van Wyck admin
istrat ton plans were made for what is com
monty spoken of as the Navy Yard Bridge
closely parallcling the Brooklyn Bridge and
some preliminary work has been done. includ-
ing the building of one caisSOn which Is to
be sunk as the foundation for a pier. A con-
tract has been let for this foundation and pier
for 1856 and If the bridge should be aban-
doned the city would have 10 pay the CON
tractor his reasonable profit which might per-
haps amount 10 100000. When however, II
is considered that this bridge would cost not less
than S15,0O0,0O0, while tunnel could be built
which would serve practically the same purpose
for from So 100000 to $5.OOO.OO0. it will be seen
that the city can better afford TO throw away
100000 or even S1,OO0,O0O than to complete
this wasteful structure.
The real cost of bridge is by no means
cOmprehended in the S15000000 paid out for
il. It's maintenance is much more expensive
than is that of tunnel. For bridge approaches
it is necessary to condemn a large amount of
most valuable real estate, and that is one of the
items which make bridges so costly as COM
pared with tunnels When the land is bought
the trouble only begins The city now levics
taxes the value of il. When the land is
acquired for public it ceases to pay taxes
and the city's income Is correspondence re-
duced. Moreover, its debt mourning power is
diminished by Withdrawing from the assess
ment rolls the millions of value in that land
and with the present narrow margin this is
a serious matter. Nor, aside from the financial
aspect of the case. can the city afford to con-
denim the land. 1t is in a crowded neighbor-
hood. where every foot of land possible is
needed for business. If any is 10 be taken from
ordinary uses 1t should 20 for small parks or
wider streets. instead or : ing covered with
structures which hamper traffic and produce
additional congestion.
If there were no alternative method of getting
people across the East River the city of course
would have to spend its money and waste IFS
native method. and one on which it may not be
necessary for the city TO spend even the smaller
amount required for n tunnel Some day we
shall look back on the policy which sunk mill
ions in bridges merely TO turn them over TO
traction companies at ridlculously inadequate
rentals with wonder and shame Just so long
as the city will build bridges for them the
companies will not build either bridges or tun-
nels for themselves. If. however the city aban-
dOns the Navy Yard Bridge charges the trifle
spent it 10 profit and loss, and proceeds
under the provisions Of the Rapid Transit act
to lay out a tunnel for trolley cars connecting
the Third and the Madison ave. ear lines
in Manhattan with those of the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit Company, near the Brook
Ign waterfront, and offers 10 let the fran
chise TO build and IT, the chances
are that one of the companies will jump
TO secure it. If does, the city can
still go on and build the tunnel itself and rent
the privilege of using it just as 1t would rent
the privileges on the proposed bridge It's out
lay would be from $4,000, 900 TO S50O0OOO in
stead of S15.000,000 and loss of taxes and the
people could have the relief In three instead
of six years.
If instead of a trolley line tunnel tube in
direct connection with the Rapid Transit sys-
TEN is desired, or a way for the trains of the
Manhattan and Brooklyn elevated railroads
that can be arranged with equal facility The
elevated railroads naturally prefer a bridge
They can make connection with 1t without buy-
ing any approach. but that is no reason for the
city's wasting money. They might have TO
buy few hundred feet OF land TO get down 10
the surface and into a tunnel Therefore. they
want the city instead TO buy half n mile OF
land 10 bring a bridge from the height neces-
sary TO clear shipping down to them. Such
concession would be a criminal waste The
tunnel would serve every useful purpose of the
citizens. II would tend 10 divide traffic
whereas a bridge tends to congest ii, because
when so much money is spent II is necessary
TO make huge structure with MANY tracks
close together If two tracks mt one pIace are
inadequate, another tunnel can be built some
distance off, and the accommodation made
equal 10 that of four track bridge without
any crowding, and at not much moro than
half the cost We are confident that when
Mayor Low takes up the problem left him by
his predecessor he win conclude that a mistake
was made, and that the wisest course is 70
correct 1t before the city is loaded with a huge
ana useless burden of debt The bridge
scheme should be abandoned and n tunnel sub-