Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-14

new plans Tor the BlackWelIS island
bridge and for bridge No 3 in New
York city recently announced contem-
plate not only beautiful structures in
point of architecture but also places of
amusement, says the New York Ameri-
can. The changed plans for bridge No.
3 have been agreed on and now await
the action of the art commission They
have been so universally commended
that suggestions of plans for similar
improvements on the BlackwelIs island
bridge have been made, and they are
likely to receive favorable considera-
ton in the very near future. The ap-
proaches and the general features of
the work of the Blackwells island
bridge permit the addition of the at
tractive improvements. The location of
the bridge, with its magnificent view
OF the sound and the various islands,
will make it a popular resort.
Besides the promenades and orna-
mental stairways there will be play
grounds for the children and places for
open air concerts. Application for
amusement places resembling a mid
way have been made and will probably
JIG SIdilGO Ills VIII DC III the lldllTG
of an arcade on both the Manhattan
and the Queens borough approaches.
Plans for a music hall, which may
be open to the breezes in summer and
inclosed in winter, are being prepared,
and broad platforms, with seats and ia
bIes for luncheon parties, are also in
Guided.
1t is the purpose of New York city
to utilize the vast spaces in the new
bridges similar to those in the old
Brooklyn bridge that are taken up with
solid masonry, allowing only small
places for storehouses. The open iron
work of the new bridges permits of
places of amusement and breathing
spots without detracting from the
strength or utility of the bridge proper.
The Blackwells island bridge will be
the resort of the crowded upper east
side, as viii bridge No. for the lower
east side. The Blackwells island bridge,
with its proposed pleasure places, will
become popular the very day it is
thrown open to the public One great
feature of this bridge is that prom
enaders will be able to take trolley
cars at various points without going
back to the terminus.
BY the suggested plans the Black
wells island bridge will be Il sort of
continuation of recreation piers in sum-
mer and with Enclosures Il pleasure re-
sort in winter. Commissioner Linden
thai has announced that he expects
bridge No. 3 to be ready in three years.
The BlackweIls island bridge Will be
completed much earlier.
One of the features of bridge No. 3
will be link bar cables. Instead of
stringing wires from tower to tower
and building the cables in the perilous
manner of old bridges bars of nickel
steel are clamped together and fas-
tened to the tower. This method of
building a cable makes the work of
constructing the s,san across the river
quicker by nearly One-thiFd the time
required in making the cables of wire.
The commissioner hopes to have the
span of the Williamsburg bridge COM
pleted by April I. 1t is expected that
when the line of approach TO the Viii
liamsburg bridge is finally determined
on many of the novel features now in
tended for the Blackwells island bridge
and bridge No. will be included.
Hereafter all bridges contemplated by
New York city will have the archi-
tectural features that are to transform
the Blackwells island bridge and
bridge No. from ugly outlines to those
of beauty and grace. The outlines of the
BlackweIls island bridge as planned
originally made it look like an ordinary
railroad bridge. The inartistic beams
and braces of the original plan have
been replaced by arched beams, max
ing the view from the towers appear
like vaulted archway.
This promenade will be the widest,
cleanest and sightliest bridge prom
enade in the world. If it is determined
to establish q moving sidewalk on this
bridge, n subject now under cOnsidera-
ton. it will be the most novel prom
enade in the world. Suggestions for
resting spots and rejection places along
the promenade are under consideration,
as well as at the tower promenades.
Elevators and stairways at the towers
and midway between the approaches
and the river are also being considered.
The whole matter now lies with the
art commission, which will concede
everything for public comfort and
pleasure. provided there is no inter-
ference with the general outlines of the
ornamental work of the structure.