The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1903-02-02
THREE BRIDGES
Hudson and Essex Free
holders to Discuss the
Question of Building.
COST PUT AT ABOUT 100000
Boards Will Decide at Their
Next Meetings on This
Matter.
COST PUT AT ABOUT 100000

Hudson and Essex FTeeholders, at
their board meetings on February 5 and
II, respectively, viii probably take pre-
liminary steps toward the erection of
three new bridges-two to span the Pas
sale and one the Haekensack Rivers.
Should the proposition, which would en-
tail an expenditure of at least 100000,
be fayorably received, bills authorizing
the Improvements will be prepared and
presented TO the Legislature at the pres
ent session. Bridge street bridge, the
Plang road bridge across the Hackensack
and the proposed new bridge from Ches--
ter avenue, Newark to KeaFny are the
three structures contemplated.
WANT BRIDGE AT CHESTER AVE
NUE..
Much pressure is being brought TO bear
upon the Essex and Hudson Freeholders
to have the sanction the construction of
a bridge across the Passaic at Chester
avenue Property owners on both sides
of the river urge the necessity for the
new bridge. as the distance TO the nearest
bridge is considerable Hudson Freehol-
ders suggested that the present bridge
at Bridge street be replaced with a new
one and the old structure shifted to Ches-
ter avenue That plan was deemed
quite feasible by several Essex Freehold
els, but the discovery of a marine law
which says thar bridge draws in the fu-
ture shall be eighty feet long makes the
shift impossible as the draw of the
Bridge street bridge is but seventy five
feet.
Should the three proposed bridges be
constructed the cost Of the Bridge street
and Chester avenue structures would be
cqgally divided between the two coun-
ties. A different situation presents itsek
regarding the Plank road bridge, acrosN
the Hackensack River. The Court of
Cnancery has decided that the cost of
1sgxnsfsg or Fepss sing the REEanEs read bridge
shall be divided -three-eights for Hudson
and fye-eiglths for Essex Both eourl-
tics have accepted these conditions and
the expenses would be. borne accord
ingly.
THINK STRUCTURES UNSAFE.
The joint bridge committee has at
least four members who have a prac-
teal knowledge of mechanism. Free
holders Hoerl and Pierce. of Essex Coun-
ty, are both maehinists. Hoerl is the
practical man of the Newark Gas En-
gine Company. and Pierce is superinten-
dent of the Clawson Machine Company
Both freeholders have taken an active
interest in the condition of the bridges
and have made a thorough inspection.
The conclusion that they have reached is
that both the Bridge street eand the
Hackensack bridges are unsafe and
should be replaced by new structures.
UNWISE TO MOVE.
Regardless. af the marine law that
prevents the shifting Of the Bridge street
bridge to Chester avenue. both Hoerl and
Pierce say that it would be an unwise
move. The structure, they say, is
ramshackle one, and it would cost nearly
as much to put it in proper repair as it
would to erect a new one. The APP
proaches to the bridge across the Hack
ensack are in fairly good shape, and do
no@ need replacing. That is not true
however. of the Bridge street bridge.
while at Chester avenue an entirely new
bridge, with approaches, would be need
ed The cost of the proposed bridges,
it is believed, would average about $780,
coo each.