The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-12-31
Gotham Letter

not at all pleased with the alacrity
with which franchises have been
granted to the companies that are
building trolley tunnels under the
Hudson river. The fear is expressed
that Brooklyn will suffer from the
transit facilities that are being pro-
vided so generously between Manhat-
tan and the North Jersey towns. The
Tammany administration is charged
with discriminating against Brooklyn,
and hints that undue influence is
being exercised by the Jersey people.
Brooklyn wants to know if there is a
conspiracy to hold up the City OF
New Jersey and it's railroads. 1t is
charged that while everything the
promoters of the tunnels to Jersey
have asked for has been granted, the
Tammany city authorities have failed
to make proper connections at both
the Manhattan and Brooklyn terminals
of the Williamsburg bridge. Although
both piers of the new Manhattan
bridge have been completed for more
than year, not a blow has been
struck towards it's completion. The
Brooklyn pier has been completed for
more than two years and land acquired
for an approach, yet not a stone has
been turned toward providing an ap-
proach. The plans for a second Brook
Ign tunnel, which might be used in
connection with the trolley or elevated
Brooklyn tunnel now building, original
ly intended to be four tracks, was
changed so as to provide FOR two
tracks only, this under the Van
Wyck administration. Tammany, it
is charged, is thus Furnishing Brook
Ign for opposing the wigwam politi-
cally while the Jersey traction inte-
rests and people in the trunk railroad,
who are behind the North River tunnel
projects, are granted favors galore.
Senator Depew says that the mean
est remark he ever heard about him.
self came from a passenger on a sigh
seeing automobile in Washington.
The automobile was going past 1ne
senator's house in H street.
THAT tree in the yard, ladies and
gentlemen, said the megaphOne man,
was planted by Senator Depew him.
self, six years ago.
Say" piped up a passenger on the
back seat, loud enough for the sena-
tor and his wife, who were standing
in front of the house, to hear, III bet
it's a chestnut"
A turtle race is the latest in a
Brooklyn club. The members procure
five turtles and paste numbers on
their backs. They are put in the
centre of a twelve foot ring chalked on
the floor, and the turtle first to crawl
out of the ring is declared the win
ner. The members bet on their ia
vorite turtle.
Falls or voluntary leaps from the
high bridge over the East river are
not unusual occurrences, but the ex-
periences of Charles Summerfield an
iron worker, who fell from the Will
liamsburg bridge the other day into
the East river, a distance of 125 feet,
is as remarkable as it was thrilling.
Summerfield was at work on a girder
when his foot slipped on an ice-coated
plank. He clutched for the giruer,
gave a yell and slid off through the
network of steel. He turned two
complete somersaults before he had
covered half the distance to the river.
Then he seemed to gather himself as
one would do if he were preparing to
against his chest, clasped his hands
around them and ducked his head.
The mans composure was remarkable,
and those Who witnessed his acts
were astounded that he could so con-
troll himself in midair. He evidently
clearly saw his danger, and did his
best to save his life. Striking the
water on his side he disappeared. In
a few seconds he came to the surface,
and began swimming for all he was
worth Those who were watching from
the bridge saw him take several
strokes and then turn on his side. In
a few moments he was pulled aboard
a tug and taken to a hospital. When
he regained consciousness Summer
field said he was formerly a circus
performer, and that his training in
the ring probably saved his life. Th5t
fact explains his remarkable actions in
midair.