New-York tribune., 1904-09-18
rup gEyBy HUDSON BRIDGE.

That was a gratifying act of the Board oI
Estimate and Apportionment on Friday. lhe
making Of an appropriation for preliminary
work upon the proposed Henry Hudson Brluse'
1t is probably not too much to assume that II
is certain earnest of further action as 1t
NAV be needed. until the bridge and ITS ap-
Droaches are fully completed according to
worthy plan The suggestion is made that the
work should be completed in time for formal
dedication five years from the present month,
ON the Booth anniversary OF the discovery OF
the Hudson River. 1t is good one, ana Shoulu
not be difficult of fulflment. The bridge VIII
necessarily be large, and it should be handsome
and imposing. But in these days 1t Is posi-
BILE to erect a magnificent structure WITHIN hNe
years.
1t is not often that an opportunity IS OF
fered comparable with this for the erection OF
bridge or other public structure which shall
at once commemorate 9 great historic event.
serve a pressing practical need and effect a
noble artistic end. OF the first named consid-
Grafton it is scarcely necessary to speak. The
name and achievements of Henry Hudson are
worthy of high commemOration, and could
scarcely be more appropriately commeInorateu
than in this way. As for the artistic END 10
be served, no one who has ever visited and ob-
served appreciatively that interesting part OF
this city can fail to be impressed with the Iact
that nowhere within the limits of the metrop-
oils. if indeed in the whole land is there spot
better fitted by nature for a structure OF truly
monumental Inagnifcence The LAY OF the
land" seems to have been designed by nature
as the setting for some colossal structure Ihat
shall blend tremendously with rock and hill and
cliff, and that like the Parthenon ana fyra-
mids and England's abbeys shall be adopted
into Natures race and granted "an equal date
with Andes and with Ararat'
Whether or not the Henry Hudson Bridge IS
to be such wonder. rising "Out of thought )
interior sphere" of its practical utility there
is no room for question 1t might almost be de-
scribed as the zone thing needfuI" for the COM
pletion of our urban highway system We have
fine highways upon Manhattan Island-Riyer-
side Drive. Seventh-ave., the Lafayette Boule-
ward the KingSbridge Road and others. We
have them also in The Bronx. in Sedgwick-ave
and Riverdale-ave. and others. But between
the two systems there is a great gulf fixed
The Central Bridge and the noble Washing
ton Bridge were supposed and were intended
to span that gulf But they have been sur
rendered practically. 10 trolley cars, 10 the
! hardship. If not the exclusion Of other traffic;
| certainly to the complete destruction Of their
utility as links in the great series Of urban
| driveways The Henry Hudson Bridge will
take their place and indeed will fill the place
| somewhat better than either or both Of them
| could ever have done. At present II one wishes
| 10 drive from the Lafayette Boulevard 10 charm
| ing Riverdale-ave.. he must so down trying
hill and up another. and around sharp curves
| and across tangle Of railroad tracks. The new
bridge will give direct access from one 10 the
| other high above all obstacles.
| 1t should be built and built soon. II should
he structure Of worthy artistic design. it
! should be called the Henry Hudson Bridge
and-if there is in law or constitution any power
/ to assure that-it should in some way be for
ever safeguarded against the invasion of the
trolley,