New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-06
HUDSON BRIDGE SITES
Point at 10th Street Most FaUored
bu ENGINEERS Report.

The three most practical sites for bridge over
the Hudson connecting Manhattan and New Jer-
sey, according to engineers consulted oy the IN
terstate Bridge Commission. are at or near ofth
street at 10th street and at OF near listh
street This is from engineering point or Vle"'
as the report expresses 1t. McDougan Hawkes.
the chairman of the commission. made the re-
port public yesterday.
No borings made by the engineers, to learn
whether suitable foundations could be built at any
of the suggested places because the appropriation
would not permit of the expense. As a matter OF
economy the highest north bridge meets with es-
pecal favor, and 1t Is also pointed out that the
rock abutnent at 17sth street is a strong natu-
raj advantage. This bridge would cost about
SO OO00Oo and provide highway and trolley traf
c. The cost of a structure over the river at 10th
street, and not further north than 18th street
would be about SIS. 900 600. The other site owing
to the great value of property which must be
bought for the approach would cost, 1t was esti-
mated about SIS 10000
Mention is made of the fact that two private
corporations say they control by charter the right
to at 57th and seth streets, but il the cost
either of those points would he justified and
the obstacles of private right of could be elm
mated it has strong points recommend it, the
report says. Calling attention the plan Of one
Of the companies for bridge at 57th street. the
engineers say: .-.s
It proposes a double deck bridge arranged to
have four lines of trolley tracks. driveway and
two sidewalks the upper deck. and four lines Of
for wires. pipes and equipment the lower deck.
The company further proposes to buy such pirate
property between Ninth and the Hudson
River as will give them necessary space for their
approach, with driveways on either side, and a
large plaza near Ninth avenue. The upper trolley
tracks would connect with the up and down town
moving seat platform would run from loop in
New Jersey through a subway under 18th street en-
Urely the city to q loop First avenue,
thus delivering passengers 10 all up and down town
They estimate that such a moving platform would
comfortably handle $4,000 passengers an hour. The
scribed Is estimated 70 he IS COO o1 Of which the
cost OF the bridge proper, from anchorage to an
chorage, is estimated to be 100000, the re-
way to First avenue, interest during construction,
litigation and contingencies. Connection with the
greensboro structure Is also suggested.
The length of the span for this bridge would be
5000 feet, as decided by the War Department in
the case of the corporations which say they have
charters in that neighborhood. Continuing the re-
port says:
The next situation is at or near 10th street and
we submit herewith sketch for crossing at this
situation, showing cantileyer span of 1.40O feet,
which we believe sufficient for navigation require
the cost Would o6O The APPROACH to 5
bridge can ot then be 4a through either 1gh
as it goes across the city north of Central Park.
connected with proposed boulevards and from
mend it
OF the 18th site, in addition to the natural
advantages, the engineers declare that the owner
ship by the city of the real estate would make
greatly for economy. New York approaches it is
said, could readily be made from the up and
down avenues. and the trolley approaches from
the present subway station at 181st street or by
of the Washington Bridge, to the Harlem
branch of-,the New York Central and the New
York, New Haven & Hartford Railway tracks at or
near NoFrisana. station The New Jersey approach
could be connected with the proposed boulevard
from Paterson TO the Hudson.
The report has estimates for three bridges con-
Meeting Staten Island with New Jersey-one at
Bayonne. at Elizabethport and another at
Perth AInboy.
Should the commission decide TO build a bridge
10th street there will be opposition from,
the president OF Columbia University DR. Nicholas
Murray Butler, who has expressed strong disap-
prevail of that site.