New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-26
CROSSING THE RIVERS.

The dense fogs Of the last few days have af-
forded opportunity for practical demonstration
of the utility Of tunnels as means of river
passage These fogs have not-save in the
minds OF those whose present sensations are
always superior to their memories-been more
troublesome than others which have frequently
prevailed here. This generation has seen few
years IN which there have rot been many days
and nights OF fog so dense as seriously to inter
fere with river and harbor traffic, and there is
no ground for expecting that meteorological con-
dittons Will 80 change or that man will by scien-
ti9c means be so able to control them as to rid
New York Of periodical infections of this kind.
IN such circumstances the value of the tun-
nels which now afford transit under the North
and East rivers is gratefully apparent. While
the ferryboats of the New Jersey railroads were
running on three or four times their usual head
way and at half speed or less, the trains ran
through the Hoboken tunnel as swiftly and sure
" as though fogs were unknown. The multi
tudes who were delayed in ferry houses or drift
ed YEARLY about on the river, and the other null
titudes who were e1pedtiOusly borne through
the tube, were alike convinced that additional
tunnels have become a practical necessity Of
metropolitan and suburban traffic> Apparently
they afford the one means of transit which Is
entirely independent Of the weather.
At the same time it would be a mistake to
assume that the days Of the ferries are num-
bered, or, indeed, ever will be ended. Trans
fluvial traffic Is varied and means of accOmmO-
dating 1t must also be varied. Tunnels are Of
exceptional, and may say Indispensable, value
for the sure and speedy transportation of pas
sengers to and from the railroads, and indeed
Of all foot passengers But they cannot at pres
ent, and it is doubtful if they ever will, give
passage to vehicles other than their own cars.
f,o Of
Manhattan and the neighboring BOroughs and
cities is great and will continue to grow There
will always need tosbe ample ferries
Technically 1t would no doubt be possible to
construct a tunnel through which vehicles of all
kinds might pass. But the cost of It, if it were
made at all adequate to the purpose would be
vastly greater than that of a railroad tunnel.
Moreover the depth at which 1t would have to
pass under the river would necessitate one Of
three things. any of which would be objec-
tionable The approaches to it would have TO
be very steep or inOrdnatey long, or by me
chanical elevators of some sort Any one of
these conditions would be not only objectionable
but practically condemnatory of the whole I'M
dertaking.
A bridge across the North River would doubt
less prove highly serviceable for vehicuar traf
1c particularly for that devoted to sightseeing
and pleasure travelling, and we rather expect to
see one constructed before many more years
have passed. But for a great part indeed the
greater part, Of vehiCular traffic bridge would
be of no avail, for rea sons practically Identical
with those affecting the approaches to tunnel.
The great mass of vehcular traffic along the
waterfront cannot be taken half q mile or more
back into the city to get upon bridge and then
retrace It's course similar distance at the other
end. There will always be for a number of
commodious ferries ar various points along the
waterfront, as well as for bridges and tunnels