New-York tribune., 1910-07-21
HUDSON BRIDGE BOR|NGS
State Commissions Testing Rock
at Two Proposed Sites.
COST DEPENDS ON PLACE
100000 Would Pay for
Ample Structure at Fort
Washington Point.

The first steps toward the erection Of the
day. when the Phoenix Construction Com
pany began bortngs az a point opposite
West 18th street and about one mile north
OF Fort Lee
The rwo state commissions have decided
on two sites. one at 18th street and the
other a1 l09th street, for boring operations
TO determine the nature Of the rock which
will be encountered when the foundations
are started The work VIII require ABOUT
three months. The borings will consist Of
seven or eight holes under water in a line
from point near the middle Of the river
TO the New Jersey shore
Results Of this investigation will be sub
uitted by the bridge commissions 10 the
legislatures Of their respective states Re
suits OF the borings at the seth street site
are already at the disposal Of the commits
sions-
The commissions have been trying 10 as
certain the most advantageous site Tor the
proposed bridge for the last three years IN
respect to both cost and the traffic advan-
taees. Now that the two states have come
to their aid with funds they will be able
TO gain definite engineering data concern
ing the rock formation and the character
of the river bottom on the New York and
New Jersey sides of the possible sites
Rivalry has been shown by Two counties
on the New Jersey side, each wishing 10
have the westerly approach TO the prldse
within its boundaries. Bergen county
voted $500 last April for the use OF the
commissions in making the necessary Dor
ings for a bridge extending into her ter
ritory Hudson County likewise has been
trying 70 secure the new bridge approach
asking that the structure be erected at the
point opposite 109th street.
AT the present time the site generally
favored for the Hudson River Bridge is
from the foot OF West 18th street It pre-
sents marked advantages over other pro-
posed sites with respect to economy. it is
said, as the land on both sides Of the river
al this point presents q sharp drop to the
wafer This is also the uarrowest part OF
the river. and there would be compare
lively small damages TO land on either
side. The foundation problems are not
likely 70 be severe, as the rock is On the
surface at the Fort Washington point and
viii only have 10 be levelled off The
channel span need not, in the engineers
orfnion. be more than fourteen hundred
feet or therea bouts.
Although this site has not yet been bored
it is estimated that S10000.0o0 will cover the
cost IF a bridge for highway and high
speed trolley service, which is considered
about one-third less than it would be at
point further down the river
The 179th street stts has the added ad-
vantage. il is said. Of connection with
MANY different lines OF transit facilities IN
Manhattan and The Bronx The same site
would connect with the planned highway
and park system. TO extend from Fort Lee
10 Newburg. thus bringing this area within
touch Of the great population Of the metro
poIitan district
The principal object sought by both the
states is to acquire the most reasonable
site from a financial point Of view, and II
IS realized that land values and the steady
eucroachnent of business interests would
be a formidable objection 10 the lower
sites
AS soon as the bridge commissions re-
/ ceive the engineers reports as 10 the nat
Ure of the river bottom where the borings
are being made they will have plans made
which will show accurately the most ad-
vantageous type Of construction for
bridge, the length Of spans and its total
/ cost