Las Vegas optic., 1913-09-25
LONGEST bridge
FOR SHORTEST
ROAD
STRUCTURE WILL MAKE POSI-
BILE TRAVEL FROM FLORIDA
TO CANADA

New York, Sept. 25.-Work has be.
gun here on what will eventually be
the longest bridge in the world, which
is to be part of the worlds shortest
fourtrack railroad-only six miles in
length. This new bridge, the fifth to
connect oil New York with Long Is
land, will cross the Hell Gate end of
East River, with footholds on both
Wards and Randall's Islands. The
New York rise begins at 1920 Street,
At Bronx Hill it will be 65 feet above
the water. Between the Bronx and
Randall's Island the span will be di-
vided so that each half may lift and
allow the passing of vessels between.
This is known among bridge builders
as the "jack-knife dark" There will
be clearing Of 1876 feet above high
water over the main channel Of East
river between Wards Island and Long
Island. The longest Of the five spans
will be 1,0171a feet. The abutment
bases are of granite masonry, sur
mounted by towers Of concree mason
ry, which viii support the largest and
heaviest steel members ever fabricat-
ed in bridge shop. Some of these
pieces will weigh 1856 tons. About 90.-
900 tons of steel will be required and.
100000 cubic yards Of masonry This
.road-the New York Connecting rail
road, by name-is to be the link, here
tofore missing, fcr through travel
without change between Canada and
Florida.
To Buy Houses cheapIy
City houses that can be purchased
at cost of 6S cents day are about
to the placed within reach of New
Workers. Taxes, insurance and water
rents will increase this daily cost to
SO cents. Plans for a first batch of
150 such houses are ready and for
them there are already more than 900
applicants. The scheme is not a
philanthropic one, but provides a rea-
sonable profit while supplying livable
houses at low cost to wage earners.
The first group is to be built in the
Borough of Queens convenient to
many large Industrial plants. They
are to be one-family, two-story houses
with at least three bedrooms, besides
living room, kitchen and bath. The
cheaper houses will be built in rows
after the type known as Philadelphia
houses" while the more expensive
ones are to be semi-detached, with
gardens on three sides Conditions to
be exacted of those who buy will be
good mora character, five years
steady employment, recommendation
of employers for trustworthiness, gen.
orally good health, and at least one
child to the family.
Floating Hotel to Go
AN ashore on October T." is the
order that has been promulgated on
aboard the "Jacob stamler," fine old
three masted ship which had long
ploughed the seven seas" before its
conversion by a well known philan-
thropist about Is years ago into a
deep sea hotel" for workers. Here
il has been possible for a self-support-
ing young woman or man to enjoy the
comforts of a we'll ventilated room and
three wholesome home cooked meals
a day for $3.50 and So so per week,
respectively. A great boon has this
opportunity been to many who found
it impossible to live decently on their
weekly earnings of five or six dollars,
or even less In former years it was
customary to run the floating hotel
out beyond Sandy Hook and anchor
for the night, and the ocean air
brought health and happiness to the
worn and brainfagged workers aboard
but dire possibilities Of fire and storm
were suggested by the General slo-
cum" tragedy, since which the hotel
has been kept safely in port. AS a
matter of course, the schooner yacht
"Gitana which has been moored
alongside the "Stamler9 and used as
kleeping quarters by the men board
ers, will likewise be put out of com
mission. AS might be expected, the
decision to discontinue the hotel has
been received as a sad blow by all
those on board and an appeal for re.
consideration has already been made
Heroin Habit is a Menace
The heroin habit is declared to be
New York's newest and greatest peril.
The discoyerer of the extensive and
rapidly growing use Of heroin for mar
cotic purposes pronunces this white,