New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-01

Plans have been made by the city to
construct at cost OF between $1,000
0OO and S6.000O0O. n 2C0-foot boulevard
between Jamaica and the bridge to pro-
vide for the pleasure automobile traffic
between Manhattan and Long Island.
To connect such a thorouChfare with a
26-foot roadway is declared by automo-
biliStS 10 be an abSurdity.
The bridge engineers cannot be
blamed for being proud OF their struct-
ure. Also, it obviously would not be 10
their disadvantage TO find additional
work 20 do for highpriced staff Of
engineers. The first plan worked out
by these engineers was a wonder. The
beautiful scheme was proposed while
Arthur j. OkeefFc was Commissioner
and called for an expenditure Of So
O57 900 OF S3.O56,O00. in addition TO the
cost Of changes on the bridge proper.
Plan for Trolley Terminal.
II was O'KecfTe'S pan to purchase
the entire block bounced by 59th and
6Oth SITS. and Second and Third avs. in
front of Bloomngdale department
store The excuse WIS that a new
trolley terminal would be needed if The
subway trains were TO be carried on
the bridge II was argued that the
block would not only give this, but
would furnish a plaza for the bridge,
which il does not possess now at TINS
end The figures were: Cost OF land,
Sl791 ,25O; for construction Of terminal,
etc. SS57,000; for engineering, Sj9S,-
600: for parking, $4,000.
After investigation this elaborate
idea was dropped. Study showed that
the Second Gv. elevated structure inter-
Mt
artistic approach. Strangely enough,
however. il is understood that pressure
Is still being brought TO bear on the
city authorities to take this block or
at least half of il.
Last summer the large force Of con-
sultinC engineers in the Bridge Depart
mcnt brought forth a plan, TO carry out
which a corporate stock authorization
Of S3.02400O was asked. The Bureau
OF Contract Supervision OF the Board
Of Estimate discovered the engineers
had included iu the items to be paid
for bv the city the tracks. signals and
ether equipment. They figured them at
S56S 600 Wen il was called to the at
tcntIou Of Bridge Commissioner hracke
that the railroad companies had 20 pay
for these things under the dual CON
tracts he had the items cut out. That
left the request at $2,i56,OOO, where II
stands to-day.
Engineers Sift Problems.
When the dual contracts we're drawn
Tho Public Service Commission en-
.,,nccrs approved the plan for sendiag
Inc subway trains across the bridge.
TrrE are now sticking 10 them and
backing up the bridge engineers. Al
though gt first various engineering Oh
t.cIcns were raised 10 9 tunnel, the
engineer handling the matter for The
Public Service Commission now pre-
SCENTS arguments that are mainly OF a
TRANSFORMATION rather than an engineer
ing character.
II n tunnel is built at that point now.
ne says, when additional transit lines
are built IN Queens the tendency would
be 20 put them through the tunnel or
over the bridge He believes that as
Queens gets more populous tunnel
should be put through from seth St,
carving an extension Of the Broadway
subway up Central Park West, 10 re-
Icvc thc northwest part OF Queens.
Tildcr Adamson. director of the Blu
rrau o. Contract Supervision, has suI-
l.-.cd that If the Board Of Estimate
feel u cannot spare the S2,OOO,OOO ad-
I,tor.l needed for o tunnel AZ this
ruc 10 would be possible al slight cost
I'D orcrate both elevated and subway
trains over the single set Of stringcrs
ON the upper level. This would re-
guirc no changes IN III" structure Of
the bridge. but presents other diff
culues which the Bridge and Public
Service engineers say render II i'm
practicable At best It would only be
q temporary eApcdien', but would have
the % crit Of not reducing the ychicular
capacltv Of the bridge.