Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1916-04-08
Hudson Bridge
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a project that to me appears as the
most valuable asset the State of New
Jersey could have, and it is strange
indeed that so many others cannot
seem to grasp this great opportunity.
l believe with the association, that
the entire State of New Jersey should
cooperate and not few counties;
but the more l see of the average
politician and his ways, the more
realize his utter personal selfishness,
and although he may be elected or
appointed as the representative of
the people, they seem to come last in
the estimation of his duty.
The Bridge and Politics
Just one illustration-when I ap-
peared before the Board of Freehold
ers of Essex county, when the Hud-
son river bridge matter was brought
before that body, one Of the freehold
ers who seemed to have considerable
influence in shaping their opinions,
stated that if he voted for the Hud-
son river bridge, he could see the end
of his political existence on the first
day of January, 1915. 1 Immediately
answered his harangue by stating
that this bridge was too big pro-
ject to take into consideration the
political existence of any one man, or
any number of men, and if they
could not see the benefits of the
bridge to Essex county, l felt sorry
for their judgment.
Private Capital May Build Bridge
However, 1 believe that even if the
three or more counties under the new
law, or the State, should agree to pay
their share of this bridge, that the
matter would still be delayed until
the City of New York found itself
financially able to join. At present
l understand that New York has no
funds for this proposition and will
not have for a number of years, and
that therefore unless some other
means are provided, the bridge could
not be built for some length of time.
1 understand further that private
capital is ready to build the bridge
if built by private capital, it would
mean toll bridge, just as the Brook
lyn bridge was when first built; and
instead of property interests in New
Jersey being taxed, every user of the
bridge would pay his share.
Two Deck Bridge to- Cost 100000, 900
If the private capital l speak of,
is Forthcoming the bridge, then, in
stead of having single deck, will
have two decks, one for local traffic
and the other for steam railroads.
The single deck bridge would cost
about $42,00O,000 at or about Fifty
seventh street, New York. The two deck
bridge would cost between $75,000,-
900 and $100,O0O,0OO.
Tubes a Wet Blanket
The advocates of a tunnel for
vehicular traffic in endeavoring to
throw a wet blanket, so to speak,
upon any bridge proposition, as they
are continually doing, state that the
tubes can be built for Sill 100000.
And then they compare this cost with
the greater cost Of the bridge, but
they do not state, and they are very
careful to omit the fact that the
single deck bridge would have twelve
times the capacity of the tubes. If
this is so, for a single deck span,
what would it be for two decks? AS
previously stated, private capital
when the right moment appears, will
build this bridge. This private capital
however, would be largely railroad
money, and again largely, in case the
bridge could be used for carrying
freight across the river and to an
elevated railway along the marginal
streets of the City of New York,
whereby tracks can be run into and
on the steam ship docks. There is,
however, one great stumbling block
to this proposition, and that is the
New York Central railroad, which
has for over twenty-five years en-
deavored to secure the franchise for
the waterfront of the great City of
New York, and which 1 consider is
the most valuable franchise in the
world.
New York Central Greed
Therefore, knowing that if they Sc
cured this franchise, it would block
any participation of the, railroads
centering in New Jersey from even
using the bridge, or the elevated
freight terminal, I have watched
every move made between the Of
ficials of the City of New York and
the New York Central railroad. l
was therefore not surprised to read
in the January papers that the officials
of the City of New York had agreed
with the New York Central railroad,
for the purpose of eliminating their
tracks on Eleventh avenue, or So
called "Death Avenue" to give them
the franchise to erect an elevated
freight railway along the marginal
street down to where that street con-
nected with est street, then over
privae property to their freight sta
tion. 1 thought I saw Immediately
the object, and wrote letter to the
Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment in January, criticizing this &C
ton calling their attention to the
fact that if this proposition was al
lowed to stand, it would forever block
the participation of the New Jersey
railroads from using this elevated
freight terminal, if it did not also
block the building of Hudson river
bridge at or near Fifty-seventh
ntvo1 of hn