Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-09-12
CROSSING THE DELAWARE NOW
BY Frederic j. Haskin

to statements issued by civic authorities OF the
Quaker City, work has been begun on the long
est suspension bridge in the world.
This is the new bridge planned to span the
Delaware River from Philadelphia to Camden.
The plans show the span length near the Phila-
delphia terminus to be a distance of 1850 rect
between towers. The main span of the Brooklyn
Bridge is only 1886 feet, and the Williamsburg
Bridge, 1000 feet in length. The height pro-
posed for the east main river tower Is $50 reef
above the river. The bridge in its entirety Will
exceed any other suspension bridge in the
world for any length by $50 feet, ii the present
plans are adhered to.
This bridge, the cost of which has been esti,
mated at nearly $29, 900. 900 is both a relief and
the fulfllment of a long-cherished desire 70
alshnrif,e @e ar the C y Hail. one of those things
the necessity and practicability OF whlcn mas
long been acknowledged by citizens on potn
sides of the Delaware River, but whicn mas peeh
delayed by circumstances.
Now that definite action has been taken and
arrangements for the progress OF rne s, wHin With i
relief and asking each other, why diuht we ~
it long ago"
The state of Pennsylvania and the city OF
Philadelphia will each pay $S,2f3,5OO TOWARD tue
expenses of building the bridge and the state oi
New. Jersey has appropriated $12,524,ooo.
There was much discussion over the iocatIoh
of the Philadelphia terminus of the bridge. FL
nally, after an unusually hectic meeting OIL Fenn-
sylvania Commissioners on July ~, a vote wa
taken resulting in the selection OF the franknh
souare-Pearl street site. The New jersey com
missioners voted solidly in favor OF the site
which was at length selected.
SdNeu tlIC SAhhtA
The Franklin Square Plaza is ideally situated
in the center of the arteries OF Phlladelphia
traffic, so that direct routes from that END OF Ihe
bridge will lead into all parts of the CITY: Inc
fate of one structure with a known historical
or sentimental value was involved IN tne ol5glt
nal plans. This was st. Georges Metnouiss
F,piscopai church. The venerable edihce, called
by many the Shrine of Methodism, Is dedicateo
on the site of one of the roadways planned TO
Suggestions were in favor of moving the church
to a location more artistically fitted to display
its quaint CHARM. Later, however, otner dhs
were drawn up changing the approach 70 sne
bridge and thus eliminating the necessity lor
removing the old church.
In Camden, fortunately, there was no. prop
erty in the path of the proposed bridge, ana us
r~oadways. which was or hlstorlcal vaiae
and interest. The site chosen Tor the Camuen
terminus of the bridge seems to nave pIo,eu
happy choice. The renoVatlons hecesr
to direct the great tide of human peines
and vehicles which will cross the new prluse
into the city CT Camden will involve neither the
forcing of traffic through that cltys BUSIEST
streets nor long. awkward detours. ~
The deem enthusiasm which the state of New
Jersey feels toward this project Is expresses ~
most practical manner by the fact that tne 70,
900 600 bond issue was heartily oVer-supscrloeu
at Trenton, when the. bids were nrst oPeneu
there on June rs by the New Jersey state ~"
Cow
Ralph Modjeska, internationally known Ior
his great list of successes In civil iAS
was unanimously appointed to the position OF
ohisf hridge engineer. George S. Webster ana
A. Ball are other members appU phi
to the Board of Engineers TOT lne ooH''
of the Delaware Bridge.
Mr. Nodieska is a rather unusual person. Born
at Cracow. Poland, in 1861, with the Original
terrible surname of ModreJeWskl' ne am =
the United States with his mother, Helena MUe
ieska later celebrated as a tragedienne, IN 1870.
The modification in the ModJeska SURNAME w.
made at the time American nato sna vas grad
mated from the College des Points at Cnaussees
of Paris at the head Of his class and WIN spe-
cial honors. He received the Doctor OF Eneln-
aor;ar daorea from the University OIL llllHoiS III
1911. He has engaged in many 1mportnt uhuei,
takings while pursuing his chosen pIoles'ion u uni1
is now head of his own firm in chicago as wen
90 prominent in many organizations and socle-
in the country. 60 sOo
Mr.. Modjeska will receive a salary u r. 30 his
month and is to devote nearly one-hal o. ~
time TO the designing and CONSTRUCTION OIL Ing
great work. He will be in full charge OF an u .
tails regarding the structure, and VIII nav q
fuIy organized staff to carry. out his instruc-
lions. MIR. Webster and Mr.. Ball VIII each re-
ceive a monthly salary of $1,000.
Among the most important things planned
for the Delaware Bridge by the engineers Oh ~
bridge commission are six roaoWays' iou, TWO
lev lines 1.-TWO tor high-speed serVlce2, anu WI
lon feet walks for pedestrians. In this way, an
kinds of traffic can be readily served. tm
grimy, pokey old ferry-poat between 'h
cities seems to be doomed. Gould
What would George Washington think coutn
he but know what is planned as the eMem ar
century method of crossing the Delaware:
The cakes of ice which may form IN the rlVer ~
the winter time will not have the power 10 alleGo
traffic from shore to ShOre OF II Doio"a
The future as is so graphically depicted in the
thousands of copies of that famous old steel en-.
craving that used to hang on every pest par4oi
wall.
While no definite date has been set for the
compilation of this great suspension bridge, 1t is
generally hoped that it may be competed anu
in good working order in time FOR the ceIepIa-
ton of the Sesqui-Centennial planned for Phlia-
delphia in 1926. Thousands of tourists 10 TINS
exposition in honor of the 150th anniversary OF
the Declaration of Independence Will hnd TINS
bridge a boon indeed. Work on the test oorings
for the bridge were begun on August is, but the
actual construction of the bridge was COM
menced on Labor Day, when a large ceieorauoh
was held.
this bridge has been expressed by foreign ma
lions. Engineering societies and other organl-
cations in Mexico, Portugal, France, England
New South Wales, Hawaii, Argentina, Holland,
Colombia, and Peru are among those whlch
have shown marked interest in the report an
nouncing the arrangements for building. the
Delaware Bridge. 1t is apparently in Imminent
danger of becoming the ninth wonder OF the
modern world. At any rate, 1t will undoubtedly
prove a great convenience to two of our busiest
cities.