The New York herald., 1922-08-04
CRAIG FOR TUNNELS
INSTEAD OF BRIDGE
Tubes Would Cost S10,000,-
900, Span 100000, Comp
troller Says.

BY building two new pairs of rapid
transiutunnels TO accommodate all the
rapid transit service now going over
the East River BRIDGES the capacity OF
the bridges for vehicular traffic would
be increased by 100 per cent. according
to Comptroller Charles l.. Craig. This
is his solution of the problem brought
about by the necessity for Tightening
the load of the Brooklyn Bridge and
the overcrowding on the other bridges.
In 4 statement last night the Comp
troller called attention to the necessity
of conserving the city's credit most
carefully in order that II might have
the means to recapture the transit lines
at the proper time. He did not favor
the building of another bridge, which
would cost not less than s40,0o0.00O. nor
did he think 1t wise to start another
vehicular tunnel until the one now be-
ing constructed to New Jersey had had
fair trial.
The Comptroller expressed the opinion
that the two additional pairs of tun-
nels would not cost much more than
10000. 600 and would relieve the traffic
situation at the least possible expense.
There are many reasons why the city
of New York should make haste slowly
bridges over the East River" the Comp
troller's statement said. There seems
to be nc immediate occasion for alarm in
regard to The Brooklyn Bridge. The
slipping of the cables that has been re-
Gently reported Is in the direction In
which the bridge construction normally
provides that the cables should slip in
adjusting themselves to traffic, tenn
perature. &c.
"A new bridge over the East River
ould probably cost for its construction
and the acquisition Of necessary land
and approaches and other Incidental
outlays in the neighbrohod of 100000
600. Besides the interest and sinking
fund charges for so large an investment
there would be large annual loss to
the city of substantial sums now re-
ceived in taxes from property that
would be forever removed from the tax
rolls, when acquired for bridge pur-
poses.
''All of the rapid transit service that
Is now maintained over the four East
River bridges could undoubtedly be
taken care of in two pair of new rapid
transit tunnels. the cost of which need
not materially exceed $4,000, ,000 II
the rapid transit service now handled
over the East River bridges were re-
moved to new tunnels provided for that
purpose 1t would Immediately release for
vehicular, traffic over these bridges
roadways to an extent that would prac-
tically increase by 100 per cent the
present vehicular capacity of the East
River bridges. II provision were made
for Increased traffic to this extent by
the building Of new bridges II would re-
quire an outlay of upward of s75.00o.-
600.
1T will readily be seen, therefore,
that not only will materially less public
money be required IL the bridge ca
pacity Is Increased by the construction
OF new rapid transit tunnels, but the ex-
penditure OF the reduced amounts would
provide at the same time additional
rapid transit facilities, the investment In
which should be a self-sustaining enter
prise"
T.. r. Knowles. civil and electrical
consulting engineer, of "a Broadway
who supervised the construction of the
Manhattan approach TO the Brooklyn
Bridge and is familiar with the building
Of the cables. said yesterday il was fool
ish TO talk about the cables slipping over
the saddles. 1t was impossible because
of the rigidity with which they were
held by compression. But the saddles
themselves were designed to move on
| rollers, and that was probably just what
happened.
THE bridge is perfectly safe" said
Mr.. Knowles. with the burden prop
erly adjusted and kept within bounds
the bridge will last for long time to
come. There is absolutely no point to
4 rebuilding IL. Besides, II would be a
\ very difficult matter"