Favor A Lift Bridge

New York, 1895

THE SUPERVISORS ARE WILLING TO HAVE PLANS SUBMITTED.

Stone Breaking by Tramps Stopped at the County Jail — A Tart Criticism of Assemblyman Fairbrother and Praise for Senator Childs.

The board of Supervisors, at the meeting last Thursday, discussed the necessity of a new bridge over Newtown Creek at Hunter's Point, and adopted the following resolution:

Resolved, If the board of Supervisors of Kings County adopt a similar resolution, that the joint committee on bridges of Kings and Queens County be and it hereby is authorized to procure plans for the construction of a lift bridge over Newtown creek at Vernon avenue, and further to have all necessary surveys and examinations made and to have a contract prepared for the construction of such a bridge.

This does not mean that a lift bridge is to be built any how. If the cost does not satisfy the board, it can rescind the above resolution and build some other kind of a bridge.

Some time ago the board approved plans for a swing bridge and sent them to Colonel Gillespie, of the U. S. War Department for his sanction. We understand that the plans pleased him. When the lift bridge plans are presented for approval, and the relative cost of the bridges is apparent, the board can decide between them. In any event, the board will have to pay for two sets of plans. The final action will depend on the apportionment of the cost. Long Island City should bear at least three-quarters of the expense.

The matter of widening Strong's causeway came up in the shape of a resolution endorsing a bill introduced by Senator Childs. This bill exempts Queens County from the provisions of an act of 1893 requiring the widening of highways in the state, part of the expense for which shall be bourne by the counties. The bill affects Strong's causeway among other roads and the discussion involved the Brooklyn City railroad (which is interested in the widening of the causeway) and railroad corporations in general. The resolution was passed by a vote of five to two. Supervisor Koehler and Siebs voted no.

A resolution was passed directing the discontinuing of the stone breaking business at the jail and directing the Sheriff to discharge all the foremen who had been employed to supervise the work.

The resolution was presented to the Sheriff and through his counsel, H. S. Moore, he requested leave to employ an inside watchman, and an outside watchman, and a keeper.

One of the last acts of the Board was the approval of a bill to pay the special deputy sheriffs at Ridgewood $3,000.50. This is at the rate of $3 per day for each man up to January 30th.

The board adopted the following preamble and resolution: Whereas, Hon. James S. Fairbrother has introduced a bill in the Assembly, providing that the bill introduced in the Senate by Hon. John Lewis Childs, exempting Queens county from the law for widening highways, shall not apply to pending proceedings; and

Whereas, The said bill so introduced by Assemblyman Fairbrother does substantially nullify the bill introduced by Senator Childs; and

Whereas, The parties interested in having Strong's causeway widened, at the expense of the tax payers, requested Senator Childs to introduce a similar bill in the Senate, and Senator Childs refused to do so; therefore,

Resolved, That this board, as the representatives of the tax payers of Queens county, do earnestly request Hon. James S. Fairbrother to withdraw the said bill, so introduced by him, on the ground that the same is against the interest of the tax payers of the county; and it is further

Resolved, That this board hereby express its appreciation of Senator Childs' refusal to introduce said bill, thereby conserving the interest of the county.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 8, 1895, p. 1.