202 The Story of The Bronx 



In the course of a quarter of a century, this second bridge 

 outlived its usefulness, and steps were taken to replace it. 

 The present magnificent structure is the result, at a cost of 

 $1,360,000. It was opened to the public in 1896. It occupies 

 the sites of the two former bridges and has been a favorite 

 route with wheelmen and drivers seeking the country above 

 the Harlem, and automobiles are now taking their turn in 

 using the bridge. The Speedway has diverted the drivers of 

 horses from the bridge, and the traffic of trolley cars upon the 

 bridge, which was clear of them until October 1, 1904, has 

 made its passage more hazardous. The present name of Cen- 

 tral Bridge, which is its official title, will, no doubt, soon 

 drive that of "Macomb's Dam Bridge" into the legendary 

 past. 



The obstruction to the navigation of the Harlem River 

 had come to be considered as a matter of course, with the 

 precedents of the Coles and Macomb dams and bridges, so 

 that when the various plans were advanced at different times, 

 for supplying the city of New York with water, the engineers 

 ignored the free and open passage of that stream. The 

 earliest of these plans proposed taking the water from the 

 Bronx River by damming it near Williamsbridge and conduct- 

 ing the water by a cast-iron cylinder two feet in diameter 

 under the Harlem River, but lying on its bed. Later, 1834- 

 35, when the Croton River had been selected as the source of 

 the city's water supply, it was proposed to siphon the water 

 across the Harlem on a low bridge without regard to its navi- 

 gation. One plan in connection with the supply from the 

 Bronx River proposed using the tidal power of the Harlem 



so with private work. If the employees of a private individual were as lax 

 in looking after his interests as public officials are in looking after those 

 of the community, they would not hold their positions a day. 



