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Real estate record and builders' guide: v. 59, no. 1523: May 22, 1897

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Record and Guide 873 TUDT icum-O^-'. aiur.M J»l»^ 1R68. there can be no real confidence in the commercial outlook abroad. ^ ESTABLISHED-^'fi^ARPH 21M> 1868. Dented \o R,ea,l Estate, BuiLdiKg AR,cjinion in Germany effects ministries there so much as because Germany holds, it ia estimated, 500,000,000 francs of Grecian aecuritiea, aud a loss of territory would also he a lessening of even the little power Greece has to meet her obligations. The seriousness of the situation alluded to by Lord Salisliury probably arises from the fact that, in face of Turkey's perfect right to demand an indemnity and terri¬ tory being out of the question, Greece has nothing to pay with. Guarantees for future good conduct will surely he in¬ sisted upon, aud there may be some foreign suptrvision in order to make lb. ni valuable. Railroad dividends in England have been so satisfactory this year as to call fof comparison witb the hest years seen for twenty years past and this accounts for the favor " Home Kails," as they are called, are receiving from the investor. The Continuance of such favor depends upon whether the business which has war¬ ranted the dividends cau last, and this question the buyers of these securities seem to have answered affirmatively. As an illustration of how trade iu Cuba is being utterly destroyed the figures for sugar and tobacco prodtiction and exportation are conclusive. The production of sugar fell from 1,00-J,264 tons in 1895 to 225,221 tons in 1896. The tobacco crop waa 85,000 bales as compared with an average yield in normal years of 560,000 bales, while the coming crop will show a further fall¬ ing off. Looking at the loss to labor aud capital theae figurea represent, the stories we hear of destitution in the islaufl are quite credible. When the actiou of Great Britain in South Africa, as was the case recently, is given as a reason for lower prices on the Berlin Bourse, we can conceive how deep is the prejudice against the firat-uamed power in Germany, and how easilyit could become mischievous if given the right oppor¬ tunity, UutU the South African question is satisfactorily settled WHILE we are complaining of the great injury that has been done New York City from without, it is hard to have also to complain of a considerable one—though infinitely small compared with that contained in the Charter for Greater New York—done within our midst. This injury consists in the adoption of the curved approach to Third Avenue Bridge from the east by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. As laid down on the plana this makes the bridge look like a dog with two tails, one curly and tbe other bent, carried as far apart as a comraon point of junction with the body will allow. If thisplan is carried out, we will suggest that the name of the bridge be changed from the Third Avenue Bridge to the Pons Asinorum, not because, like the third problem iu Euclid, so named, an ass cannot get over it, but aa a proper recognition of the intelligence wbich created it. The ridiculous approach from Lenox avenue is had enough, tbat is already built and cannot now be prevented, but the bandy road it is proposed to make to reach it from tha east is beyond expreaaiou absurd. We defy the experience of the world to produce another such absnrdityin bridge building. The indignation of the property owners and residents of the vicinage, expressed at meetings held recently to protest against the execution of this plan, is perfectly natural and justifiable. The Board is reported to have been swayed in making their decision by reasons of economy. This is not less absurd than the two-tailed bridge itself. The thing cannot aland forever. Sorae day a direct approach will be built and the one now proposed removed and in thia way the ultimate coat of the work largely and unduly increased. What we will do in the meantime, if the plan as now laid down is car¬ ried out, it is hard to say. It will be difficult to keep foreign visitors from croaaing the bridge if they want to, and yet they ought not to he allowed to do so for our own credit as a nation boasting of its wealth of engineering skill. It will not be possi¬ ble to hide it from observationby any sort of covering or shield. Perhaps the btst thing we can do, if the Board of Estimate and Apportionment won't change their minds and persistin the plan approved by them the other day being carried out, will be to label the work aaa specimen of thebiimor supposed to he pecu¬ liar to us as a nation aud which foreigners find so difficult to understand, and carry it off' that way. JUDGE BEACH, having disposed of the idea that the city has a right to purchase the Eighth avenue car line, what are we now to expect from the waning elements that are pre-