The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 16

BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE, NEW YORK, SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 1937 Marine Bridge to Rockaways to Make Riis Park Rival of Jones Beach 16 A ON COMMITTEE Features of New Project for Recreation Seekers Ingersoll Plan Is Due to Put I i 1 ML WallaboutSpan To Be Opened For Use Feb. 1 Pavement of Roadways to Be Speeded Unless Held Up by Weather The new $361,211 Wallabout Bridge, replacing the 44-year-old span over the Wallabout Canal which was carrying 1.400 vehicles a day at its closing in 1935, will be opened to traffic Feb. 1 unless weather conditions are adverse, Chief Engineer John A. Knighton of the Department of Plant and Antes; Span to Have 150-Foot Lifts To Admit Ships Project Will Be Ready in Summer if Schedule Is Maintained Great things are happening along Brooklyn's southern waterfront. If all goes well, next Summer will see a modern motor parkway and a super highway bridge linking Shore Drive with the Rockaway Peninsula, where a completely rebuilt Jacob Riis Park, rivaling even famous Jones Beach, will await recreation seekers.

It's all part of the city's plan for l. Above, architect's Tendering of ho new boat houte at Marine Park Kill appear upon completion next Summer, Below Engineer's sketch of the new Marine Parkway Bridge linking Brooklyn with the Rockaway Peninsula, which it rapidly nearing completion, with opening tentatively set for Aug, 1, oeian Library in Use No. 1 Item in Budget Asks $2,000,000 to Complete Two Wings The Brooklyn Central Library Building and Rome have one thing in common; neither was built in a day. The library building has one thing on Rome: it took the city of the seven hilts thousands of years to decay, but the Central Library Build ing became a ruin practically the day its construction began. However, like Rome, the library building seems destined to rise from its ruins to new glory in the modern world.

Conceived in the fires of controversy and made the subject of heated debate ever sir.ee a subcommittee of the Brooklyn Park Commission first recommended its erection at Grand Army Plaza in 1899, the library building will come closer to completion than ever before if the Board of Estimate and Apportionment approves Borough President Raymond V. Ingersoll's item in his capital outlay budget. Would Be Usable The item, asking $2,000,000 for the completion of two wings and the front of the library building, does not provide for carrying the project to fruition. The structure, however, would become usable. Its history opened with a battle of civic leaders over where the structure should be located.

One group argued that the building should be placed near the civic center at Borough Hall, another wanted it in Prospect Park, a third school of thought sought to place it on the riding academy site at Vanderbilt Ave. and Sterling Place, and others wished to build the structure at various other points throughout the borough. The park commission's recommendation was neatly debated for six years, and then advocates of the triangular plot at the junction of Eastern Parkway and Flatbush Ave. gathered strength enough to force an act designating the site as the spot on which the new library should rise through the State Legislature. A great victory had been won.

Enthusiastic editorials and news articles were written predicting that Brooklyrusoon would have its own Central Library Building. But the cheery glow of the evening celebration faded abruptly in the cold gray dawn of the morning after. Difficulties arose in the selection of plans for the new building. Chief Librarian Frank P. Hill came out with a statement that the library must be the "best of its kind, and listed facilities the architect must Include.

Everybody agreed, but It was two years before the library's trustees could stamp their approval on a set of plans. Called Last Word Raymond F. Almirall, the architect, had designed a beautiful French ancissance building, somewhat similar to the New York Public Library "at 42nd St. and Fifth Manhattan. It was hailed by prominent architects and artists the world over as a thing of beauty, and by librarians as the last word in library buildings.

But it was only a plan. In June, 1912, It started to become a reality. The torn toms of civic pride beat wildly throughout Brooklyn as a crowd of citizens gathered eargerly to witness ground-breaking ceremonies for the building which the founders of the Brooklyn Public Library had vtsicmed. The first annual report of the library, published in 1898, he said: "We want to see not only branches in various sections of the city, but a great central reference library building, fireproof and permanent, where we may hope to receive valuable collections of books, and what the donors may be assured of their permanent care and protections." The dream of the founders was coming true. Brooklyn hailed their vision and foresight.

But hitches promptly developed. The contractor who had the 1ob of building the foundations complained that the architect was making "unreasonable" demands. Quicksand and loose earth were en countered, and a public official declared that "it looked as if about half of Flatbush Ave. would slide into the hole." Bad weather took Replacing I Only 2 Reclaim Babies Of fered for Adoption In One Case Foster Parents Willingly Gave Back Child, but in the Other a Court Battle Ended When $1,000 Was Paid for Return of Infant Out of 600 cases of babies up for adoption only two mothers have applied to take their children back, according to Mrs. Rebecca C.

Talbot-Perkins, president of the adoption society which bears her name and is located at 1161 Fulton St. The second mother to an- Structures said today. Coastruction, which was begun with a PWA loan and grant on April 17, 1935. has been finished with the exception of paving the roadways of the approaches, and the single, bascule-type span is being lifted on an average of five times a day to allow canal vessels to pass. Improvement on Old Span An important traffic link between Williamsburg and the busy Wallabout Market section, the new bridge is a great improvement over the old retractable, or pull-back type of span erected in 1893.

Instead of the narrow roadway which permitted vehicles from opposite directions to pass with but little clearance on the old bridge, the new roadway, 53 feet wide, will allow much more clearance, thus speeding up traffic. North and south-bound trolley tracks and two pedestrian walks, each seven feet wide, are also included in the span, which connects Washington Ave. in Wallabout with Kent Ave. in Williamsburg. Traffic Forced to Detour Since the closing of the old bridge and its subsequent demolition prior to construction of the new span, traffic between Williamsburg and Wallabout has been forced to detour many blocks around the inland end of the Wallabout Canal.

Some idea of the brideg's importance as a traffic link may be gained from figures recorded by the Department of Plant and Structures shortly before the closing of the old bridge. An average of more than 42,000 persons traveled over the span dally at the time, on foot and in 1,400 vehicles, of which 485 were trolley cars. Pavement to Be Permanent Another complaint about the old bridge, in addition to its narrowness, was the noisy and rickety wooden roadway which required frequent repair. The new span and its approaches will be paved with asphalt and granite, assuring permanence and easy riding. Nearly 600 piles had to be driven to provide a solid foundation for the new span, which measures 40 feet from pier to pier.

Work was speeded as much as possible because of the inconvenience to traffic resulting from the enforced detour, but it was impossible to hasten the settling of the huge concrete piers and other phases of the construe-' tion of a sound, modern bridge, which, according to Chief Engineer Knighton, is "built to last." Commissioner Robert Moses, provided for erection of a highly modernistic building concurrent with beautlfication of the surrounding section at the entrance to Prospect Park. The proposal, providing for utilization of the present forlorn looking wing of the building and construction of another along Eastern Parkway, plus the erection of a front which would give the structure a modernistic appearance, would cost only $2,000,000, and provided that the building might be expanded when further funds were available by the addition of other wings and a back. The idea caught on, was accepted by the leaders in the fight for the new building, and is now marching towards reality. If the Board of Estimate retains the $2,000,000 item in its captial outlay budget, as Borough President Ingersoll has requested, the letting of contracts and the actual construction work should not take longer than three years. Should Commissioner Moses be given a hand in directing the work, It is quite possible that the Job could be finished in even less time.

Hence, Brooklyn may with a fair degree of confidence look forward to the opening in 1940 of the Central Library Building that was conceived in 1899. It it was worth waiting for, only time can tel. Traffic Link Mrs. Frank Earle Falrchild (above), child welfare chairman of the Nassau County League of Women Voters, has been appointed to serve with Mrs. Charles S.

Whitman on the State committee of the New York League of Women Voters for ratification of the Child Labor Amenrment. The committee has been set up to organize a Statewide campaign to urge the movement. its toll of working days, too. As a result, the work of completing the foundation was delayed too long. Public interest had shifted to.

another scene. The nations of Europe were locked in a gigantic struggle. Soon, khaki uniforms sprouted all over Brooklyn all over the United States, for that matter and America was no longer a neutral observer. How could anyone find time to think of libraries with such things going on? Fight Resumes The war over, men's minds turned again to thoughts of peace and progress. The fight for the central library building was revived.

Newspaper headlines and editorials portrayed the shame of Brooklyn: "Authorized in 1906, basement not finished in 1919." The State Legislature passed a bill authorizing the city to finance the structure with a corporate bond issue, and the Board of Estimate was asked to aprove an $11,000,000 bond Issue to complete and equip the building. But an unexpected barrier barred the path. John F. Hylan was Mayor. Almirall, the library's architect had been foreman of a grand jury which investigated certain alleged scandals in the first Hylan administration.

The two facts may have had no connection; there is no evidence that they had. Nevertheless Hylan, a Brooklynlte himself, thundered whenever the proposition was raised: "What, pour money into that hole in the ground?" "Schools and other necessary improvements come first," he said, and the central library had to wait until James J. Walker sw-ept into City Hall. Swiftly, Brooklyn civic groups seized their opportunity. An appropriation to complete one one wing of the library building was rushed through the Board of Esti mate.

It was, however, some time before the wing went up, and then more money was needed to complete the work. It was not forthcoming. Ickrs' Theory an Obstacle Appeals were made to the Public Works Administration to supply the needed funds, but red tape and the conviction of Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes and other officials that "schools and hospitals come first interfered. In the scramble to get a PWA loan-grant, however, the original plans for the building were tossed Into the ash-can and a newer, less expensive project was envisioned.

The new plans, drawn by Alfred M. Githens, would have cast only $5,000,000. But even that was too much. Then, with what might almost be called dramatic suddenness, Mayor LaGuardia entered the picture. After frankly informing Brooklyn civic leaders that some of the borough's other needs outweighed the new library building In his opinion, he unveiled a new set of plans for completing the structure.

The plans, authored by Park 44 Year 0ld Map below show location of Marine Parkway Bridge, Marine Park and the rebuilt Jacob Park, which trill combine next Summer to offer Brooklyn recreation-seekers readily accessi-ble pleasure areat unsurpassed in ihit part of the country. Blind Deaf-Mute, 4 To Hear by Touch, See by Imagination Chicago Girl Gels Special Aid From Northwestern University Psychologist Chicago (U.R Tawny-haired little Joan Higgins who has lived four years in a world she has never heard nor seen soon may gather an under standing of things about her throug 1, "scientific sight." Joan, a blind deaf mute, attracted the attention of Dr. Robert Gault, Northwestern University psychologist, who has constructed a special phono-detector, sensitive to vibrations of the human voice. He hopes to teach her to "hear" through her fingertips and "see" through developed imagination. Abandoned in infancy, Joan, plump, full-cheeked despite her triple affliction, was thrown upon a world apparently merciless.

A hospital lor the blind refused her she was deaf. An institution for the deaf rejected her she was blind. Placed in Private Home From this tangled situation Dr, Gault rescued her a year ago, placing her in a comfortable private home. Spurred by Helen Keller's conquest of blindness, Dr. Gault undertook a thorough study of the girl's case, searching for a method of transmitting sound to her that she might eventually be brought into communication with those about her.

At the same time he noted carefully the indistinguishable sounds the girl uttered, intending to develop her basic speech potentialities as far as posisble. Dr.Gault built his "phono-detector" on the vibratory "ear" drum" principle in an effort to establish a means of contact between the spoken voice and the girl's understanding. The device, a box like affair, has a microphone attached. The speaker addresses the microphone and the voice is-converted into vibrations relayed to a project ing cork plate upon which child's hands are placed. lne Gets 3 Lessons Weekly Dr.

Gault has placed Joan under the care of his assistant, Miss Tertia Hart, a Northwestern student who conducts three les.son prelods with Joan weekly. Miss Hart "speaks" to Joan who "hears" with her hand. When a command is given, in- structors cause Joan to comply. If Uub Hart ta "ttuil" tho litfl Miss Hart says "stand" the little girl is raised to a standing position. When she Is told to "tourn around" Joan's body is inacie to conform to the order.

In time she will (jrow to associate the vibrations raised with these words to the proper action, according to Dr. Gault, and the pro cess of "hearing thus will be completed in its fundamental stage. At the same time Joan has found that her own efforts at speech bring definite responses from those caring for tier. If she is pleased with something she says "ahhh." meaning "do it again." This discovery was made when she was Plced on a chair. I' sea racial Muscles Joan has learned to use her facial muscles through a training process instituted by Dr.

Gault. When spoken to other than through the detector, Joan's fingers are placed on the facial muscles of the one addressing her, in hope may be able thus better to locate and use her own speech organs. Joan has spoken intelligible words such as "mama" and "yes," but Dr. Gault says this is purely accidental. He hopes to develop her speech powers through steady training and in time lead her to a definite, if lim ited, speaking vocabulary.

When Dr. Gault first found Joan, she was unable even to walk. Since institution of her instruction program she has taken on a definite personality, is cheerful and bright and has become attached to those about her. She tugs lovingly at her foster mother and embraces children who play with her. been almost eliminated and the two largest and attractive recreation areas in the city will have been made readily accessible to the city's million, I I Atlantic 4 i of E.

in a to of of is V- final six months elapsed when either the mother or foster-parents may change their minds, the mother demanded her child back. The foster-parents in this case were not willing to give up the child, a little girl of six so they fought it in the courts. "When the case was about to come to trial the lawyer for the mother offered the foster-parents a sum of money. The mother of the child was unwed and the father, a married man with money, was willing to pay any price to get his daughter back with its mother. "They fought over the child like it was a piece of merchandise or thoroughbred cattle.

Finally the foster-parents accepted $1,000 and the mother took the child home." Mrs. Talbot-Perkins thinks the mother who demanded her child back is taking a great responsibility upon her shoulders. "If a mother is inclined to be the least bit meditative," she concluded, "she may wonder all her life if she can do as much.for it as the foster- parents from whom she took Democrats to Fete Heffernan at Ball Tor the 29th time the 7th A. D. Regular Democratic Organization will honor its leader, Elections Commissioner William J.

Heffernan, at the club's annual ball at Prospect Hall. Prospect Ave. near 5th on Feb. 1. State Senator John J.

Howard, president of the organization and chairman of the etnertainment committee, last night announced the chairmen of committees for the ball. They are: John F. Heffernan, reception; John P. Olson, journal; Michael J. Daly, decorations; Michael Ger-aghty, press; Matthew J.

McGivney, door; Joseph Astarita, special; Walter McCormack, tickets; Samuel Peck, music; John S. Foley, boxes; Al Torre, printing; Alderman James J. Molen, floor; Assemblyman Wil liam S. Kirnan, ushers; Joseph Moran, prizes; John F. Furey, hall; J.

Emmett Morressy, membership; Louis Kalish, boosters; Dr. Clifton Bogardus, invitations; John Baner- owskl, arrangements; Martin Walsh; program. PLAN AIRPORT EXPANSION Cleveland (U.R) Expansion of the administration building at the busy Cleveland municipal airport into a seml-clrcular concourse has been proposed. Major John Berry, airport commissioner, said the number of Incoming and outgoing passengers this year would exceed 200,000. BOMBAY VSES RADIO Bombay (U.R) Bombay city police are to be equipped with wireless for use in times of disturbance in the citv, This wil bring them in line with the UD-to-date police organ izations of most big capital cities.

Hitherto police have had to rely on a telephone aystera. itiii'iiihii Jsh Museum Puzzles Make Education A Joy to Children Pupils Enjoy Geography Via Jig Saws Schools Ask for More of Them Puzzled children are sometimes the happiest. Apparently the Brooklyn Children's Museum is making use of this principle. Under the direction Miss Anna Billings Gallup, curator in chief, and under the particular supervision of Mrs. Charles Scott, the museum is rapidly becoming an extensive purveyor for the distribution of jig saw puzzles the public schools.

Already, according to Miss Gallup, approximately 50 schools in the borough are asking for supplies of puzzles for students, who. Miss Gallup has found from experience in the museum, are more fond of learning their natural history and geography as well as other subjects in this manner. "Facts," Miss Gallup pointed out yesterday, "become more vivid when student absorbs them by placing together a jig saw puzzle than through any other means although our services is only supplementary and not in conmetition with other modes of study." 700 Puzzles in Collection The museum has a collection of 700 picture puzzles covering a wide range of subjects at present and these are indexed in order that sets puzzles may be instantly available to correspond the studies a particular grade. The puzzles are loaned to the instructors in the schools and then are returned to be redistributed to others who forward requests. What is more important, however, that the museum is turning out these puzzles by means of its own manufacturing plant.

Since 1930, when the museum in trodnced these puzzles for use of school children, a staff has been getting together the devices. Beginning with several carpenters in the museum work shop, the puzzles are set up in rough form and in the size. A special department adds individual designs, shel-lark is applied and the parts pasted on the board. Then the puzzle is cut into its multiple parts. "Every puzzle and every part of a puzzle has a catalogue number," explained Miss Gallup, "so if even one (Kirtion is lost and returned, we can fit it into its rightful place without any hesitation." Notes With Puzzles Mrs.

Scott added at this point that the museum is devoting more time toward preparing complete written statements to accompany each puzzle in order to explain more fully than the puzzle itself the sig- nlficance of a scene depicted. "For instance, she pointed out, "a child couici learn something about the Tower of Pisa by merely setting up its liKeness and noting the cus-tomarilv brief remarks about it at the bottom of the puzzle. But it is our intention to trace the history of each scene a bit more comprehensively." In this manner, she said, the puzzles become more instructive and valuable. Miss Gallup added that letters from teachers in the borough are coming daily to the museum with words of prai.se for the help these JIB saw designs have been. She expressed the hope that the contributing membership of about 2.500 members continue to furnish the museum with old copies of natural history, nature, geographical and botanical magazines, from which facts a circumferential boulevard around the borough, to be connected eventually to the West Side Express Highway in Manhattan by the projected $60,390,000 tunnel from Red Hook to Battery Park.

Under the direction of Park Commissioner Robert Moses and with the co-operation of Mayor LaGuar-dia, Controller Frank J. Taylor, President Timothy Sullivan of the Board of Aldermen, Borough Presidents Raymond V. Ingersoll of Brooklyn and George U. Harvey of Queens and Corporation Counsel Paul Windels. ten years of planning recently culminated in the perfection of the plan.

Ingersoll Contributes Impetus was given by the fact that Long Island parkways have pushed into the city from the east and have created a demand for their extension; then, Borough President Ingersoll contributed substantially to the program by his widening and reconstruction Guider and Emmons and the reclamation of the Sheopshead Bay frontage; next, the Marine Parkway was authorized, financed and begun, and finally, machinery was et up for construction of the Red Hook-Battery Tunnel. Opening of the Shore Drive in front of Fort Hamilton on Dec. 12 represented removal of a most important obstacle. Shore Drive and the improved Guider and Emmons Aves. thus were linked by a speedy parkway.

Completion of the Marine Parkway spur from Emmons Ave. to Marine Parkway and the opening of the Marine Parkway Bridge, tentatively set for Aug. 1. will provide a uninterrupted link between Shore Drive and the Rockaway Peninsula. The next step, for which public lupport is now being enlisted, is to acquire the rights of way to extend Shore Parkway from Dyker Beach to Bensonhurst Park.

After that, a plan now under consideration would extend Marine Parkway from the connection of Marine Parkway spur and Flatbush Ave. to Join with the Southern State Parkway, still under construction, and through it with the entire Long Island Parkway system. Boat Basin Proposed Work on Marine Parkway Spur and the subsequent development of Marine Park began this month through the Marine Park Authority, financed by a bond issue of and set up jointly by the Department of Parks, the State Department of Public Works and the Long Lsland State Park Commission, with Moses as commissioner of the authority and Harry Taylor as executive secretary. Marine Park, comprising 1,593 acres, the largest public area in Brooklyn, was acquired in parcels from 1917 through 1934 by gift, condemnation, purchase and transfer. A golf course, tennis courts and spaces for similar sports are to be laid out, with modern clubhouses and other necssary buildings.

To make the waters of Marine Park attractive to owners of small rraft, a large boat ba.sin south of the parkway near Flatbush Ave. will be dredged out. The Marine Parkway Bridge, more than 4.000 feet long, includes a central section which is to be the longest vertical lift highway span in the world. Three 500-toot spans in the center bridge are flanked by five shorter spans on either side. The central section is 55 feet above high water and will raise an additional 95 feet, making a total clearance of 150 feet to permit the passage of I large vessels Under normal conditions, the bridge would have takt'n two and a half years to build, but construction has been speeded up so that it will have been completed in 13 months If the present schedule is maintained.

Arross the bridge. Jacob Riis Park Is to be a second Jones Beach. There will be parking facilities for 14.000 automobiles, areas for pitch-putt golf, archery, shuffleboard and other New roadways will provide easy access to parking fields and the Rockaways. Bathing Facilities for 10.0(10 CHh larKe aections of reclaimed land have been added, will be landscaped. A large central mall, west of the parking field, will lead to new buildings containing a cafeteria and other concessions.

The existing bathhouse south of the parking field has been nlarged and renovated to provide facilities for 10,000 persons. A restaurant will be located on the second floor of the building. With the co-operation of Borough President Harvey, plans are being complete! for the extension of Beach Channel Drive into the road and parking svtems of the park. All this won't be exactly free. To amortize the bonds which financed the Marine Park Authority, a 15- cent automobile toll will be collected on the Marine Parkway Bridge and a 25-cent parking fee at Jacob Riis Park.

When the entire project is thrown open to the public next Summer, the motor transportation system of Brooklyn will have undergone a revolution which lacks only the Red Hook-Battery Tunnel and the link with the Southern State Parkway to be complete. Traffic congestion through one of the most Intricate Ureet aystems In the world will have ply for her child after signing the final release and after the child was living with its foster parents was Mrs. Florence State of 181 Macon St. The foster-parents willingly gave back the child and there was no court appeal from the decision handed down by Justice Philip A. Brennan.

"As a rule we try to discourage young mothers from giving up their children if they can possibly provide for them. It always seems to us that it is much more difficult to surrender a child who is able to walk, talk and love you than it is a mere infant in arms. We should much prefer to offer a baby between the ages of three months and a year for adoption and in most cases the would-be parents themselves prefer an infant." In speaking of the other case where a mother wanted to gain possession of her child after offering it for adoption and going through the notary part of it, Mrs. Talbot-Perkins said: "There was a little humor at- tached to that case. Before the Ball on March 13 For Infants Home The fourth annual charity ball and entertainment to help support the Infants Home of Brooklyn has been set for March 13 at the 71st Regiment Armory, 34th St.

and Park Manhattan. Benjamin Z. Sherman', president of the home, announced that Mayor LaGuardia and Register Aaron L. Jacoby had accepted the Invitations to be honorary chairmen. Governor Lehman has agreed to serve on the honorary committee of sponsors.

Others on this committee are Joseph J. Baker, County Judge Peter J. Brancato, Charles H. Brelt-bart, Sandy A. Ehrmann, Donald Flamm, Commissioner Albert Goldman, Dr.

Louis D. Gross, William Hodson, Borough President Raymond V. Ingersoll, Democratic Leader Frank V. Kelly, Philip M. Klein-feld, Justice James MacCrate, Magistrate David L.

Malbln, Car mine J. Marasco, Justice Mitchell May, Alfred J. McCosker, Thomas J. McGee, Federal Judge Grover Moskowitz, County Judge Algeron I. Nova, Louis S.

Posner, Albert D. Schanzer, Dr, Joseph J. Schwartz, Justice Meier Steinbrink, Senator Irwin Stetnsrut, Harry Strongln, Kenneth F. Sutherland, Frank Was-serman and Grover A. Whalen.

may be prepared to accompany the "We've already expanded our departments to care for this demand for picture puzzles," concluded Miss Gallup, "and it looks as If we are in the business to stay with signs of growth still very much in i hi uu, i. fc iSfl lit Pirii Ip ill lip A view of the new Wallabout Bridge over the Wallabout Canal, linking Washington and Kent which will be open to traffic Feb. 1, unless cold weather delays pave-jjvnt of the approach roadways. All other construction is complete, as shown above with span in raised position to allow boat to pass. New bridge replaces 44-year-old structure closed in 1935..