Colonel Harris explained that each cable was composed of over five
thousand steel wires, and that a shuttle carried the wire back and forth
till the requisite strength of cables was obtained. The expense of the
bridge was about $15,000,000, which the two cities paid. Its great
utility had been abundantly proved by the repeated necessity of enlarging
the approaches.
The drive to the Central Park was up Fifth Avenue, home of America's
multi-millionaires. An unending cavalcade of superb family equipages was
passing through the entrance at 59th Street. Colonel Harris explained
that "Central Park had been planted with over half a million trees,
shrubs and vines, and that which was once a waste of rock and swamp, had
by skill of enthusiastic engineers and landscape gardeners blossomed into
green lawns, shady groves, vine-covered arbors, with miles of roads and
walks, inviting expanses of water, picturesque bits of architecture, and
scenery, that rival the world's parks."
The ride and comments of Mr. Searles afforded the Harris family an
opportunity to study their guest, and on returning to the hotel, all
agreed that Hugh Searles was thoroughly equipped to protect his English
patrons in any deal that he might decide to make.
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