New-York tribune., 1871-07-01
THE EAST RIVER BRIDGE.

PREPARATIONS FOR BUILDING THE NEwYORK
PIER-THE WORK TO BE ACTIVELY BEGUN
BY JULY 10.
The East River Bridge is the theme of daily
comment the eTryboats plying in the vicinity OF the
projected improvements and passengers in their impa
tient criticism the deDeratOn with which the work
advances, ignore difficulties encountered by the Com
pany aside from the tedious processes Of construction
The tower the Brooklyn side is now 40 feet above high
wafer and will be completed to the roadway 1l9 feet by
the middle of December Fifty men, with the aid Of
steam derricks laying two of high masonry
week each two feet high and with the apparatus
would he able construct additional course in the
fame time, If sufficient quantities OF granite
could be delivered from the quarries. Con
tracts for 1900 cubic yards OF granite,
the amount required TO complete the tower TO the road
way were awarded last Winter to dealers in Fox Island
Maine, and 500 have been constantly employed IN
Is ouarries cutting the immense blocks. Delays have
been experienced in the delivery Of the granite and the
work the tower impeded in consequence From 200 to
$50 tuns granite DAY are now delivered at Atlantic
Basin Brooklyn and transferred by II steam derrcks TO
cows which are towed TO the tower Eight schooners
loaded with stOne were discharge ng cargOcs ht Atdntc
Basin, Yesterday.
The general features of the work as skeched by the
late John A, poebling, have been preserved although
minor notifications in estimates and elevations nave
been found necessary Inc hase OF the tower at Ilo
waerne is feet in length instead Of 1874 feer, o
by him the line OF the upper cornice at the top
OF the viii be 134 instead OF 2O feet III length and
wafer Mr. ROeblipg proposed TO build the outer walls
With dimension stone Of granite, and the inner walls
of rubble limestone, gness, or sandstone Dut Inc en-
cneers have preferred TO granite alone Inc tower
does not form solid mass, but is built with Two large
openings 6 feet square instead Of 3t by 20 feet as Or-
ginaly designed -, N
voidable delays i'll obtaining possession OF properly Inc
southern half of Per 49, and Onehalf or the adOlhng
Slip were purchased year ago OF private owners, lhe
line extending feet from the bukhead 10 the pier lne
Toe northern half OF the pier and the adjacent slip Occu
pied by the Wiamsburgh Ferry Company were suDse-
queny purchased of the corporation making l65 Ice on
the pier head line and 100 feet on south-st.
The Ferry Company leased the property ADJOINING
formerly used by the Street Commissioners as dumping
ground and after dredging the slip, eXtended the pier
ON the line Of James Slip. Al new ferry house II now
building and the Ferry Company has agreed 20 surren-
der its present fixtures aud buildings 10 the Bridge Co.
the 10th inst The cassOn wbe tOwed into position at
once the piers extended and the slip filed in with piles,
been removed and frame has been built for the prOtec
ton OF the caissOn which, W1en mOOred, Will be sunk o4
/ feet, -1..e--s- a--et =.
This win he 80 feet below the level of the caisson
the Brooklyn side greater depth being required by the
peculiar nature of the bed which consists of layers
of gravel and loosely packed sand The casOn will rest
on solid rock, and not upon powders and cOncrcte
shaes, the Brooklyn side. depth of 45 feet will
De reached by Dec 49, when work will be suspended
I'll Spring. The archambcr will be lined with iron and
rendered hreprOO The OF air will be double
what 10 In the opposite Cals-On, owing To the greater
depth, and would escape through the pores the
| timber If the chamber were not lined in this way.
No property, except at the watcrine each side has
been purchased. by the Company IL Is estimated that
the tower viii not be completed within three years, al
though the approaches each side may be built
season.