New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-28
HOW THE BRIDGE MAY BE BUILT.

Col. A. G. Davis in his long and exhaustive
speech ON the management OF the East River Bridge
made before the Reform Committee Of One Hundred, on
Monday evening gave his theory OF the proper course
to be pursued the requisite funds TO complete
the enterprise His remarks not published In full
in yesterdays TRIBUNE, but the following extracts,
touching the pth OF the matter in which the tax
OF Brooklyn and NewYOrk deeply interested,
given IN full:
The people OF Brooklyn need and demand the early
completion OF the bridge They willing and able %
pay whatever may be for ID construction
but they not willing that their taxes shall DC unne-
cessarily increased Controller Schroeder appre
hensve that the work upon the bridge may be brought
a sJaDdstill H8 IL evidently alarmed lest the expo
that have taken place cause the people 70 re-
fuse any further contributions OF money. take
different view. The only way IN my Judgment, 10 secure
the requisite funds TO hasten the bridge 70 peuon Is
TO restore pubic cohndehce IN Its management ~ Is
useless to disguise the fact That the past MANAGEMENT
has forfeited and lost the confidence OF the people II 10
Idle this Reform ISOLATION, for any body
OF men. 70 attempt longer 10 humDug OF deceive the
great enterprise. In the present state OF the
public mind any legislation looking 70 rembursiug the
private Stockholders in violation OF the contract which
they made when they undertook the work, viii be justly
regarded robbery OF the taxpayer The nrst dnty
"Not cent out OF the pocket OF the taxpayer
10 reimburse parties h the only safe ground on
which 10 stand The next great duty Is 20 investigate
the past Of the Board OF Directors ana show 70 the
nnbic mat there Is virtue aud intelligence enough
among las 90 know the acts Of servants and 10 hon
esy Justly applaud or condemn thent az the facts
NAV warrant II Is useless 10 tell me tnat the manage
meal OF the bridge has been twice Investigated con
please that the two investigating commit
tees vino have reported upon the bridge have
done best they could under the circumstances, and yet
L assert that mas been genuine investigation
tending 70 elicit tine whole truth ia the matter up % the
present time Barnes Schroeder, and Hewitt had not
even semblaDce OF power % make an lnYesugatOu
They could only the voluntary statements Of such
parties as would talk with them. ANA yet the points
up0n which these three gentlemen cOncurred IN their
r5port are startling people. The Aidermanc IN
vesJgatOn went no further than dd Barnes, schroeder
and Hewitt aud yet the facts which they elected on
the voluntary statements OF those connected with the
past bridge management were such as 70 cause vide
spread feeling OF distrust IN our community. NO one
VIM mas read fhe majority aud minority reports both
these committees believes that there has been anything
ike full fair, and exhaustive examination INTO the
afatrs of the bridge It's present estimated cost Is
about double the estimate Of Mr.. ROebling, sr.,
who was admittedly second 20 no engineer IN the world
He able and competent to calculate accurately He
dd calculate accurately. There not money enough
In the world induce MIN 90 mlscalcu ate wlhuly and
his skill as engineer and has familiarity with bridge
building precludes the possibility Of his blunderng 70
the extent shown by the bridge management he lost
life in devotion % great public enterprise ana ms
memory should not cOuded with the charge that ne
deceived people either wfuly or ignoranty as 10
the necessary cost OF the bridge HIS figures tel no e
They were the honest figures OF honest and capable
man and wherever they have been substantially devil
ated from the fault must rest upon Others Out never
IN ia easy no restore public confidence It Is easy 20
raise the 20 complete the bridge But these oD-
jects must attained by fair, honest ana open dealing
with our -Durdensd people. No ohlcanery or hum.
bug will answer the purpose No lame ana lmpotent
aroused public sentiment. Turn on the Aghts BRING
out the facts. Tell tho people just how much money
thew must pay and what they paying II Tor Con-
vince them that their money rs passing through honest
hands for an purpose and we may speedily nave
a brio re which viii not only be the admiration OF the
civilized world, but will amply recompeDse our tax
PAYERS for every dollar OF their hardearned money
which they have invested In the enterprise AS Re
form Cominlttee we cannot afford to be behind public
sentiment this matter. The people are thoroughly
nent will be Investigated. The people viii that
their money is honestly handled and that shls great en-
and NeW-YOrk is not destroyed or retarded Dy the
artinces OF unfaithful public servants