The New York herald., 1875-12-10
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE ANCHOR
AGE.

WORK ON THE STRUCTURE FOR 1879 ABOUT
coMPIETED-NEw STREETS TO BE OPENED
IN THE FOURTH wARD-THE GREATEST
BRIDGE IN EXISTENCE.
Labor for the season on the New York anchorage of
the East River Bridge about closing The recent very
cold term caused the suspension of mason work,
ducing the number of men employed from ITS to fifty,
only visit TO the Of Cherry and Dover Streets
where the massive structure raises its head in almost
equal proportions to the tower near by convey
correct idea Of Its extent and ponderousness Six large
boom derrcks and two engines kept employed, and
railroad has been laid down from pier 90 to the Water
street front for the transportation Of the heavy blocks
of limestone brought by vessels from Kingston, on the
Hudson. The site which the anchorage is being
erected very fashionable quarter OF tho city
Near at hand Washington had his residence while in
New York, and the ground itself the home Of
Mr.. Fox President Of the original Gas Company and
which the invisible fluid first introduced in this
city. The celebrated Doctor Valentine Mott lived for
many years in the adjoining house,
WORK ACCOMPLISHED.
The necessary excavations, after the demolition OF
the buildings the ground, commenced last
spring. and we're carried several fee. below high water
mark The actual construction OF tho anchorage began
in August last by the laying down of several OF
yellow pine alternately crossing each other, well
boted together and thoroughly grouted with cement,
which has the effect OF hardening IT and aordng pro-
lection against the seaworrn. The protection is
dered more effective and complete by the covering
given TO the outside OF the timber, together with
heavy layer of concrete and this again protected by
a weighty stone dlling intermixed with gravel and
sand In this the whole timber foundations
Theoretically enclosed by body Of concrete, fully
guarding against the wash OF the the river
each about two feet in height The cast iron anchor
plate weighing twenty three TONS is OF oval spider
shape, with sixteen arms, each six feet long The
centre body from which these project is quadranguar
In FORM four feet inches by three feet eight inches
and two feet six inches deep. Wrought iron bars and
port the bridge cables the work progresses. Each
chain will have total length OF l30 feet, and
forms curve nom 'ne lou foundation oi
until the highest point is reached The first link
meets with the caoe, and occupies horizontal posi-
ton, while the last is placed in vertical line at
tached to the anchor plate before mentioned which
ports the superintendent masonry, whose weight viii
be great enough balance the largest degree
sion to which the cham can ever be exposed.
STREETS
The New York anchorage has now been raised to fifty
feet above the street gradethe extent OF work on II
TOR 1875. When completed IL will be eighty nine feet
high, to correspond with the grade line OF the bridge
During next summer IL Is expected that twenty eight
feet additional will be completed when operations will
until the wire cables ready The, anchorage
will form one solid mass but there will be two large
open spaces nineteen feet high stretching from Water
street to Cherry. These will constitute q
markable feature OF the structure and 1t is proposed
TO utilize them by converting them into vaults for
storing treasure and vauabes The approach to the
anchor wall will be from Chatham street at point
l. 336 feet distant The ground to be taken will be
sacrificed but the other hand II Is intended TO make
decided improvements ali the blocks to be passed
IL is also proposed 10 open out street from
Chatham or William 10 Clif Franklin square,
ming alongside the bridge the north side Of IT, Tho
south front OF II is TO be formed by the buildings
derncath the bridge and the plan prepared shows how
the thoroughfare may be made very imposing and
attractive its architectural features and how all the
ground can be turned 10 good account
PROPOSED NEW
In connection with the opening or this new means of
communication with Brooklyn, 1t has been justly
marked that the Fourth ward has been very much neg
eced The blocks are densey crowded by the
poorest class OF buildings the removal or which is de-
sired by every citizen who feels interest In the gen.
eral welfare Mr.. Roebing the chief engineer Of wha,
he states will be- when finished the greatest bridge
in existence, has suggested that more blocks,
between William and Rose streets, or b etween Rose
and vanderwater and Gin might be built up to serve
as market halls Such markets, IL would SEEM will
be wanted, sooner later in that part OF the city
either supersede the old Fulton market better
serve vast and dense population all round. within
radius OF half a mile. They would also be most
vonien for all the marketing that will come
bridge from the Brooklyn side.