The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-14

time n comnete and likely 10 pay only small dividends
@ ~ stockholders II the nrs years q rs existence
Stli i great step forward 70 have enlisted the
sympathies aud support Of 80 many solid
anu responsible citizens or both communities
Tie next step was t0 lay tho matter before
the Legislature aud ask for appropria
ton The building Of bridge across the East River 70
secure the closer union u the two cities belonged to
that class of works that make fair claim upon the
slstAnce 81 the government They outside the
pacity and disposition 81 private capital which seeks
moro remunerative investments The Legislature
passed an act authorizing m appropriation IS 600 900
by the TWO cities and thereafter went 10 work II
VAS then tue United states interposed and
demanded that the hoor Of the bridge should DO ele-
waited I've feet higher than was originally intended.
This necesstated further elevation o. the towers and
consequent increase IN the bulk Of stone ana masonry
Then, again. 70 make the bridge fully available Tor the
purposes medIated II decided To its width
i've feet This involved addition to the suspended
superstructure 81 500 TONS To meet which required
corresponding increase Of strength in the towers thus
you VIII see how Mr. Roeblings original estimate Vas
exceeded
EXCEEDING THR ESTIMATES.
REroETER-liow DO you explain the immense ex-
cess over the original estimates.
Mr. kNGsLEY-Mr. Roeblings estimate Of the cost
81 the bridge ST 900 600 His sons later estimate
was $40 $4,000 Mr. Roebng estimated that the Two
tower foundations of the bridge would COST for Brook
Ign. $3.50, 400; FOR New York $500 0s1 Well these
foundations have involved an expense OF about ST. 500
Ol0. could give you the exact figures L had tue
records convenient. Neither MT Roebiihs nor any,
body else gould determine what the cost might DC oI
sinking these foundations There was no precedent 70
guide him. The work was OF a comparatively new ana
nitude on this continent In The cAlssoh at ~ LOUIS
they never had more than sixteen men at work al one
time. We have had many as iorty-uVe IN the
New York caisson forty minutes was as long rs
man could remain below at stretch without danger
70 his life We were paying men 81 q day then Tor
about two and 1 half hours labor We were con-
frOnted Oy many and serious obstacles As the casson
was being sunk ID would strike, perhaps, on the sde
next the river upon rock projecting lnwards, anu
iorbiddlng all further advance until removed. 10
attack it from outside the eaissoa would be impossible
as We should have &C into the water and TO blast II
from the inside would be 10 endanger the caisson,
perhaps 10 blow IL up entirely, so were compelled
10 bring ia q peculiar style OF hydraulic machinery 70
get rid Of these distractions, some OF which
might weigh from twenty TO thirty tons.
Mr. R0ebng enters item III his estimates to the
cost OF right OF way both sides OF the river. II was
the business OF engineer TO apprase real estate,
but the directors have ascertaned by consulting the
assessors books in Brooklyn and New York that the
value abuut So 500 000 He put down engines and ma
chinery $40 600. The two engines alone employed
at both piers for hosting stone cost $40 900 each not
to speak Of the sixteen condensng engines used al the
work in the caissons and costing 81 500 each In the
expense attending the purchase OF real estate on
the river fronts and IN the of the piers
he fell short OF the actual outlay by about
$3.50, 000 The engineering item OF $4,000 is clearly
short OF what II should be for Undertaking so great
and one that hardly expect 10 completed
within less than years from the day IL was begun
Mr. Kingsley eontroyerted, among other statements,
the effect that 1t preud cal 10 the bridge in
terests have fifteen private subscribers In control OF
the Board by being able at any time 70 outYUte and
neutralize the power Of the SIX members VINO repre-
scented the citles.of Brooklyn and New York They
Lad gwen that matter long and serious consideration
and they finally concluded to avoid any such tate as
happened the New York County Court House II was
better the leading control Of the bridge interests should
not lie ntrusted politicians but rather 10 private Cit
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