The New York herald., 1875-10-22
EAST RIVER BRIDGE.
PROGRESS OF THE woRx-NEARLY SIX MIL
LION DOLLARS ExPENDED-THE TEMPORARY

PROGRESS OF THE woRn-NEARLY SIX MIL
LION DOLLARS ExPENDED-THE TEMPORARY
BRIDGE TO DE CONSTRUCTED IN 1876.
The construction Of the suspension bridge which is
10 span the East River connect the two cities
commenced January ., 1870 At that time it was said
that the work would bo completed within six years,
and that the cost would not exceed $40 600 600 The
result shows that such estimates we're far short or tho
time and cost Of the stupendous undertaking The
engineer Mr. Roebling, now OF the opinion that the
prdgo WIZ not be completed until July 1870 Thus far
the work has cost So SEQ 600 least $40 600 900
more will have TO be raised before man or beastn
can cross the structure which will ION the
two cities At the last meeting Of the Board or Trus
tees appeared from the report Of the Treasurer Mr.
Prentice, that Brooklyn had paid toward the work up
TO October So 500 o00 and New York only 81 500 600
The amount hand is $52,636 TO- This will not 90
very far and the trustees anxious obtain from
New York her quota Of $500 600 which they
waiting for several weeks. Much opposition has been
with, the progress OF tho construction Of the
bridge, from New York, officials and TO this crcum-
stance is attributable to considerable degree tho
comparatively slow march of the great Improvement
which win enhance the value of property and facilitate
travel between Harlem and East New York The late
Mayor Havemeyer steadfast and earnest OPP
ponent of the bridge project from its conception 70
~
swNDLR mPRACTIcABrLTrY,
and would sanction the expenditure OF single
dollar upon the enterprise After the death Of the late
Mayor, however, IL anticipated that Gotham would
readily subscribe her share she would participate In
the advantages OF the bridge II would appear that the
more sangne advocates of the work reckoned without
their host and that the cloak Of economy which COW
cred Mayor Havemeyer has fallen upon the shoulders
Of the Common Council Brooklyn though groaning
under taxation, has paid up handsomely, and looks TO
the future for the return OF her money with interest in
the benefits that win out OF her union with Gotham
nAVsr Dxaat
rule for his absence from tho regular fortnghtly
meetings of the Board Of Trustees. The most regular
members IN attendance the President Senator
Henry Z. Murphy, Mayor Hunter, Comptroller Powell
William G. Kingsley, James s. I. Stranahan, Lawrence
Turnure, f. Z. Thurbur, William Marshall James NJ.
Motley, II. W. Slocum and Thomas Carroll. The
pendtures Tor labor and material now average about
$7S 900 per month. There is sufficient hand
TO keep the at work on the tower on the New
York side and the anchorage there up December
J. when the main work will be suspended for the win
ter The tower the Brooklyn side and tho anchorage
were completed two months ago. and on this side OF the
river the engineers promise to have the stone work
ready by the lst OF June 1915 that the temporary
this latter structure the mon will work and
weave the wires which TO form the great bridge
The length Of the river span is 500 feet The length
OF each land span is $50 feet length of New York APP
proach, 562 feet; length of Brooklyn approach GIL
feet total length of bridge, $3.50 feet width of bridge
IS feet total height of roadway above high water at
towers 119 feet above high water in the centre of the
river, 1876 feet; height of towers above high water
2n feet President Murphy Is of the opinion that
just yet they have sufficient money and material on
hand to go until the close of the
season AT the last meeting OF the Board OF
Trustees 1t stated by engineer Roebiing
that the wire rope for the temporary bridge would
between $45,000 and $50, 000 Contracts should be
made before February to give manufacturers
opportunity to prepare the material in time for the
commencement of the structure. The proposals call
for steel and iron wire ropes for foot bridge cradle
cables and other appliances necessary for the constuc
ton of the main cables of the East River Suspension
Bridge" The galvanized foot bridge ropes weigh
twelve pounds per foot and to be two and five eghths
inches in diameter with breaking strength not less than
240 tons All wire ropes will be tested by the engineer
OF the bridge
BRIDGE APPROACHES
II has been stated by Mr. Murphy that the property
to be purchased on the Brooklyn side lying between
the tower and the bridge anchorage, would about
$l20, 00o In estimating the assessors valuation is
taken and multiplied by two and half The cost OF
property to be taken the New York side will be
about $500 000 The work of demolshing the buildings
TO be removed viii commence in May
WorRmen on the Brooklyn anchorage
gagged preparing the latter for the erection OF work
shops in which the wire strands will be manufactured
during the winter for the temporary bridge The plans
and specifications for the wire TO be used in the bridge
proper prepared and bids and proposals will be re-
ceved for the work. As yet for wire
have been made There fortunes in for sue
cessul contractors in the wire way in this direction