The New York herald., 1876-12-21
:. THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE.


GENERAL AsPINwALL, MR.. KISsELLA AND
ANOTHER TRUsTEE-wHAT HE THINKS OF
THE BRssEMER TRIAL.
reporter called yesterday afternoon Mr. Albert
Hill AT his Office and had conversation the inter-
with OF the trustees the bridge company
that were published In the mornings HERALD. Mr..
HUI stated In his reply that he had built wire
bridge and also had never tested any wire He also
explained the difference between ultimate breaking
strength of 400 pounds and pounds and the ei
feet OF that difference the main cable He laid
especial stress the poin, that the spec 'hcaons
really call for steel with tensile strength OF l50 600
pounds the square inch instead OF 100 900 pounds,
and concluded by doubling the point made by Colonel
Rocbng that Bessemer steel would come up to the
required standard.
GENERAL AspISwALL ANSWERED.
REroRrER-Wii you make any reply to the state
ments IN the interviews published in o-days HxRALpY
Mr.. HILL should prefer 10 reply them sepa.
ratcly, commencing We will say, with the Hrst inter-
view printed, that OF General Lloyd Aspinwall l am
exceedingly sorry to that the General sdcrs him.
sell and the Board of Trustees in general and Colonel
Roeblng in particular, attacked by my statements
am not aware that in dispuling the mathemat
accuracy OF certain portions OF lhe specifications
making a personal attack upon any officer OF the
quantcd with me and does not know whether am
competent to criticise specifications drawn up by
Colonel Roebling is my misfortune. For the nforma
ton of the General and other parties curious know
whether have ever built wire bridge, will say
have not, nor has any other man except John A.
Rocbng, the falher OF The present engineer OF
the bridge have never tested, any wire,
but pleuty of steel and IRON General Aspinwali
has expressed his doubt whether 200 pounds difference
III the ultimate breaking strength of each wire could
terialy affect the ultimate breaking strength OF the
whole cable This misapprehension is PROBABLY
trey owing to my iniccltous mode OF expression
The ultimate breaking strength rs calculated tor The
solid cross section vi each wre and as there TO be
$500 wires IN each cable the ultimate strength OF the
SOLID section o the latter is by this error 200 times
$500, equal TO 26O, 900 pounds less than calculated
Tor IN the specifications, or, in other words, this
error will admit OF the acceptance OF steel wire having
tensile strength OF only 10000 pounds 10 tho square
inch oil SOLD section, instead oil 100000 pounds,
called for by the specifications.
REPORTER lis there any other point in General As
pinwais interview TO which you care 10 rcplyY
Mr. HiLL-Ihe General says that he thinks the trus-
tees are bound To accept the without any
iurther inquiry since not single objection has been
Raised by The 0iddcrs who, being experienced in such
things, would have probably done had there been
any error IN the specifications. Now, whenever con-
tractor makes u bi he does 80 with the purpose and
hope OF securing the award OF the contract The
tract in this calls for steel wire with tens
sucngth o iooooo pounds 10 the square lacn Even II
u contractor shouu found that the engineer,
according 10 his tests, would accept steel wire Oh
10000 pounds less tensile strength, he would have
hardly been guilty OF the impertincnce OF pointing out
TO the engineer that no ought 10 call for material OF
higher grade Moreover. as the specifications give
immense Latitude OF power TO the inspector make
engineer the sole arbiser between the
ana Inspector, YealIly a contractor
would prefer to trust in case having the contract
awarded TO him, TO subsequent arrangements IN
gard TO any errors IN the specifications
REPLY TO Mr.. KISsELLA
REPoErER-What have you to say TO Mr.. knsella's
statcmenIY
Mr. Hnr- am certainly much indebted to MIR. KIM
seila Tor taking interest IN my statements and The
taxpayers ought to be much more SO Tor his being
anxious 10 become posted subject with which
is not familiar" There is only one point OF issue
that he TO which wish to reply and snail n
deavor TO explain. Mr.. A. S Hewitt may have read
the spee very carefully but careful reading
alone would hardly reveal any the defects that
have pointed out. Moreover, having offered reso-
luton excluding his urn IRON besompg bidders,
there was no opportunity offered him OF having any
errors pointed out by some active member OF the firm.
REpoRrER--Havc you any reply ~ make 10 the name
less trustee?
statem would not prove that Colonel koebpg is
no engineer, and believe that any man who would
attempt TO furnish any such proof would only waste
his lime fully appreciate that Colonel Roebng
would, TO certain extent, be liable TO criticism Tor
that Colonel Roebling Is only following out the work
commenced by his father anu has also impaired
his health through the exposure he endured IN the
work at ciisson there are extenuatng
that the trustees should bear mind The that
have pointed oui might have been made by
ordinate IN whom Colonel Roebling had con hdence,
and thus printed without his having really super
vised the work. As for the gentleman saying that
were he chief engineer also desire his broth
to obtain the contract under him. that is matter
OF taste.
REpoarRR-Mr Kinsella, it seems to me, gives very
satisfactory explanation oil the reason why the steel
manufacturers were excluded at the second letting
Mr.. HiLL--lndced, that mus, have escaped my
tice. WIZ you point out to mo where that is men
tioncdr
,REPoRrKR-At the close OF the interview, where he
says-''ln the recent specifications had accepted
the oil loo 900 pounds to the inch,
willing TO use any wire that would stand that test"
Mr.. Hull have noticed tnat, but do not think it
meets the question at ALL because, first OF ALL although
TO the square inch they actually call for only 100000
pounds the square inch. Again, the nrst
specifications seem to conhne the bidders to
cruciple steel, while the second specifications
although they throw open wider neid OF competition
steel, restrict the bidding entirely TO manu-
facturcrs. Now thought Colonel Roebng's restric-
OF bidders TO crucibo cast steel very one
other steel will reach an average tensile strength
OF 100, 900 pounds TO tho square inch.
REroRrEK Il understand from a reliable source that
Colonel Roebing in letter 10 the Board OF Trustees
states that within lew months back he has dsco--
cred Bessemer steel, manufactured az Bethlehem.
Pa that comes up fully 10 the requirements in The
specifications
Mr. AiLI-It does not matter where you heard IL;
for, while do not IN the least DOUBT the reliability Of
your informant, am satisfied that either you or he
very seriously mistaken 1t ia absolutely incredible
that Lo.onel Roebng should ever have
any such statement Why should Bessemer steel made
Bethlehem. Pa, be different from Bessemcr steel
made Mt any other place, seeing that the mode OF
iacture rs the Same all over the worldy