The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-04
What will be the Eject of the Brook
lYn Bridget

The two big stone piers, between which
flows the East river, are undoubtedly
prodiSious monuments of mason work.
A great many taxpayers think them monu-
ments of prodigious folly.
But, whether they commemorate wis
dom or foolshness, they certainly repre-
sent several million dollars of the public
money. Therefore, even among those
who opposed the bridge at the first, there
are many who believe in finishing the
work rather than lose the money already
Invested. 1t is argued with great show OF
reason that aside from the purpose for
which these costly towers were originally
designed, they would have no value TO the
city either for use or for ornament, aud
that the only thing to do would be to 20
TO work aud pun them down again. This
It is said would swamp several millions
more, and finally leave rs nothing to show
for all our outlay. Better To go ahead and
finish the bridge.
This opinion is not shared by large
GLASS, Including many shipownors, ship
masters, property holders with frontage
on or near the East river, and Others more
OF less directly interested in the commerce
the point brought up when the bridge was
first projected: the structure would inter-
fere with navigation to an extent pretu-
dicial to the commerce Of the Fort. The
prosperity Of New York is SO dependent
upon its commerce that the argument is
very strong, If the obstruction be admitted
Therefore, as is natural and logical, the
defenders Of the bridge .aAe issue on the
facts. What would be the effect Of the
bridge on the commerce of New York?
At some Of the Nassau street print shops
there may be seen cheap colored litho-
graphs, in which prophetic genius has de-
picted the cities of New York and Brook
lyn with the bridge completed and with
tall ships sailing proudly under it, AL
though prophetic genius is here at fault, it
Is hardly more SO than the anticipations of
aportion Of the public There is a vague
idea in the community that the bridge is
10 be so high that the largest ships can
pass under 1t rs easily as a goose enters a
barn door.
TINS Is wrong impression. The middle
OF the bridge will be only one hundred
hnd thlrty-ive feet above the water. On
the average ship OF from twelve to fifteen
hundred tons, the pennon floats AT height
Of one hundred aud eighty or one hundred
and eighty-hve feet above the water line.
Some masts are much taller Most sbips
OF over seven hundred tons, all the larger
barks, and many three-masted schOoners,
even, woud have TO strike some of the
light spars before passing under the bridge
Steamers and steamboats,, large or small,
would Of course be in no way affected. But
IL Is safe to say that nine-tenths OF all tho
ships that enter the harbOr, and seven
eighths Of the sailing vessels of every rig
Of over six hundred tons would be unable
TO pass the bridge without striking their
lo'gallantmasts.
Tho next question Of fact is concern
me- the amount OF trouble, expense,
and delay involved in the neces-
mry modification of top-hamper. The
estimates of this trouble and expense
siher widely. Some shipmasters be-
leve that II would cost vessel not less
man $500 TO pass under the bridge. On
~ otbey hand, naval Oh Ter testified in