The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-23

THE SHIPPING MEIcHAHTs' HEARING BxYoRE
THE ALDERMASIc COMMITTEE president
urypy n uuppuy'a ANswvp

THE SHIPPING MERCHANTS HEARING BsyoRE
THE ALDERMASIc CoMMrrTEz-PRxsIDENr
HENRY c. MURPHy's ANSWER
A hearing was yesterday given the shipping mer-
chants who protest against the erection Of the Brooklyn
Bridge the ground that heavy vessels cannot pass
under H. by the Committee Roads, Bridges and TIM
nels OF the Board OF Aldermen Among the persons
present were H. G. Murphy. President; James s T,
Stranahan, Director, and John Prentice Treasurer
OF the Bridge Company; Captain Snow oftho Pilot Com
mission, and large delegation OF the shipowners Al
derman Tuomoy, chairman Of tho committee, invited
any gentleman wko wished to sustain tho
70 address the committee. Mr.. A. b. Miller
said tho work was a wastefut expenditure
OF public money that would benefit neither
New York nor Brooklyn. The tonnage that goes out
through the Sound 10 almost as great what passes
In and out At Sandy Hook. When He'll Gate obstruc-
tons removed vessels OF tho heaviest tonnage will
pass through It. He pointed out other advantages OF
Long Island Sound and discussed the act Of Congress
authorizing the construction OF the BRIDGE calling
special attention to the provision that the bridge
should obstruct impair the FREQ navigation OF
the river When the engineers made their estimates
and diagrams there eight ships In port that could
not pass without striking their topmasts The cost OF
king these topmasts would be about $500 IL
would not be safe take vessel under the bridge
whose altitude l25 eet although tho centre OF
the bridge rs liza ect The UbStructiOn 10 the COM
would be very great and Brooklyn would suffer
we'll New York. Indeed, her ratio OF
decline would DO onc.,hrd more than New York
Up to 1925 Philadelphia exceeded New York IN
population and commerce. but the Erie Canal gave US
route to the West and within the last three months
nearly the grain trade has been diverted TO Bal
morc 1t is, therefore, important that none OF our
commercial advantages be curtacd IL Is contrary 10
the ACT Of Congress The engineers became strikers
for the BRIDGE aud msrepresented the matter to the
Secretary OF War. The first wire stretched across
he declared would be the signal for Injunction and
fsAv ..s.lA aba,
George 3riggs estimated that the effect OF tho
strucon Of the bridge would be the reduction OF tho
value OF property the East River one hall. Al
ready warehouses tina, neghborhood had decreased
In Value twenty-five per cent he not opposed
to the bridge II u was built at sufficient elevation
TO allow large vessels 10 pass under.
James N. Thompson, harbor master east of the
bridge stated that between Pike and Grand streets he
accommo dates come OF the heaviest vessels that
tho port the height OF many OF which from Us
70 200 feet II the bridge completed II will drive
commerce and the aborers as well away from the city
and destroy all the warehouses above the bridge
George W. Roosevelt, shipwright Interested in forty
vessels stated that they could not get some Of their
above high water. Occasionally there vessels
ming high 203 feet above the heel Of the mast He
favor of the bridge " IL raised to the point
fixed in the original plan
stated that the emonstrance raised buttwo questions
first, whether IL is high enough and second, whether
the law has been complied WITH He drew the Law,
which originally provided that the bridge should be 1876
feet high. This is the first time that be had ever
heard that the law provided for building it higher
up The Secretary OF War appointed Gen.
erals II. C. Wright John Newton, and W. r. King
commission OF engineers to investigate and report
They sat here in Now York Tor months and there APP
pearcd before them the ShipowncIs Association, who
advanced the arguments offered here to-day, all
Of which carefully considered and specially called
to the attention Of the Secretary Of War seven years
ago This very question then raised by them, and
the Secretary of War, as tho final tribunal, decided
that the bridge at 1855 feet Is IN compliance with law
He read report Of the Chamber OF Commerce. in
which the Chamber placed itself on record that the
lowering the topmasts the only objection but it
slight one that It should not be allowed to
stand the way Of the completion. The title Is per-
feet he declared and no injunction will be granted,
much less sustained SO long a. they comply with the
law in the construction OF the work.
The committee adjourned until eleven A. n. Mon
d.