The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-10
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE.



wnL RI BE pulIr?--A QUESTION OF coSsrf-
TuTioSAL LAW INVOLVED.
On Thursday the Board OF Apportonnent passed tho
bin appropra,lng 81 ooo 600 IN bonds aid tho con'-
p,eton OF the brooklyn Bridge but Comptroller Green
only expressed his disapprobation Of The appro-
priation. but nnsted that II grave question in
regard u the irlmcnt Of the law whether the Com
missoncrs mad not exceeded their duties aud openly
dcacd The net oil Congress Of March 5, 1862 With
view OF disposing OF these questions reporter OF The
HERALD waited Mr.. Abraham B Miller, No. 81 Pearl
street. Of the most ac:Ive opposers OF the Eass
River Bridge, Tor further light the question. Mr.
Miller said il ciect:-
want this subject fully ventilated, not on
count OF any personal grounds. los | have not
u warehouse on the water front that cannos
yield up the LIST oi May next hut on broad princi.
pies the mani ol which Affects the welfare Of
the port OF New York and the commercial supremacy
OF tins city New York is the great highway
designed By nature. and | do wish 10 have tho
Anomalous spectacle presented 10 the world of tho
Tinted states spening millions OF dollars abolish
natural obstruction He'll Gate) ana hcn creating
artificial obstruction, like the Brooklyn bridge-
casting millions morc-to cranp the commerce OF TIM
city and compel the merchants who wish 10 20 bust
with United States TO seek some other port
In order demonstrate fully the position have takes
Il II only necessary refer to recent lies OF the
HERALD Itself In these writings It Was clearly shown
by the shipowncrs that cost would be entallod OF
from $500 $500 10 the owners OF every high masted
ship to pass bridge and that topmasts being struck
could be replaced by the sailors but wond require
OF experienced Triggers. Now. " mas been
asserted iha prudent captains when nj sea, occasion
ally struck their royanasis previous to impending
storms and that the above additional expense should
not be Incurred by those who wished 10 pass the bar
rcr OF the BROOKLYN Bridge will answer that
Oar large schooncrs Of two and three mass say YES
500 700 Ions. VIII have TO house Tor lowcr)
their topmasts order pass under The bridge l35
feet high In dong TINS, IN orderto save time, they
employ rggers 10 assist their own sailors at an
actual cost about $50 and twelve hours detention
Ships Of all sizes 500 600 tons, Will have 10
send topgalant ana royal yards and house their
a
would from 500 to Sis and detention OF one day,
tho allowance tor which ought from $50 10 SIS,
demurrage This includes returning the masts and
their places and setting up all the rigging back
stays, fore and ait stays &c Add to this actual dam
age spars, sails, rigging, anyards, &c. each time
the masts lowered, So, you have about the
whole cost rather tax, which the bridge will impose
sailing vessels of large The result OF all this
viii be tuat owners will instruct their agents and mas
before signing OF charter party or bills OF lading
insert the clause ai cargo 70 De received bciow the
bridge"
In these days Of low rc,ghts the greatest economy
has to be in order to make the Investment III ship
property pay small dividend So you may be
after the bridge completed no ship Will 80 anovc
IL land her Cargo and the cuastng schooncrS that
now use New York Bay and the East River
OF the sea- order pass through Long Island Sound
their way East VIII be forced to proceed TO the cast
south OF Long Island.
here are some facts IN regard 10 THIS
INDUSTRIOUS
that have not yet bccn given to the public and am
willing To enlghten them through the HERALD FIRST Of
all here the figures Of height, elevation, &c, which
have never published and which received from
q OF the bridge:--
Construction commenced January 2, 1870.
Estimated september, 1870 time Tor completion,
July !, 1879
Feet
Length OF river span ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ,5D6e
Length Of each land span $50 feet. $780,
Length OF Now York approach. 562
Length OF b ooklyn opproach.-.. 91l
Iotai length OF BRIDGE. o9oy
Wiutn Ol oriuse. %
Depth o. foundation below high water, Brooklyn IS
Height OF roadway at high waiei Ut tower.. lies
HEIGHT Of roadway Ut centre. ................ is5
Height OF towers above roadway. ............ 15le
He.eht OF towers above high water $3.50. 21l
Hcnht OF foundations to top Brooklyn........ 35
Height OF foundations 70 top, Now York;. $40
Size OF anchorage at bottom. ........... 129x119
Weight OF anchors placed. % tons each.
Ultimate strength OF cable, 10000 tons
Now. reply to Genera, Newton. who states that
the Object ions to the completion OF the bridge should
have been made before Congress authorized the build
ing must say that the act especially provided that
the bridge should be 30 built that 1t 'shouid OBJ
struc impair or injnriously modify the navigation Of
the rivcr In the the it was also
expressly stated By the Secretary OF War that the plans
should be carried out in strict conformity with The
those interested the commerce OF New York. tho
shipowncrs Association and the Vessel Owners aud
and warchousemen interested, protested the most
decided manner. dagr nm was forwarded to tho Sec
rotary Of War showing that not only the passage Of
ships but that OF common trading schooners would be
obsructed but that Official replied by telegraph that
there was no remedy as the plans had already been
authorized Captain Briggs, OF the Sectional Dry Dock
Company man whose judgment in these matters is
beyond disputssates that II the bridge is completed
ht pTcseut eicNatOn New VIII DecOme trad
| ing town. and not great commercial cntrepot.
Hon. Francis Herman, United states Senator, wrote
letter to Mr. Miller which read yesterday before
the Board of Apportonncnt II is as follows:-
Your letter in reference TO distractions in the East
River Is at hand In reply have 70 say that do not
see that Congress can do anything than has al.
ready been DONE which Is to forbid the erection OF the
bridge IN violation OF its express enaclments. YOU
remedy is now IN the courts
There is doubt that tho bonds will be issued
for Mr. Green VIII take no chances and tho Commits.
soncrs VIII not dare issue mandamus against him,
the comes july H. and their hot haste
suspicious N the extreme. Mr.. Stranahan has his in
tcrest in the Atlantic Docks, Mr.. Henry Murphy has
his interest IN the warehouses Brooklyn. but the
people OF New York have their the welfare
ana the commercial supremacy OF this great city.