The New York herald., 1876-12-13
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE STEEL.

tract for supplying $500, 0Go pounds of steel wire,
which to be used for the cables The specifications
issued by the Chief Engineer OF the Bridge Company
calling for bids have been freely criticised, and the
steel manufacturers rather indignant at being de-
barred from putting their estimates that right hav
! ing been distinctly confined TO the wire manuiac-
turera HERALD reporter yesterday sent
out to investigate the matter, and, alter
sruitless hunt, finally advised TO call
| upon Mr. Albert H consulting engineer. Tho
porter found Mr. Hill in his Office and stating his
mission Mr.. Hill very politely declined to have any
thing to say on tho matter Alter considerable per-
suason Mr.. Hill reluctantly agreed TO
low questions, and before sitting down went TO his
desk and returned with copies of tho specifications for
the letting Of February l. 1876 and December ], 1876
The following interview then took place.
NIX. HILLS VIEWS.
REroRrsE-Mr. Hill, can you give mo any inrorma-
ton regarding the letting o tho contracts for the wire
supplied Tor the Brooklyn Bridge?
Mr. HiLL-All know about that is that thsic wns
letting on the LIST OF this month
REpoRrgR-Are you familiar. with the specification
for this letting?
Mr.. HnL-Being resident OF Brooklyn and doing
business in this city, have always taken very great
interest in tho progress OF the work the brdgc both
engineer and citizen and thak as familiar
with the dc,ails Of the work any outsider be
pcctcd to be.
REronrxn-ls there any difference between tho nrst
and last SPECIFICATIONS and If please explain themr
Nj. HILL-Thc FIRST noticeable difference which
struck bctwccn the first specifications the lei
ting Of February 1885, and the second OF December
1876, Is in tho quality OF the steel TO be used.
The first say, can steel ropes bo made
OF the best quality OF hardened aud tempered
galvanized 'crucibe cast steel wire No 'Bes-
senior wire S;emens- Martin steel wire or
reads--"Thc rods OF which tho wire is made ust be
OF superior quality OF Steel suitable for pur-
poses" We also find In tho second specifications,
under the head OF Instrucon TO Bidders" the ioi-
lowing clause 1.-THE bidder must be a man ac, urer
Of steel and must give satisfactory evidence OF
his ability 10 furnish the quantity ADD quality oi wire
required within the specified time" Now you can
that while in the first specifications only mauuac
turers OF such kinds OF steel as were not thought suit
able Tor the requirements OF the work excluded
tho second specifications exclude ali manufacturers Of
| steel indiscriminately !.
REPoKrER-What do you think Of this provisos
/ Mr. Hull believe this requirement. 10 be
necessary. unusual unjust, and think it have
other result than that OF excluding large class OF
the mnst depend upon the quality and uniformity
Of the steel IRON which 1t IS drawn Although IL Is
possible 70 destroy good steel by unskiliul manpula
! lion during its manufacture into wire, is
not possible TO produce good wire from
inferior sce which makes II obvious that tho quality
OF the steel Is OF primary instead OF secondary
porancc and that steel manufacturers, Instead Of be-
ing excluded from competition, should receive the
| preference. Another hardship Of this requirement
seems 10 me 10 be the fact that If tho contract
should be awarded manufacturer of aud he
should fail 10 produce wire that would stand the
traoroinary tests required by the specifications il
would not affect his reputation manufacturer,
but The blame would necessarily fall upon the ma
terial
LIFTING CONTRACT
REPoRrER--What firm were awarded the contract
for the wires that stretched across the riverS
Mr.. HLL-The contract wns awarded, believe, some
time in April, 70 the Chrome Steel Company Of Brook
lyn.
kEroRrER-Does that firm manufacture wire wrc
rope!
ufaciure Of the wire was suliet by them
EEroRrER-To whom was II subets
Mr.. HlLL--To John A. Rocbhns's Sons, wire rope
RkroRrER-Is W. A. Roeblng, tho chief engineer Of
the bridge, member OF that arm?
/ Mr.. HiLL-No, ne is not.
REroRrxa-Has he ever been connected with that
frms
Mr. HuI.-Ycs; believe hrs connection with that
firm ceased during tho month OF september, there
abouts, consequences Of the passage OF resolution
by Inc board Of trustees, offered by Mr.. Abram s..
Hewitt to the effect employe OF the
Bridge Company should be permitted to have any
tercst in any contract gwen out by that company
RgPoRrER-Are John A. Roebling's Sons am ong she
bidders Tor this last lettingy
Mr.. Hill believe SO.
KEPoRrKR-What other points Of difference there
In the specifications
Mr. HILL--ln the last specification there is new
that reads follows-n OF any dispute arising
between the inspector and the manufacturer tho engi
neer Is 10 be the sole arbiter."
RKroRrKR- So in case John A. Rocbling's Sons arc
awarded the contract W. A. RoebIng viii be the solo
arbiter hetween them and the Inspector
Mr. HnL--lt would seem SO; but wish TO say right
here that have not pointed out 70 this vast dlf
ference in the specifications with any desire MY
part mako the slightest reflection upon the integrity
OF Mr.. Roebling, and have suppose that
his judgment would be biased
VAGUE PHRAsKoLoGy.
REpoRrER-What Is your opinion OF tho speciica-
tions in generaly
complex and onerous the tests rather and
the phrascoogy rather vague concssediy So should
saw as YOU viii see by aFor these
titne IN
all detects which may exist in the beginning and also
perfect understanding with the inspectors
regards any doubtful questions which may arise
gard the modes OF testing the standards required"
II the phraseoogy were not vague what doubt could
there be 10 the mode Of testing, which is gwen
length paragraph ten or as TO the standard required
rs given in paragraph hvcs
REpoRrER--I understand that the samples sent in
by the bidders now being tested al Pier 20 East
River. DO you know anything about The nature Of
these tcstsS
Mr. HrL-According to tho specifications parties arc
requested accompany their bids with samples of 100
pounds Of wire, Of number eight full Birmingham
gauge, containing Two rings These samples are bong
subjected four kinds oil tests regards modulus,
limit OF elasticity and ultimate strengih believe
these be very and that the results
taincd BY them will, after all form true criterion
as 10 Tho quality and uniformity OF the steel
their Taking consideration the fact
that the contract calls Ior $500 900 pounds of steel
cable wrc the sample supplied seems to altogether
insufficient, and while thus may afford an opportunity
entirely incompetent party To secure tho award
tho hand on the other hand the provision that
sin ring In forty should not be sufficient
test the quality, then tho inspector select at
closer Intervals rings fy-eei tests puts ii in
the power inspector, without violating tho con-
ditions OF the contract TO render the same runous
the best manufacturer. IL
REroRrxs-Can you suggest any method OF securing
tests which would insure Tho manufacture OF WIRE
answering all the requiremcn of tho bridge stil
protect .hc manufacturcrf
Mr.. HLL-When you consider that with the quality
OF steel called tor specifications strength
OF 100 900 poundsto the square nch third ot
strength taken up in supporting the weight OF tho
cables themselves leaving only twothirds Tor the sup
port OF the supcrsiructurc of the bridge, its NOV
able load and resistance 10 wind and Storm you Will
readily soc that the OF the strongest material OBJ
tainabe is desideratum. Under these circumstances
the standard OF strength might be fixed at 1IO 900
pounds per square inch OF solid SECTION Tins STANDARD
would OF ITSELF exclude all the ufacturers o, IN
ferior STEEL while 1t would the same time throw
the pidding open 10 all OF our best
steel and wire manufacturers thus not only
widening the circle OF competition, but AZ the
same sime increasing It's rcspectabity. The next