The New York herald., 1876-08-15
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE.
THE TWO CITIES JOINED At LAsT-srRnTcH-
mo THE FIRST WIRES THAT BIND NEW YORK

THE TWO CITIES JOINED At LAsT-sTR1rcH-
INC THE FIRST WIRES THAT BIND NEW YORK
TO THE CITY OF CHURCHES.
The Stars aud Stripes Aoated the two piers at
the East River Bridge yesterday, and the event In
honor OF which they unfuricd the stretching
Of the two first wires the broad space TO DO
spanncd by the big bridge BY q slim chain the two
cities last united through tho piers OF the Brook
lyn Bridge. The City OF Churches the base OF
operations. The needed preparations for this union
havo been in progress for several days. Everything
being last in readiness the work of running out the
first OF the wires commenced o'clock yesterday
morning under the immediate supervision OF Chief
Engineer Martin and Mr. Harrington, tho master me
chanic To witness the work in hand, which has been
the subject OF SO much curious inquiry for some time
past crowds gathered about the bridge piers on both
sides OF the and clambercd to advantageous po
sitons vessels lying in adjacent docks One end OF
each OF the wire ropes which then TO be stretched
across tho river had been previously carried over
tho Brooklyn pier and drawn tho Intervening
houstops the top OF the Brooklyn anchorage where
they were firmly secured. Nearly 1000 feet OF each
rope lay coed the foot OF tho pier. Tho ropes
threc-quarters OF an inch in diameter, OF twisted
steel wire strands, capable OF sustaining eight
cen tons to tho foot One end Of tho rope which IS
named the traveller" working rope" was placed
on which stood ready to be towcd to the foot OF
tho New York per. Tho cable placed on
frame that the moved toward New York 1t was
unwound by the strain from tho Brooklyn side, where
its end had been fastened The with this coil OF
wire rope on 1t was
TowED ACROSS IN EIGHT MINUTES
the rope meanwhile beng paid out and sinking to tho
bottom o! the fast as Is unwound. Al the
New York side It made fast to the dock, and what
remained the recl removed from tho scow to
than GaA
over tho por by of stationary engine of fifteen
horse power which stands on the dock little back OF
the per This engine works ordinarily At the rate of
hny revolutions per minute SO that there was not
much time lost IN getting the cable over the pier II
brought down the other sidc and attached to
drum worked by this engine wnere 1t was held in
readiness to be hoisted at given signal. AS n pro
cauiionary warning to passing vessels gun was fired
about halt past ten O'Clock, but the trallc on the
river brisk at this hour that the work OF hoist
ing the wire could be proceeded with Immediately
For full hour the crowd that had assembled tn wit
the two cities were compelled to wait But tins did
out their patience, and the delay only In
creased their numbers. Another gun fired ut twenty
i've minutes past eleven O'Clock was tho
slack slack wire to tho dock u. BROOKLYN
1t also served to notify captains Of approaching
craft that the work OF hoistIng had actually com
menced Immediately after this gan was tired the
set agoing at briskest rate. With the force Of
rapid motion tho rope swung clear OF the New
York dock and then arose sexdily IRON Of the
river, watched with eager attention by the that
had assembled at and about the piers In less than
three minutes 1t was clear OF the water and IN about
two more stretched across from pior to pier
elevation Of more than 200 feet above the water
leyel
but grectod nevertheless by the vigorous cheers OF
the assembage This ovent in the bridge's history
occurred at thirty nine minutes after eleven
O'Clock A. n. The second rope towed
across to the New York pier in q
ner precisely similar about two O'Clock in Tho
afternoon and hoisted in presence OF another large
crowd about hali-past three O'Clock, tho work OF
raising it occupying just i've minutes ftom the mo
the signal gwen to start the engine The next
thing in order will be to splice the ends OF these
working cables aud form with both an endless chain
which is to be tor future operations BY the aid
OF tins endless chain--the engagement ring in the
marriage preparations OF the two cities, now fairly on
the way to become onc-seven other ropes are to be
carried from pier pier before the OF lay
ing the that form the cables for the bridge
proper can be commenced. Seven other cables with
which to form loot bridge ana ''cradc" supports
for the workmen. The manner OF construction and
arrangement OF the foot bridge and cradles have a-
ready been noticed III the HERALD
Alter the stretching Of the frst wire the writer clam
bered tho top of the Brooklyn pier, undertaking
journey which, though somewhat exhausting Is fully
compensated Tor by the splendid view afforded When
considered that has to climb upward OF thirty
close August day can DO readily imagined but all this
toll IS instantly forgotten when
THE PICTURE THE SUMMIT
spreads out at The buildings Of both cities
look dwarfcd beneath tho overtopping height OF the
tower; the streets seem narrowed down to laacs In
Brooklyn and to mere pathways Ia New York. The
the river and the bay, with their islands and
tho restless looking craft that dot their
ft restlcssly to and fro, with the great
OF low lying buildings makes an extremely fine pic
What splendid set OF photographs could be OBJ
tanned from this point Doubtless some enterprising
photographer Will seize the chance.
When the first of tho working ropes was hosted the
pascpcers of all the passing ferry6oas gazed steadily
curiousy at it their trips to and fro 1t
object OF TO thousands Of people yester
day II Will doubtless continue TO be until the further
progress OF the work furnishes frosh object Tor their
wondering gaze. This will probably be two weeks from
this time, when it is SAID, the first Of the cables for
the foot bridge will be across After all prepaia-
tions shall have bccn completed the working rope
erected yesterday will be its trips for tho lay ng
OF the cables proper These will be LAID single w.res
! 6,270 OF which GO TO each cable. When these single
wires have been lowered to their positions they will be
compressed into a cable form and secured by sin.
gle beng wound around them and their ends being
madc anchor braces placed for them and the
remaining masonry will be built up about them