The New York herald., 1877-09-08
raE GREAT BRIDGE.
EFFECT OF THE STORM ON THE STRANDS AND
FooTBRIDGE--A MODERN EoLIAN HARP.

EFFECT OF THE STORM ON THE STRANDS AND
FooTBRIDGE--A MODERN EoLIAN HARP.
The storm Of yesterday caused soppaRe OF all out
door work the bridge. On the laying OF the third
pair Of upstream strands the work progressed until a
quarter to twelve A. NJ, wben though but six more
trips the carrier wheel double line of wire
had be made TO finish the laying of The strands the
work had to be stopped account OF the violence Of
the gale gang OF the hardy and daring bridge work.
men, their sou'weser suits, were sent out to secure
by ropes the completed strands. well the wires
those process of construction, from the action Of
tho wind, to prevent thor swayng. Tho swayng to
and fro and against each other OF the OF tho
strands In process Of would result TAX
ing OF great deal OF the oil which required much
tmo ana labor to put and ultimately would damsge
the galvanizipg. In modified degree this would also
affect tho exterior OF the completed strands The wires
OF the strands In process OF secured
TO the ootbridge by hempen ropes the Land spans.
halfway between the cradles and towers and hallway
between the cradles and anchorages aud IN tho middle
oi tno lour Quarters Oh Inc river span ahe lowered
by the regulating cradles, and the lines
carried across, securing eacn set oi strands
also connected by ashngs TO the strands 10 steady tho
former. The work OF the men was daring and danger
Gus, especially when they descended to tie regulating
cradles. AS the wnd whisted aud roared through the
wires Of the unfinished Strands past the footordge and
the lowered strands, the sound impressive one
like that of the a,oan harp OF the gods Now II would
seem like the twlttcrlng early morning OF millions
OF bros ana then the sound would deepen TO roaring
and hen TO soushng like among great pines only to
change again, playing weird melody on the many
strings. OF the great harp. The completed strands
swaycd considerably for their weight, aud the loot
bridge also reccved motion from the wind.
ACROSS THE FoorDRIDGE IN THE STORM.
In order to see the effect vi such violent storm on
the completed parts OF the great cables the writer CON-
inenced the very disagreeable and somewhat hazard
journey across tho ootbridge, promising Il by a
trip up 10 the first cradle Brooklyn anchor
age IN company with Mr. Martin. hrst assistant
engineer OF tho bridge Tho WIND was blowing straight
down twenty-five milcs hour,
tho line OF the footbridgc rising at times to thirty
and possibly thrty-nvc When the writer, at hall
past iour T. NJ started across the footbrdgo To New
York the breeze had ireshened, and Slight drizzo
made the trip disagrceabe. An umbrella was out Of
the question. rhe Stats under loot wet, though
not slippery. The ioobrdgs Itself swuyea considera-
bly,, with u long unduatlon and rocking motion, tho
whole effect being like tnat of the deck OF small
yacht in rough sea- and predis isposing to qua nish-
ness In some and sesickncss in others II was dncnlt
at times 10 keep from being blown oil, and stcady
running mold mad 10 be taken on tho steel side ropes
Between the cradle and the Brooklyn tower on tho
rise the swayng, though II would hardly have been
seen from the street far below, was very perccpti-
bic 10 tho pedestrian tho iootbrldgo. The Brook
lvn tower reached with u ieeting OF relief, anu
start down the river span was made boldly stoppags
necessary several times, as the gale blew hardcr
feet had 10 dc planted firmly, and good grip taken on
the side ropes TO prevent TALL into the river way be-
low. Tho roaring the wind, and its whistling
through the strand wires. and the ram, added 10 tho
confusion On passing over the New York towe- the
steep descent required slow and careful walking and
trm side grip. When tho New York anchorage was
reached there was hearty feeling Of thankiulncss and
rclic and the results of experience strong
hoauacne, disposition 10 walk III swaying, stag eer-
ing fashion ana pair OF slightly scarihed hands. On
account of their being fastened 10 the regulating
cradle the lowered strands did not swing with long
motion, but starting rom the towcrs the motion was
broken at tho cradles and was o reverse character
ON the other stretch.
GRANITE FOR THE APPROACH.
The first cargo OF gness rock, Tor the foundations OF
the piers OF the Brooklyn approach arrived yesterday
In a schooner IRON Greenwich, Coun. There are some
one hundred tons IN the cargo