The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-14
THE EAST RIVER BRIDGE.
The WORK ON THE CABLES AND The PLAN
OF THE APPROACHES.

The WORK ON THE CABLES AND The PLAN
OF THE APPROACHES.
The second completed strand OF the great main
cables Of the East River Bridge lowered yesterday
from tho two anchcragcs and tho shoes at cach end
secured in their permanent position between the
anchor bars The operation in each though last
ing but hour required several hours OF preliminary
work. At three O'Clock the shoe around which the
wires pass the Brooklyn side was In its place be-
tho bars, and the pin showed The work.
men, under charge Of Mr. Farriugon then crossed the
slender foobrdgc TO the New York anchorage bearing
with them some Of the heavy chains be used in the
Same operation on the Now York anchorage. AT half
past three all ready, and the wire ropes which
held the shoe sackcned very gradually and the
strand assumed a position in md air. When at
the eyehoes, the anchor bars the paying out was
stopped, the two bars between which IL was to be
pinned were lifted to tho sides OF the Shoes and al
halt-past four tho pin was driven In place.
To day the work will DO on top OF tho piers ana will
consist in the lowering from their position tbt
rollers above the saddle plates OF tho two CON-
The river. The strands Will be lifted from the rollers
which rest tho saddle plates by means OF screw
Jokes. These are axcd over the strands which will
attached TO them by suitable ropes and tho strands
will then be raised over the edge OF the roors ana lot
gradually down to ther position on the saddles, by
Ca bic rests or saddes." This screw yoke is worked
by handspkcslike windlass. Alter the str,n-s have
been let down on the saddles they will have umcd
their approx mate final position mid air being about
hundred and forty 1--we feet above mean hah water.
ON Monday tho regulating oil tho two strands that
they shall occupy exactly the place they will ultimately
HAVEN the completed cables will be commenced
riIr APPRo .cIIEs.
The designs for the bridge approaches, which have
been Ia preparation for some time, arc The work OF
Mr. Hdebrandt one OF the assistant engineers of the
bridge Several designs were made by HIM, and the
one which the committee Of architects decided upon
the best has been altered by thcm In some lew
ticuars, and the Board oil Trustees having dcclded o
adopt the architects report and suggcs, cd alterations
Il viii be that ioiicwcd In one OF two instances the
alterations Of dosisn suggested are gain, notably in
the substitution Of Forentne for round arches and
IN the dcntala0n running along under tho cornce
In the OF the substitution OF truss bridge over
franklin square, but thirty Ave feet from the street
moro height, tho all Iteration hardly be praised.
However II Is claimed that this will answer better
The ces,en Of the New York approach IS as oIlows-
From Chatham street, opposite the City Hall, the road
way, nanked each sido by light parapet, on which
ut suitable intervals will be handsome lamps. Will
ascend gradually to North William street, which Will
be spanncd by an iron arch, tho design OF which Ia
highly Ornamental William street will DO crossed by
a similar bridge, aud then will come number Of the
graceful Forcntinc arches Of granite. The face Of the
approaches VIII be OF granite while limestone will be
bridge will again vary the desgu the FIorentne arches
again coming INTO play between Rose and vaudewaser
Streets which latter will BIO spanned by wide stono
arch. From vandcwatcr 10 Gin street the small
arches will again BIO used, wider ono cross
nssc VIII BIO cS
arches again, this mo four. Franklin square as be-
fore stated Will be SPAWNED by open truss bridge OF
twenty feet In depth 10 tho centre OF the chords. Be-
tween the square and the adjacent New York anchor
oil the bridge there will be two Of the stone archer
which have been employed all along. Oi the Floren
tine arches, which give character OF uniformity TO
The approach there are some twentysevcn distributed
through tho blocks increasing Ia width as they DO 10
hcghtfrom ten 10 twenty eight feet The spaces un.
derneath The arches between the streets, are 10 be
utilized for business purposes. Tho brooklyn ap
proach VIII he built IN a similar manner, ana DC Of
ocsigp corresponding In character with the New York
approach and the rest OF tho bridge but as IT will DO
but little exposed to view Will be simpler and with
out much attempt al architectural display.