The New York herald., 1877-01-15
THE BRIDGE CABLES.
WILL THE CONTRACT FOR THE WIRE BE uN-
FAIRLY AWARDED ?-AN OPEN LETTER THAT
MUST RE AysWrRrD

WILL AhE coNltACI foh The "ihE DE SS-
FAIRLY AWARDED ?-AN OPEN LETTER THAT
MUST BE ANSWERED.
II evident that special meeting Of the Board
Of Trustees, called for afternoon something par
tcular importance is to be transacted with regard TO
the great bridge enterprise The allengaging subject
is the cable contract and only Thursday last
regular meeting OF the Board held, when, on mo-
ton of Comptroller Kelly the bids furnishing wire
were left open for ten days further But special
meeting is here called, and all that has been
learned the proceedings may take The form OF rapid
coup desaf. tendency has suddenly devel-
oped ITSELF among some OF the trustees toward
tho use OF crucble steel instead OF Bessemcr,
and If such determination expressed by
the majority to-day il need occasion surprise.
This is cvinced in by the suddenness oil tho
call for the meeting this afternoon and the equally
rapid change of sentiment which may confidently DO
expected. Had the of Bessemer steel been found
favorable there li,tlo that the would
have gone to the Roeblings Tho fact that tho Same
manufacturers put in bid on crucible steel wire
ought not to DO forgotten At this particular uncture
The best wishers OF the enterprise have feared Tor
somo time that other considerations than that OF best
construction might influence those In charge OF the
enterprise. The HgRALD has strenuously op-
posed any inconsiderate action in work.
Of such magnitude, and has given voice to
those OF good judgment who believed that important
errors had been might be, committed. Both Mayor
Ely ana Comptroller Kelly signihed by their actions at
the last meeting that they entirely satisfied
with the proposed method and material for construct
ing the cables II is strongly assorted by many
we'll informed persons that Tor the Board to hastily
conclude u CO tract before requirements
TALLY understood would be to incur pubic dsfavor and
possibly bitter censure in the tuturc
srRANAHAN's OPINIONS.
With view OF asccraining more definitely the exact
nature OF tho intended proceedings IN tho meeting OF
to-day representative OF the HERALD yesterday called
upon Mr. James s T. Stranahan, who sad-
'rhe business of to morrow's meeting Will Of course.
refer TO the wire contracts but what particular action
will be taken cannot stale. /" A.
"will Comptroller Kely's motion to leave open tho
bids be recon nsidefcdY
~ cannot state that either. !"
"Is this not rather soon 10 call meeting when the
Board was IN session only Thursday lastY"
.'rhe meeting Is u special one, and Is doubtless
called with view OF SAVING time. That is very i'm
portant consideration in the work. We already
paying $40 900 month interest money expended;
we have no way oi improving our investment; to
stretch these cables will occupy probably TWO years
and half and under these circumstances every day
IL OF importance and each delay IL 10 be deprecated"
"What is tho sentiment IN tho Board INC re-
spcctive merits Of crucibo Bessemer steel the
manufacture OF wiroy"
/ 'oplnion upon that suhject,' said Mr.. stranahan
''has been about equally divided; but think thele
will be more unaniinity In the meeting tomorrow"
THE ENGINEERING PROBLEM.
"Have you read the discussions upon the engineer
| Ing Questions that have appeared in the HERALDy"
s'Yos; l nave read oil that the HERALD has pub
lshed III that regard. look upon these issues how.
ever as Of more Importance In detail than in
general Engineers, as class, naturally desire
that work should be perfectly performed; but
those who hold tho purse strings prefer that should
be done economically. Botn are at times Liable 10
carry their views 10 excess but there should be me-
dum ground between them.'
.'May ask, Mr. Stranahan; in the mattor Of stees
which Is your pref ercnce Tor this purposey"
For my own part, believe that tho Bessemcr steel
would be sufficiently safe, AS certainly would BIZ
economical"
"would shero be any time lost By little fuller dis
cusson OF this subject ~
al taink the whole matter will be settled in to-mor-
rows meeting. The proceedings Will be snort, and
probably decisive"
CALM, FAIR AND CONCISE CHALLENGE.
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD:--
have endcavored by means Of pamphlet. now in
Brooklyn Bridge, to call attention the detects in
onstratc the nsuflcicncy OF the tests proposed No
satisfactory reply these charges been made by
any OF the officers oil tho bridge.
Without going into further Details make now the
following asscrtions:-
First-Ihe demands made In the nrst part Of those
ccincatIons are inconsistent with each other
Second--Tho tests proposed are utterly insufficient.
inasmuch they DO not como up to the standard OF
Third-Unlcss there has been gross ignorance In tho
preparation OF these specifications, the only purpose
allowing them 10 be issued IN their present form
desire to give Inferior material an opportunity to pass
inspection.
ihoId myself personally responsible Tor every ono OF
these charges, aud Hm ready TO meet the engineers OF
the bridge. any Time and place they may name
before any board OF competent engineers tney may
select to prove the truth OF my assertions II con-
pay should bc let before this matter Is set at rest
question which confidently leave In tho hands OF
Board Of Trustees. Very respectfully,
NEw York, JAM H. 1877. ALBERT Hill. G. f.