The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-13

THE EAST RIVER BRIDGE.

LOWERING THE FIRST COMPLETED STRAND INTO
ITS FINAL POSITION.
The work otowerng into its approximate final posi-.
ton In the line OF tho great cable, the south strand
recently finished, was commenced yesterday shortly
after Que O'Clock, the morning having been occupied
III carefully making the requisite preparations on tho
Brooklyn anchorage, from which the letting cut COM
menccd. The strands during The laying OF the wires
around the shoe are anchored temporarily 10 an
anchor bar lying on the permanent OF bars
the shoe being near the position II is TO Gnay occupy
when keyed 10 the anchor bars At the ,owors Tho
strands completed and in process construct Oh are
lying rollers above the sudde plates on which they
finally to rest The operation OF lowering tho
strands 10 their nal POSITIONS therefore, consists in
first advancing Inc shoes forward twelve foot on
each anchorage preparatory TO kcying them into tho
anchor bars and IN removing the strands when they
pass over tho tuwcrs IRON tho rollers and lowering
them GU 10 he saddle plates. The operation OF lower
.g the lower south strand when was cumn,uoced
yesterday. VIII probably take until to morrow after
noon AS this Is the FIRST strand lowered tho work.
being new to the workmcn, docs not go on quickly
as u will hereafter.
DIFFICULTY OF THE OPERATION
An idea oil the difficulty OF tue operation may be had
run from the shoe, around which tho strand wros
pass to the temporary anchorage, support of
from hhysix TO sixty tons at cacn anchorage pier
Tnero are Twelve oil these steel ropes. on each
the strain Is some hive The allowing tho shoe
therefore, held by these ropes, to slide slowly soma
twelve feet to It's place the anchor bars
Is an operation OF considerable magnitude and requr-
ing much dcl'cacy OF manipulation.
The shoe around which The wires forming tho strand
pass was hrst turned from It's horizontal position on
the bars to vertical one and then allowed TO slide
slowly toward the place IA the permanent ancnor bars
The operation be ng regulated by com pcacd system
vi rullcys around winch The steel and other 70 pes
passed until reachng the power, furnished by leu
power engine situated IN the yard At the loot Of
the anchorage The steam pressure was kept about
ninety pounds Az quarter past cevcn O'Clock A. VI.
preliminary strain was trcd but the actual opera
ton was not commenced until the Afternoon.
The work Is being done uuder tho den CO
OF Master Mechanic FarrinYton and Colonel PANE
the assistant o! the bridge, who has
charge OF the wire dcpartmcnt
REGuLATIAG rnE POSITION OF THE STRAND
Colonel PANE has already marked on the lowers the
place on the STRANDS, which should pond with
ON the saddles below, 80 that The strands may
have their proper detection fr.ln tho towers Thong
the engineer in charge OF that branch busy yos.
tcr,lny Win The mathematical cacuIa ions necessary
"a determine the exact position winch tho lowered
strand should occupy the approximate regulation wil
take place ny means of sngle WIRE, whicn has been
lowered INTO about the proper position The strand
having been let out aovnt twelve from the Brook
Ign anchorage, stmllar operation VIII take place from
tue New York anchorage ana then the lowering from
the rolls 10 tho saddles on the towcrs viii be per
formed.
special meeting OF the Board OF Trustees was nc I'd
yesterday afternoon. President Henry Z. Murphy IN
the char. The object Of the meeting Was the con
sideraton OF tie plans OF the architects Tor The
structon OF the approaches 10 the bridge The matter
had been referred 10 The Executive Committee, aud
tncy reported IA av0r oil The plans oil Tho nrcniects
Joseph NJ. Wilson, George Il. Post and n. La Driup.
The approaches agreed upon are 10 be constructed
OF granite, made OF consecutive of arches with
stone CROSSINGS al Chn aud VanJcwater streets, New
YORK. Al The other streets there to bridges
constructed OF boiler plate. The entire structure
Is to be OF the Forentnc order OF Architecture aud
the total cost o tho work Will be 81, III 3lS. Thus
amount will INCLUDE the engine hcus,, which
urc 10 used to rlvo steam power Tor tho rail-
road. Beneath Tho arches pfc 10 be built
warehouses oi granite, with intermediate wallis
OF Trick Who're stores are 10 be bu'ls the foundations
VIII be dug TO the depth OF twenty i've lee; The
Finance Committee reported Ia iavor OF fixing tho
compensation OF the president OF The Board oil Trustees
at 50, 600 winch was agreed upon Tho commit
tee u whom was referred the question as TO the pro-
prety OF allowing compensation TO tho trustees IN at
tendance at the meetings vi tho Board, reported that
they were not entitled 10 any compensation. Tho re-
Port was adopted, Dir. John b. Agncw voting IN the
Negative,