The New York herald., 1877-10-20
THE EAST RIVER BRIDGE.
BREAKING or STRAND wIREs-LowERISo
pAyp on sTp.rps-k wrrK' q WORK


PAIR OF sTRANDs-A wLEK's WORK.
For some time the cable laying ON the bridge has
progressed without the slight interruptions caused by
the breakage loops Of their passage
the river being laid Into strands but during tho
latter part week there seemed to be perfect
spdcmi: OF this sort OF thing 1t is much better that
the detective should break on their passage
than they, with their flaws, should become
part OF tine cables From laying the strands at that
great elevation, and under that great tension It IL
absolutely certain that any nsw or weakness will be
discovered by breakage The breaKage In each case
only stAppnge OF ffteen minutes TOR the
ends generally secured by the the cradles
and then by ropes carried along the ootbrdgc
being gradually wound back 70 the drum until
the ends reaches the Brooklyn anchorage. north
ernmost wire the nth pair Of upstream strands
broke Friday afternoon, the river span the
New York ~er and Of the ends falling South
street by liquor store rather astonshod goat aud
who stood near. One also uncoupIed on the
brooklyn land span the same afternoon On Saturday
broke from detective coupling the river span
just beyond tho Brooklyn tower One other coupling
became loose Saturday, and wire toward
New York broke short of from twist or xink. No
accidents, fortunately occurred from these breakagos
On FRIDAY, at hal-past O'Clock r. ~, water
at the third excavation. It the Brooklyn ap
proach, BURST flooding tho excavation some eight
feet OF which taken by The largo dirt
buckets worked by the oraneA
STRAND LOWERING At THE AScHoRAGRS
The letting down from tho position they occupy
while being laid, or lowering Of The nth pair OF
downstream strands, was partially accomplished
their temporary position the leg to their places
where tney pinned between the anchor bars This
operation beng ice and delicate picco OF prac
teal engineering work. In view Of tho great size OF The
wire strands handled, merits word OF description.
snal during tho rsl .ieting out wbicn, with adj the
strands taxes place from the brooklyn achorase tue
the strands lowered from the New YORK anchorage
tue STRAIN ~ somo twenty tons less duo 10
n The .s.l,ng on, from the Brooklyn sl,n side. side
passed around shoe shaped like q horseshoe
msgnet in which groove is let IN 70 the outside, in
which the wires lay. The strand being flushed the
OF joined TO she first, forming con-
tnuous line OF the strand This shoe situated
some twelve feet back position Il will finally
occupy, on a seat which the open frog OF the shoe
sils, aud which part OF the leg. huge casting
fitted over by means OF long slot and pinned 10 a
couple OF anchor bars raised for this purpose on a
block. This leg Is LETT In position and is used Tor
many strands possible before II IL moved The snoo
lays Hat this leg, which Is prevented from rising at
the upper end by bur passing through IT under the
anchor Which sits. The strand beng flushed
pair OF ssnoe bars" fastened TO the shoe by
steel plates bolted to tho head OF 1t aud JOIN sys
OF tackle composed Of steel ropes and pueys and
Manila ropes connecting with tho power the foot
the anchorage. All being ready the power is put on
and the shoe drawn slightly back, the unlaying OF
the pennans Of the sys.em teuding TO turn It
as 1t raises of the casting which it sits,
and which release Is induced by the tendency Of the
to assume higher position alter being fastened
The tackle aud by slight working with bar II
freed. The power s then applied to let the shoe
gradually slide along the twelve feet by the anchor
ana hed IN position by sticks One OF the anchor
bars Is lifted up on block and the other above II IN
us own line rhe shoe having been let out until the
OF its frog hole or slot just by the circular
eye the anchor bur- the other anchor bar IS lowered
alongside and the ocd steel pin Is driven through all
three The anchor bars nolding the pnncd shoe from
which strand runs then let down from the posi-
they had been liitcd to TO tner approximate final
position the shoe bars being left and the lackc
post,on that after the regulating has been finished
the shoe be back allow oil tho insertion
OF segments u necessary. Though rather simple ~
description It Is an operation that requires
great caro- and a largo force OF mon, under
The skliul airoction OF Mr. harrington. tho
mechanic Of the bridge. With each strand tho
operation becomes easier, Is more regularly done aud
less In every detail the greatest has
TO be Observed for II accident should happen and
tho strand break loose there would be great
ton 'o property and probably loss OF llic IRON tho
sudden release Of SO great q strand. Every part OF
strouYl 10 prevent such q catastrophe.
On Monday forenoon strands were lowered from the
rollers above the saddles which they rested tho
Brook tower TO the saddle below, aud ON Tuesday
similar operation was performed on the New York
into floor above the saddle and the lower end OF
which Is attached yoke which hits tho strand. rho
fifth pair OF upstream strands finished yesterday
forenoon. and tho wrapping immediately commenced
The regulation OF the nth pair OF down
strands completed IN the afternoon, the northern
being taken up two and threequarter inches by
tho insertion OF scgments and the southcrnmost two
incheR
The work on the approaches is moving steadily, and
on Thursday ground was opened Tor Inc excavation
for the fourth pier OF the Brooklyn approach.
and next week the work the York street
piers VIII bo commenced These will support plate
prder bridge o some seventy ieet span Oc the first
pier OF the New York approach tho work OF laying
the brick arches eighteen iect from the ground for the
tunnlway TO through the approach as progresses
has been commenced. The masonry Of the second
pier has already reached tno ground level The teur
Ing down OF buildings IN tho line oil the New York APP
proach Is going on rapidly the demolition oi those on
Chn street having already been begun.