The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-28
THE EAST RIVER BRIDGE.
PREPARING FOR THE APPROACHES ON EITHER
sIDE-coMPARIsoS WITH OTHER STRUCTURES

PREPARING ron THE APPROACHES ON EITHER
AUTHORIZATION WITH oTHEB STRUCTURES
OF A SIMILAR KIND.
The proposals Tor lowering the buildings and con-
s.ructing them hreproof roofs al either end Of tho
great bridge have been all received and decision re-
garcng them will be reached in . few days The
OF the Board OF Trustees was very reticcnt
yesterday the question OF further purchases Of real
estate In New York and Brooklyn In the vicinity OF
the bridge Perhaps there rs fear lest properly
owners might put up their terms 10 an undue height
we're II known that the company was In the hcld Tor
the purchase Of property beyond the limits OF that
over which the roadway will pass The approaches to
the bridge OF immediate interest," cable laying
only awaiting settled weather Chief Engineer Roeb-
ling thinks that II will be time month TO COM
regular work In this complex part Of the
great undertaking Tho New York approach will be
the more important OF the two, great care will
be taken 10 unite architectural display with sodity
and durability construction. The plans FOR build
ings purposes beneath the roadway OF the
bridge yet decided upon, the purchases OF
properly which the company has set It's eye arc
still IN allegiance There will be little difficulty per-
fcctng all the arrangements for the Brooklyn
approach. few warehouses will probably be estab-
lished under the roadway, but the elevation and DIS
tancc bong much less than that Of The approach on
yhe other side Of The river New York VIII claim the
principal share Of attention from the trustees The
horse rails with the iron tramwaya alongside Tor
wagon wheels. viii reach through from the extreme
end OF one approach TO that OF the other The latter
however, Will only tako In. the land sides, about
hird OF the New York and three-fourths OF tho
Brooklyn approach
coMpARisos OTHER SUSPENSION BRIDGES.
The master mechanic Mr.. Harrington, saic yesterday
that the Brooklyn Bridge, when Completed VIII be the
longest and most imposing in tho world. Mex! 10 II
comes IN point OF length the new bridge at Niagara
Falls. The cables OF this bridge CONSIST Of seven
ropes LAID in cluster, one being IN the centre Each
rope Is two inches and half in diameter, all making
cable about seven inches In diameter. The span Is
,26S ieet The bridge across tho Unio River ~ GIN
cnnati next IN size IL has one span OF LOST
bridge Al Wheeling W Va, has span OF loo irct,
but OF wood and not 30 substan
ta as those Already mentioned ~ was built many years
ago, when suspension bridge building was IN us IN
fancy, by Elet, who was aiterward Lieutenant Colonel
OF Tue marine brigade the Mississippi. and was
killed AZ Memphis The same engineer constructed
the rsl suspension bridge ~ Niagara the predecessor
OF the present railroad bridge The eroSe across tue
Licking River. connecting Covingon anu Newport has
span OF 100 eet and all the remaining structures Of
the kind this country vary from loo TO 800 feet
MAKING FOR rwo YEARS
In laying the cables Mr. harrington wished II TO be
understood That the GUIDE wire only would be lowered
toward the wafer III order TO gam the requisite position
Tor each cable About 100 men viii be engaged in
running the main wire across comprising cacn strand
with powerful iron tongs and binding closely each
cable with heavy clamps All the men who have
already been employed IN the delicate work that has
established even temporary bridge between the two
mechanic himself ana ne expresses entire satisfaction
with the readiness and energy with which they obeyed
every order He says that greater care has been be-
slowed perccng every detail than has ever been
known before IN the construction Of suspension
bridge The material Tor all the cables VIII not be
peted In less than TWO years. and Will take another
suspend the roadway II Is an enormous work,
ana every portion Of IL must DO thoroughly tested
the process OF construction