New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-05
SPANNING THE EAST RIVER

THE BLACKwELDS ISLAND BRIDGE.
ADOPTION OF THE DELAWARE BRIDGE COMPANY's
PLAN-ITs OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF TIN
WHOLE sTRUCTURE--ITs PROBABLE COMPLETION
IN TWO YEARS ASSERTED.
The Board of Consulting Engineers, consist
ing Of Oscar Chanute, Gen j. g. Barnard and Gen O. A.
Gilmore, appointed TO recommend plan for the New.
York and Long Island Bridge the River az
Seventy-sevenhst 10 Backwells Island and thence TO
Long Island has submitted report the directors OF
the company The report states that the chief
interest and novelty about the proposed bridge Is tho
fact that spans Of 734 and els feet respectively
qured across the two of the East River
at elevation OF at least 100 feet above one
OF the most busily navgated streams In this country
These great spans, although forming only one-eighh
the structure will require considerably than
half OF the whole expenditure and, with single excep
ton, unparalleled among bridges for railroad pur
poses The Niagara Suspension Bridge has 800 feet clear
span this is the only railway bridge which surpasses
the length Of the proposed Blackwells Island spans
The Cincinnati Southern Bridge truss has 517 feet span
clear the st. Louis Bridge, braced ARCH 5l5 feet tho
Kuienburg Bridge, trussed girder 1913 feet tho
Britannia Bridge, tubular girder $50 feet; saltash
Bridge. double bowstrng grder, ADO feet the Cncin
natl Bridge, truss, 420 feet; the Louisville Bridge.
trussed girder 400 feet the Diershau Bridge lattice
girder, 500 feet; the Conway Bridge tubular
girder, 400 feet. The examinations OF the strains
by the engineers to the plans for the two
long spans, and. although due attention was given to
those for the approaches and lesser spans the discussion
the report of the merits and dement's Of the various
designs confined to those proposed for the stretches
the East River The report states that the
der OF the work Is Of unusual character and the
qu.rements readily provided for by the types of
metallic structures In common Ilsc
Nine designs were under the consideration Z the en-
gincers furnished by the following persons: lattice
design by W. L. Wright OF No Amity-st., Brook.
lynn hinged arch by G. A. Karweise; tIusSed
cable, presented by W. j. Morris, for the Cincin
natl Bridge Company; a truss by A. Luciu
No. Broadway; steel wire suspension by tho
Detroit Bridge and Iron works suspension by +. w.
Scrrell & Son. No. so Broadway derrick by Henry
Flad & Co., St. Louis, Mo- the plan Of hinged arch
invented and patented by Capt James b. Eads the dis
inguished engineer OF the ST. Louis Bridge. SUBJ
United by Clark, Reeves & Co. Of the PhOniXye Bridge
Works and a cantiever by Charles Macdonald OF tho
Delaware Bridge Company, Ne. 80 Wall-st. As to the
order OF OF the plans submitted, two votes
taken by the Board OF Engineers, the first being
regard the plans absolutely without mod fcat0ns
entirely with reference To the strain sheets and
specfcations. Gems. Barnard and Gilmore Of TO
opinion that The plan OF Clark, Reeves * Co., Capt
Ealss patent was entitled to the first rank, and tho
Delaware Bridge COmpany's design to the second Mr.
Chanute considered the Delaware Bridge Company ; de-
sign worthy ot the first Place Messrs Chanute and
Barnard gave tho third place TO Flad &
Co, and Con. Gilmore gave it 10 Edward
Serre & SON. The second vote took the designs
rs a whole the general question as to which plan
should be recommended % for practical construction,
with such improvements and notifications suggest
themselves" The only change from the FIRST vote was
that Gen Gilmore gave the rank of best" to the Della
ware Bridge Company aud the second place TO Clark
Reeves & Co.'S plan. Two OF the engineers having
mended Charles MacdOnad's design for the Delaware
Bridge Company best Tor practical construction,
with such improvements and notifications suggest
Themselves" the Board Of Directors adopted the plan
and awarded it the first prze OF 81 COO Capt Eads3
desn received tue second prize, 5000, ana fLd Co.'S
the third, 80.