The New York herald., 1878-08-14
BROOKLYN BRIDGE
Comptroller Kelly Will Not Issue
the Requisite Bonds.
REASONS FOR HIS RESOLVE
What Is Thought OF His Decision
in Official Circles.

concluded not to the eonds for continuance OF
work ON the Brooklyn bridge dc was prsvionsiy
waited upon by Msssrs. o. B. Potter and Henry n.
Beers, IRON the Council OF Political Reform, who
protested against the pay ment Of any more money
for the enterprise and Mr. Kelly informed them that
he would the action Of the courts before taking
any iuithsr steps in the matter.
The next movement the controversy will u 10
believed, be In the OF application TO the
courts on the part Of the bridge trustees for man
aamus TO compel the Comptroller 10 Issue ths necss-
sary bonds called Tor under the lass requstion The
Board OF Appersionmsnt Will, IL Is said, hold .
special meeting to-day q tomorrow in relation 70 the
subject. Mayor Ely yesterday said he thought the
opinion OF the Cooperation Counsel was imperative
under the circumstances, as lar a. be had an opper-
tuntty Of studying the matter He did not have
Opportunity OF consulting with his colleagues Of the
Board OF Apporsionmons. Tax Commissioners
Whsslss another member OF this Board, had not
formed any opinion to what his action would bs
whea the question came up Tor consideration.
i COMPTROLLER xxLLYs REASONS
The Comptroller yesterday gave his reasons st
length In reference to the position he has thus
suned On she bridge question, as follows:-
ssOmcisily 1 have objections to the bridge and
have no right TO any. l must do simply ~ the Law
directs else lay myself open TO prosecution for
negloctipg my duty. Az for my objections
an individual and q taxpayer have SOW
sral that are vel. founded. In the first place
the brldgs VIII be OF no material advaniags
TO New York. II there arc any advantages BROOKLYN
atone VIII be benefited BY them Then. again, there
10 no telling what IL II gong cost before Il 10 hn
ished. The appropriation first authorized has been
expended, and The bridge 10 not yet finished has
the cost OF the approaches yet been decided and
the Bridge Com lssieners ignorant OF this
pVrtant question. Last March tho Council OF
with she board : Of Apporsonmeut and made
strenuous oblsctions 70 any further AID being Rven
II Of article Of the constitution which reads as
foows-'No county, city, town or village shall here
after give any money or property, or loan It's money
credit TO or IN aid OF any individua association
psratioh, become directly indirectly the owner
ot stock in bonds OF any association corpora
sion, nor shall any county, city, town or village be
allowed any Indebtedness except for county
city town or village purposes" Tho Couacii and
tho Bridge Commissioners were requested TO obtain
legal opinions, which they did, and the matter was
referred 70 Corporation Counsel Whitney, whose
opinion was published this morning.
Last Saturday I received another visit from the
council. winch requested another consultation with
The Bosro OF Apportonmsut, which, no doubt Will
grant the request on t being presented In proper
lorm. Mr. Whitney, In his opinion, reafirms the
pssiiiop he took In 1875. and says tnat It -
take action tho present state OF afairs
out that she Mayor and Comptroller have only
sIhsr a,ssnsivs or either tho Mayor or myself bus
10 10 % the law directs.
vsa oaau wHG 10 cs sn
even Mr.. Rosbi,ug himself u late report admits
shs.h VIII only boar the weight OF Two cars one
engine, or about niHety tons Now, II the people,
Who use tns bridge. have 10 wait 81 each
terminus for the passage OF q single train
lar better Tor them TO take she ierryboa,s
aud wii be less incouyen'ent As have said, the
claims, however, that It viii DO great advantage 70
her, ana, that Is the cass she should pay tor &C.
lev Now Workers oay have occasion 10 go TO Brook.
lyp, aud the number does not justify the amount of
money already expended and the great amount that
will be needed before 10 IS ready for travel"
~ THE BRIDGE oYyIcE. fIss.+
The news OF The favorable opinion OF Corporation
Counsel whitney gave hopes 70 many Of those In.
page OF work approaches ana the discharge or
the largc force OF men employed would result IN =
delay o. ths ,,iR w0rn or %, low days rsstsraay
bridge was that victory bad beeh scored and that
there would would BE- no more 1ossis about getting
psrolsr KsfIy bad before receiving the Cor
porausu Counsss opinion that he would Hbids ny It,
whatever " might be- When, however, tho uews thai
hr Kolly haA SAID he would not issuo The bonus not,
the snginssrs ana other oicals thsre was . feeling
tnat tho work would probably now be delayed for
- nsp ~ ." hs' ss was
ter What was tho opinion Of hts legal advisers.
When The writer reached the bridge company's
ofico u Brooklyn yestsfday morning Mr. Martin, tho
Nrss sssstans engiusse stated had a. YET re-
csivsd no ordsrs from PrssidsnI Ausphy 10 rsersnes
Assity Of this taking place Tor few days. bot
sooe - they we're assursd that money could be had
man sAid that nothing had a. yet passed between him.
self apa.she Now York authorities subject since
the delivery OF Mr.. Wbrney's opnion
COLONEL PAINE SAYS
Colonel Paine. the second assistant engineer oil the
bridge, IN answer 10 tns question whether tho
work on shs c~blcs would, In view Of Mr. Kslly's
decision, be stopped, said that It would undoubtedly
70 on-ior some tirnc as least. I'VE have ltse do
would lead 70 Their deIerorai,on because wan. iyaS
aoossly together the oil would be rubbed of II more
serious injury occurred Then, Us the strands now
iAo hva thnv In win Isahl
have the rain and snow driven Ia between hem We Will
probably 60 rgnt on and nnish tho strands and wrap
ibs compIssed cabIsA TINS much, think, we viii
certainly sndsaver 70 do, and it be done wish
reduced gang Of mon whom the down stream cables
ere compiesod which will be IN about week The
men VINO are engaged In laying the wire could sftsr
lhs strands ere hnished. also lower them. Work OH
sho lover cables mas been posnsd ahead IN antcpa-
was regularly gong on st It's fullest speed
. gang were EN- ploys In lowering the strands
nnisbod, while tho other gang ngaged
In running ths wires Of the new strands Az soon as
The work will be gong only on pair Of strands
sith The lowering gang which eau DO taken on con-
bisls Of twenty men. l 10 not know how many men
wsuld be taken OF The cable work II IL were reduced
TO Its lowest working Ditch. This Will be carefully
wnsn asked now the running over Of the wiros which
money was forthcoming, Colonel Pane seemed 10
tnipk thai would be provided for in some way III is
prise stop and the parts completed TO detsriosate
alter saen an expenditure"
NM mARffs's OPINION.
On being told the Mr.. Martini tho nrst assist
Ant engineer OF the bridge, seemed much disgusted
and vss earnest ln bis statements Of she great aam
age which would accrue through delay toppagc
pi he work 'Tho intention 10 the present circun-
BLances,n satd MI Martin, "wiil pe TO finish the
str.nda dout know whore the money will come from
for tina As to ths loss each day by stoppaas tho
work, the moasy already expended may be sad TO be
NJ interest for there w be receipts or use had
from the bridge until u is finished. The interest at
seven per the nino million hundred and
tncusand dollars expended lar would be about
$3.50 000 year, or say 81, 800 day. This amount
wsald bs largely Increased by taking into account
The sioppage OF work In tho stone yard and deterora
tion OF machinery no one can tell the expense II
The work is stopped for some time the derricks will
have 10 be dismaptlsd, the machinery to be stored
and the unfinished brick walls and stonework TO be
svvsrsd oveS. The strands, however, will bc nnlshed
and wrapped and then can De safely lett without fear
Df bad results"
Il can't conceive said the engineer, in 70
query, "why Mr.. Ksiiy should take this action and
oppose the bridge Evcrything 10 IN splendid work.
Ing order the gangs Of men on each part o tho work
are thoroughly organized and understand their work,
ali tho macninery good working order. thero 10