The New York herald., 1878-08-15
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE.

WHAT THE FIRST ASSISTANT ENGINEER THINKS
OF COMPTROLLER KELLYs STATEMENTS CON.
cERNIxG ITS COST AND srRENGTa-BaooK-
LYN MAKES IT'S FINAL PAYMENT.
Mr. Martin, the nrst assistant engineer OF the
Brooklyn Bridge. wus sought yesterday afternoon aud
replied to the in,erroga,ories OF the writer fol.
lows:-
RxroRrER-Mr. Martin, in view OF the statements
made yesterday by Comptroller Kelly and published
in this mornings HERALD would like to ask you
few questions Mr.. Kelly says that officially he has
objection to the BRIDGE but that personally as an
individual and taxpayer he has several, tho first OF
which Is that the bridge will DO OF no material ad-
vantage 10 New York. and that IF there are any ad.
yantages Brooklyn alone will be benefited by them.
Mr. MARrN-Tnat ID a question OF political economy
which do TO eater into and on which have
nothing say. Much has already been written on
tho subject and many statistics have boen Published.
"rhc Comptroller says thore is no telling what the
bridge is gong cost before 1t is fnished-that the
cost the approaches is not decided ana that evea
the Bridge commissioners are ignorant on this one
important question:" :.
IA very careful estimate OF what the bridge will
cost made. including the disbursements for
work, material real estate and other purposes II
has been carefully be and accurate
as possible. This has been published in detail. Twas
January 1876. aud we see no reason to change
il materially now IL Is Ia Il communication from Mr..
Murphy to the Board OF Aldermen New York
year. and gives the total cost, nclu ding every.
thing from the men ment OF the bridge to lis
compieton, ut $l3,1l9575. The estimate Tor ap-
Is included Ia this. The gurcs for hcso ara
given Us accurately as they can bc calculated. o.
course It cannot be decided exactly what the rsai o..
Will cost, but the estimate Is as ciose one aa
could be made for any similar work. y
sTRE.Gru THE BRIDGE
"Mr Kelly, see iurthcr makes the statement that
all engineers who have examined the bridge say that
It IL not what II ought 10 be, ana that even Mr..
Roobling bimseif In latc report admits that II will
only bear tho weight OF two cars and one engine, or
and fhafr Antln
have to wait at each terminus until each single train
| passed over"
about the engineers opinions know OF no oxanina-
report such Mr. Kelly speaks or The bridge
| us u ID possible for engineering skiii TO do. No
objection has ever been made on this point
| from any source. l don't know wDat Mr. Kelly means
what he refers when he quotes Mr. Roeoiing TOE
statement Ike that about tho cars and engines Is
IL probably simply twisting into shape entirely
different from what was intended oil n statement OF
Colonel Roebng IN his report 10 tho trustees, on
March a, 1875, IN regard to the method OF steam
transit the bridge He then stated as an objec.
tion to tho OF locomotives, when advocating tho
plan now adopted OF an inchned plane system with .
rope, that tho grade very steep; that II would
require heavy, powerful locomotive to draw
| tram OF eight or ten passenger cars over such
grade that the bridge had neither been designed
huil 70 bear sucn ncavy, concentrated loads
weights which would require noor beams, trusses
ANA susps nders three times present strength,
which would call Tor heavier cables heavier anchor
ages and stronger towors The brrixe has been cali
cuIatod TO bear weight In addition TO its own In
round numbers OF 100 tons. fhc bridge, therefore,
eau be loaded all tho way across with people and Win
palace cars from end 10 end running on Tho eudlcss
| ropes without tDjuring the bridge particle Tho
bridge never was in,ondcd Tor locomotives. PresI.
dent Murphy says he Will act In reference to the
ComptfoIer's decision as the trustees dnect, That
they will have meeting soon"
DgooKLYSs PORTION PAID
A warrant WAS issued by Comptroller Burre, or
BrooSyn, yesterday for $40, 53l Tor the bridge rus
tees This amount makes the final payment OF
dase the total amount appropriated by Brooklyn 10
50, 333. 333 80 Is