The New York herald., 1879-02-28
THE BIG BRIDGE.

IT SHOULD NOT BE COMPLETED-THE GRouSDs
ON WHICH THEY BASE THE CLAIM THAT II
WILL INJURE THE COMMERCE. OF THIS PORT
The Legislative subcommittee continued its inves
tisation concerning the Brooklyn Bridge at the Met
ropolitan Hotel yesterday. The advocates OF the
bridge having finished their previous to the last
adjournment the for the memorialists was
opened by Mr.. Arnoux. who represented Comptroller
Kelly. Mr.. Arnoux opened the case for the opposi-
on by reading address forwarded to the Secretary
of War in 1869, by General Humphreys. and the re-
port of the committee which was appointed in COM
pllance with suggestion made in the Generals
address. The protest, signed by the Shipowners'
Association. of New York. in 1876. also read.
and the printed petition of Mr.. Miller filed
in the United States Court, in the same
year. praying for perpetual injunction
restraining further progress in construction was
presented. The cease of Mr.. Miller in the United
States courts also put in with the accompanying
atdavits OF shipowners to the damage that would
result to commerce if the work was completed. The
stenographer having marked these exhibits and put
them among the committees archives, Mr.. c. ID.
Snow called to the stand.
THE BRIDGE is OPPOSED.
Mr.. Snow testified that he is shipping merchant
in New York and had for years followed the sea
master he believed the bridge would be a detrimcnt
stream. and consequently damage to the commerce
of the port in his opinion threequarters of the
sells that wish to dock above the bridge the East
River would have, when the structure was COM
peted. to house their topgallantmasts and in
instances their topmasts. 1t would be safe he
thought. to average the height of masts Of vessels
from abroad at 1876 feet, and vessel rugged
higher than 122 feet would be able with anything
like safety to go under the bridge nearly all vessels
would be barred QUITO the upper East River unless
they housed their topmasts The delay and expense
OF making the alteration in the rigging would, lie
thought, be very great and would deter many mas
ters from coming to the port at least would in
duce them to seek freights for other ports. thus
establishing discrimination against New York.
Mr. Snow said he would rather give $50 than have
the topmasts of any vessel in which he in
terested lowered for the tampering with the rigging
would no matter how skilfuliy done, be sort of
injury. AS to the effect of the completion Of the
bridge the property in its vicinity to the north
there could, to Mr.. SHOWS thinking. be but one
opinion. He firmly believes that it will be very
much injured The conception OF the bridge in his
opinion was childish From the outset all practical
men around New York knew it would
be injury to the commerce of the port.
He feared very much that the prestige
of New York would be injured by the bridge and
that part of it's trade would go to Boston, Philadel
pha and Baltimore Naturally, New York had a
finer harbor than any OF these places and its natural
facilities had been much improved by the expendi
ture of millions of money on clearing Hell Gate
and Diamond Reef. but all the good work he
thought, would be more than neutralized by the
bridge. He did not think that any prudent master
would attempt to go under the bridge unless his top
masts We're housed low enough to go under the low
est part of it.
THE DRY DOCKS INACCESSIBLE.
The president OF the Dry Dock Company was next
called. He corroborated all that had been SAID by the
previous witness, and in addition gave some valuable
statistics concerning the heights OF masts of certain
ships frequenting this port; he said that when the
bridge is finished vessels rather than go to the
pense and delay will go on the dry dock in Europe.
for in so doing they will save something; he gave
the following list of ships that would be unable to
get beyond the lne of the bridge without going to
the expense of housing topmasts ship Great Re-
public 1856 tons. height OF mast. 20l feet inches;
ship Hodson 1901 tons, height Of mast 73 feet ship
Palestine. 175ltous height OF mast, l74 feet inches;
ship Amazon. ship j. 9. Calhoun ship n b. Palmer.
The committee here took recess tor lunch.
AFTER RECESS.
Captain John Maginn, pilot, who has followed
that avocaton for fifty years. was the first witness
called after recess The Captain did not think that
prevent large proportion OF vessels from going up
or down without housing their topgalantmasts; he
of opinion that vessels all the way from 200 to
.1.S00 tons burden would experience this ncon-
venience vessels of 800 tons generally have masts
13O feet high the Inconvenience would consequently
increase the tonnage of the vessel becomes
greater; SO far witness knew the only incon-
venence to navigators would be overhead, and most
of the vessels would have to house their
tides in the East River; he said that
at the flood tide the stream sets strong on the
being thrown off that Shore it sets directly
the stream. He did not think it would be safe to
sail three abreast up the East River
this little bull the Captain squared his yards and
sailed forth on the lilnitess ocean of Bunsbyism.
few OF the gems are given herewith
BUNsBY DECK.
Captain, you say that ferryboats in the East
River make the management of great sailing ships
very difficult. II the ferryboats were decreased IN
number would the danger be lessenedg"
"Of course; and if there were no ferryboats the
lfxT MI ha
:" You speak of the greater safety vessels have III
being towed. Captain. The committee understand
by that when two tugs are employed the vessel is
more manageable than without any?"
1.-The committee understands rightly. If the
power OF the ship, however was greater than the
tail would wag the dog. II vessel going out
ladencd her mass would be lower than if she came
in light.
The next witness called was Mr.. NJ. 8. briggs, a
warehouseman. whose stores above the bridge.
He testified more particularly to the depreciation of
real estate valres above the bridge. To his knowl-
edge real estate in the region named had declined
since the bridge was constructed twenty-five per
cent, in addition to the general market decline.
sHIpBUILDRRs VIEWS.
Mr. Richard Pollon was next called. He testified
that during the last six months there were in the
port 435 whose masts higher that 40 feet
.30 whose masts are higher than 1870 feet and 100
others of stil greater heights nine vessels of not less
than 100 feet nigh are now above the bridge. and
these part OF fleet of forty that had just arrived
from this il woudb that about one-quarter of
the vessels coming into port go above the bridge;
they can pass it now without much difculty as the
space from high water mark to the cable is in
some places 172 feet, but when the distance il re-
duced 1876 feet, the roadway of the bridge being
suspended the difficulty will be very great. Mr..
Poilon corroborated Mr. briggs concerning the real
estate depreciation.
To Mr. tirady-The depreciation of twenty-five per
cent is iu excess OF the general market decline My
property the river front in Brooklyn has depre-
ciatcd in consequence of the bridge about $780, 900.
The construction of the bridge will virtually de-
stroy shipwright work in New York. Most vessels
now 90 up the East River to dry dock and there un-
dergo repairs. When the bridge is completed, in
order to the $50 which housing topmasts will
entail, owners will have their repairs done abroad
In order to give the memoralists an opportunity
to examine the plans specifications and other doc,-
mentary evidence presented by the bridge trustees
an adjournment here taken until Thursday
next at ten A. NJ.