The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-16
DEFENDING THE BIG BRIDGE
SHOWING THE BENEITTs TT NAY con-
bER ON TUE TUO CITIES.
The Fresidcut OF - Board of Tru.ters re
pising to the OBJECTIONS set Forth hl tts
Opponents what "a viii Cost to Fiuish ".

n HNWltNI OF property lflNfIN III lillN ftiy
and few from Brooklyn presented a memorial
10 the State Legislature ia January Inst setting
forth that in their opinion the Brooklyn Bridge
would impede the free and common navigation
OF the East River and be n serious obstruction
to the commerce Of New York city and TO the
growth and prosperity Of the port. Tho memo.
rial held that the bridge could not according 10
its present plan. adequately provide n certain
and safe mode OF travel between the two cities.
and would not be Of any substantial benefit TO
either while it would reduce. to a large extent.
the value OF the property on the East River In
both cities that it would add little to the facili-
ties OF communication between New York and
Brooklyn. md could not provide for more than
n small portion Of the travel and business now
done by the ferries: that 1t was an insecure
structure on account Of its great length, and
could not be properly stayed and protected at
its great height against the violent winds FREE
quent in that locality. and could not. according
70 the printed statement Of tho Engineer-in-
Chief sustain more than a small pait oftlc strain
Liable to be put upon Il that the work as being
carried on. was in disregard and violation OF
tho express limitations rs to its cost fixed by
legislation. and II permitted TO be completed
according to the present plan would add many
millions Of Indebtedness beyond the limit fixed
by law for it's completion. which must be drawn
by taxation from the people and property with
out any corresponding advantages.
This memorial was signed by about 200 namos,
among them ID. Willis James. John j. Cisco.
Royal Phelps William Waiter Phelps. Will
liam y. Webb. +. b. Thurber. W. D. Morgan.
Hamilton Fish. f. d. Morgan. Richard schell.
William II. Nelson. +. ID. Tappan. Grinnell.
Minturn 4 Co.. J. J. Astor. o. H. Potter. Drexel.
Morgan 4 Co.. and Theodore W. Dwight.
The result OF the memorial was the passage
Of II resolution authorizing the Assembly Com
mitee ON Commerce and Navigation 10 inquire
| into the Allegations set forth. This Committee
appointed subcommittee that began its sit
! ting in tho Metropolitan Hotel yesterday morn
ing. II is composed OF Charles H. Knowles Of
Albany. James Low Of Niagara. Thomas 7.
Brady OF New York. Thomas ]. Sheridan Of
Kings. H. l.. Duguid Of Onondaga. and J. u.
Wells Of wtstchester. Most OF the members OF
the committee arc young men. Among those
who crowded tho small room whore tho invcs-
ugation was held were Henry c. Murphy. Prosi-
! dent Of the Board Of Bridge Trustees Edgar
| VI. Cullen. lawyer for the trustees; j. $. L.
S,ranahan. one of the Brooklyn Park Com
missioners; William II. Armour. Comptroller
Krys lawyer ]. II. Strahan who appeared for
| the memoralsts. and O. 7. Quintard Secretary
Of the Bridge Trustees.
The Hon. Henry C. Murphy was the frat wit
ness. and Chairman Knowles asked him TO tell
! d. his own manner what he wished to say in
| behalf Of the bridge aud n rst in regard To the
assertion that the bridgc would obslruct tho
commerce 90 the port Of New York. Mt Muir
/ ply took the oath and sat down. pulling Il Gu1n-
| ttY OF documents from his pocket MS lac did so.
| H. said that the general plan OF the bridge n
! adopted by the trustees Was on He tn the War
/ Department Under the law. the War Depart
| nient Investigated the question whether tho
navigation. The Secretary OF War appointed a
| commission consisting OF Gen. Newton and two
membcrs Of tho Typographical Bureau. to eN-
| anime tho plan. which had been prepared by
| Engineer John 4. Rocbling. now dead. and as
certain both It's practicn6ility md its effect on
spsnt weeks IN their investigation. and then re-
| ported. The Secretary OF War decided That the
plan met his approval subject u one uiodiilcn-
| lion That was that the elevation OF the lowest
| part of the bridge should be 1876 feet above mean
high wM"r. instead OF 100 leet ns IN ne orisina,
| plan. The project OF the bridge was lrgun and
| Carried on 10y n corporation called the New
| York Br,dRe Company. which existed rom
| bridge became a public institution. committed
10 u board oi trustees appointed by officials OF
! trust ,,.s from, each city the Mayors and Comp
trYilDr. and the President Of the New York
Board u Auditors and the Auditor oi Brooklyn.
hr, Murphy then read resolution PASSED 10y
| the Chant. of Commerce ~ sos saying that
alter duo Investigation they thought itwould
! prove mo- Obstruction 90 commerce.
Tho Chairman asked bow many vessels Per
year passing under the bridge would have to
lower their topmH@ie. In reply Mr. MRuhy
offered the affidavit ol Phiip b. Low. VII IN be-
chara'trrizad as ono &c tht most eXI .rl.lr'l
rigs ~ IN tho country Mr.. Low made affidavit
| that, from actual measurement and from oh
srrvatlon. he cume 90 the con fusion that "a very
| small rrlulrtion NJ shirs entering tho port
Would 6c obliged to lower their iopmss,s 10 pass
under tlt bridge. There were tut Two schoou
ers go the lloyd- let TINT could not pu-s under
tUc bridge. light. without hitting thcir iopmasts
Tho m1sts - all vessels IN port al N" ume &"
Che. testimony were found to be ao!e 10 pass
Mr. Murphy said that ny 10 the present tim,
not more tnn half dozen ships mad sirnct
uoir topgalant mnsis a.alnsi me cables. ant
that WIS due "a the most wanton carel-srnes-
There are not more than two vessels IN port an
uuaily who would be obliged to lower their tot,
a. FAR as h. had ascertainod. there was not on,
vessel that discharged above the bridge IN ls1'
/ that had To lower topnnsts. Mr.. Low SAID FUR
Their that tho cost ~ Housing topmasts was from
$50 70 $3.50, according 10 the size Of the vesse
Mr. Murphy was confident thattho vessels tina
Lad struck the bridge did 80 Out OF pure careless
ness. Indeed. 1t seemed as II they were en-
deavoring 10 hurt some OF the worknen on IN
, bridge These vessels hnd struck against th
temporary storm stays q the bridge. Tier
were strong currents ia the river at That point
centre Of the bridge toward TIN piers, where III
, bridge WIS fifteen feet lower than in the centre
Vessels must take advantage Il the tides. Their
/ had been bills presented Tor damages done YES
! sells in striking but they did not aggregate Owe
., The whole amount q money expended n
! | 10 the LIST Of THE mouth. Mr.. Murphy said.
si0.ii6.GiS.So or these amounts IS. Is7 .9s7 9
: was paid IN before June ., 1875, when III
I | bridge became a public concern. and s5.3Ss,
/ | GAG. 06 expended After II became public wor
- ! in 1875 81 900 600 were Appropriated by tho nc
r Of 1875 Of which tbA72 1929 have been Re
cciVed. and A7l4.g07.4 As expended. Prior
= | 1875 the money received came from the stock
/" holders. The city OF New York was stock
holder for 81 800. 900. Brooklyn for s3,OOO,O0'
10 and there were private stockholders 20 ~
I amount Of $500. 600. The capital was t5,OOoOW
Since June. 1875. the money for prosecutln
II the work has been received from tho two ctle
. New York paying one-third. and Brooklyn twC
"a thirds. There are small sums received for rem
q from the sale of old material and from othc
II unimpOrtunt sources. Prior to 1873 BroOkly
:, paid So g65 .OOO. New York 81 .5OO.000. priyai
!" Stockholders s349 800, and there WIS receive
2 from interest on deposits. old material and III
:, like. $4,000"
a Passing then. to tho question Of tho prohab
. cost Of completing the bridge. Mr.. Murphy sal
that In 1877 the Legislature passed a law gu
,r thOriXing the trustees 10 chunge Frankie
- street alongside OF tho New York npproacl
This involved nm expense of S3u0,O0O moro tina
il the approach had been Constructed AZ origin
ally intended Tho cost Of the bridge. n'cor'
ing 20 present estimates. including the $500 ON
| would be tl3 500 ono. Of which 100000 600 an
| more had been expended.
This is no rough estimate Mr. Murph
said but for the most part is huscd upon aciu
asocrtained expenditure. This amount
made up OF the cost Of the roadwa