The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-22
TIE BIC BRIDGE.
What IA Legislative Investigating Committee
Think they Found Out.

ALBANY May 21.-Thc Committee TO in
vcstigate the Brooklyn Bridge say In their re-
port IA large amount Of testimony was taken rs
to the distractions which 1t Is supposed this
bridge will present TO commerce. The nature
Of the obstruction was the cost and delay 10 the
large class OF ocean sailing vessels in taxing
down their upper masts TO pass under the
bridge and the increased danger Of collision
between vessels in this part OF the East River
by reason Of tho effort IL was presumed COM
manders Of all the larger vessels will make to
pass under the bridge at its centre, whore II
will be fifteen feet higher than Mt either shore;
the evidence on this point was conflicting. and
much Of It theoretical and ye.. in the view Of
your Committee 1t was clearly established that
the bridge. when completed. will obstruct the
navigation Of the East River and impair
tho commerce Of the port Of New York
10 tho extent Of requiring oil vessels with
masts above the height Of 1870 feet In passing the
bridge TO lower some portion Of their masts:
that the owners Of wharf property above the
bridge have been deferred from making tho
requisite modern improvements to retain this
shipping that the lessees Of this wharf prop
erty were unwilling TO tako leases except from
year 20 year. uni less at greatly reduced rates.
and that orders have. In some cases, been sent
To- their agents 10y owners Of vessels loading in
foreign ports for Now York. 10 have the coudi-
tons inserted in the charters OF these vessels
not 10 discharge above this bridge unless all
charges. damages. and loss should be borne 10y
the consignee and that. as a consequence the
warehouses and property fronting on the East
River above the bridge have cons iderably de-
precated in value. the tendency being to divert
houses on the BROOKLYN shore below the
bridge. The obstruction appears 10 be the
more serious from the fact that on account Vt
the permanent occupation by law Of the other
parts OF this harbor. sailing vessels are com
PEELED 10 lind their dock ac'Omm odations. N any
can be- had in this harbor. In the East River;
that tho removal Of tho natural distractions AT
Hell Gate is designed and likely 60 increase
h~m II aisS apnear- iron, ~ GheG Sists 20
s,nts'is that two-hiths Of tho tonnage of tho
and that this tonnage has been seaadly in
creasing for the past four years. IL was also
ye~- Is that frequent the E.u-t kiyer can freely
pass under o." bridge under ordinary 'ircum-
| stances The public records show that
| 1urin9 "a" vear ISIS about / So 6.e n
/ lower their masts To insure their sale passage
I under the bridge. II IL wholly q matter ~
will cause to the difficulties thai the port ~ New
! FORK ua- FOR q number % years been rOut"ul-
! INK VITA q maintain n conmtrrla. supf' MAcy
cities Of the country. and what obstacles they
! will prove 20 prevent New YORK from Iaruci d;
/ commercial advantages cutite her. IN the great
/ revival OF the commerce OF this country that mas
sequence u tho city and state 81 New York 4
! maintaining this commercial supremacy. your
] Committee has no hesitation in reporting that
/ the building of this bridge Will Zoe, 10 the ext NJ
| referred 10. an injury o. commerce. A. 90 the
cost Of the bridge. according 10 tho report made
hy the trustees. 81 500 SO ~ had heeu expended
| on this bridge M 10 February. 1915. when the
| New York and Brooklyn Bridge Company WAS
| dissolved by the Legislature. and SSuuO,uuO
was fixed rs tho maximum ~ liz future cost.
BY the reports and exhibits put IN evidence by
| the trustees. the amount paid on account Of tho
bridge NJ 10 Feb. /. 1879. was so 1903. 5j3. "a.
Tho estimate given by the trustees Of the
amount required 20 complete the bridge, with
the additional land required. Is 80 $4,000. but
in the Judgment Of your Committee, tins amount
Is under-rstlmHtcd hy not less than S5uOuOV.
Another matter OF most serious Importance
that has been before the Committee IN conucc-
ton with this bridge il the question OF It's safety
AS a medium OF communication between these
two grent cities rapidly Increasing in popula
tiOn. The testimony upon tails point was en-
nent engineers were expressed in the ailirma
tive and IN the negative, and where there i
such wide variance upon question OF sucl
! vital Importance. your Committee do not fee
/ competent to express an intelligent opinion
| They would, therefore, respectfully recon-
/ mend that board Of competent engineers h'
appointed 70 determine the question OF safety
before the bridge shall be completed upon NJ
present plan From the testimony submitted
your Committee are clearly If the opinion that
whatever damage may result from tho com
| pletlon of the bridge such damage Will b
mainly suffered hy the city Of New York. an
that the benefits derived from the same will &c
crue 10 the city of Brooklyn.