The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-27
LEGISLATORS IN THE AIR.
TWO or THE GENILEMEN FROM albany
CROSSING THE BIG BRIDGE

NOur Othfrs Ut the committee VINO IhOu4ht
thnt the view from the Ferry was "a be
Preferred. Amer An-More Testimony.
Accepting the invitation Of the Hon Henry
C. Murphy. President Of tho Bridge Company.
the leg slative Investigating Committee ycetrr-
day inspected the bridge and its approaches.
Chairman Charles II. Knowles said mt the atari
that the visit was not expected to settle the
charge that the bridge, II completed. will impede
free and open navigation on the East River nor
the objection that II will impoae serious OBJ
HtrurtiOn to- the commerce. Of Now York and to
the growth and prosperity OF the port neither
did he expect to find out by the visit whether or
not the bridge will prove to be adequate as n
certain md safe mode OF travel between the two
cities nor yet would the question he solved
whether the bridge will ho OF substantial beno-
fit to the cities. or whether the value OF prop
erty on the East River in both cities will be re-
duced by the completion Of the work; nor,
finally whether the bridge will be insecure on
account OF its great length but. drawing n long
breath. he snid that he was going TO test the
nerve OF the Committee Ivy leading them across
the bridge on the pathway in the air. Before
the Committee heard OF this visit they had often
beon heard to exclaim that the view from the
foot bridge must he magnificent but. ~ they
rode down Broadway and into Frankfort street
with the accompanying civil engineers. their
anchoragcs. bridge approaches and tho roal
estate not yet built upon.
On the Fulton fcrryboat the Assembymen
jumped out " thoir carriages. and clustering
on the forward deck. learned that tho roadway
Ia to rise toward the middle OF tho river from
either tower. and come within six feet Of tho
lowest drop Of tho lowest cable now In po-
eition. In Brooklyn the party was driven to
the anchorage in York street. and the Commit
tee climbed to the top on wooden stairway
Assoublyman Thomas /. Brady OF New York.
however, said that he didn't care to 20 up any
way. 50 he remained below and inspected the
mnsnnry. Asseuhlyman Thomas j sheridan
81 Kings st. od in the anchorage and looked M
the long pathway that seemed to contract to n
lew inches 81 footing as i mounted 10 the
tower aihr on, gnd said that he wouldn't walk
across thnt bridge II tho company would give II
70 him. ,AsscGbyman II. l.. Duguid Of Onon-
daga took hold Of the massive canyus-covercd
cable that cam" down from the tower. stamped
his foot on the solid stonework. looked dubi-
ously up the pathway. and said that he was per-
fectly satisfied that the work would last Tor ages
to come. Assrmblyman j. d. Wells of Vest
chester shouted to Chairman Knowles Lead
on. lll follow theeV and struck an attitude in
tended To bi tragic Then the Chairman pulled
his six hat ltlo tighter on his head. and
walked drtcrminedly up tho loot bridge. AS
semblyman James Low 81 Niagara. having
learned to walk on the Niagara Suspension
Bridge. rambled along in an unconccrned way,
with one hand in his pocket. Civil engineers
ana reporters followed. The footing Just cs
before The frst lower was reached When The
pedcslrinns mad rested little on the breezy
Sievh'l2h qua admired me view. ihry started Tor
winding way leading downward from the
tower. and started for 4.
but Ass"mblyman Wells shouted back that he
wash ! sure Of his knees; Then the remaining
two of the Committee. Mr.. Knowles and Mr.
Low. plodlcd slowly across. resting Il little in
each crailo as II came conveniently along
at Pearl and Cherry streets. they sent word
buck 10y the telephone tha, they wor' uninjured
and added some scahinr remarks intended to
II ~. IA II
thos" VINO hnd not walked across. Then cigars
were un-rcd 10y President Murphy to the Com
TO ross the ferry. and the Assemblymen drove
TO meet ut tho NV York Office. the two daring
members and AL turned to the hotel
IN thc morning : investigation Col. Julius w
fAdnms, consulL,inG eng neer for the Bridge
report oi the Board of Engineers Is correct. One
81 the assistant engineers of the bridge Col.
VIM. H. Paine. said ~ the previous days trsti-
mony tLut the cables being ot straight wire are
stronger than those OF curved wire. The eject
of wind Is from two directions. viz upward
and ut right angles To- the structure As tO its
uplifting -fr-ct the horizontal surface Of the
ccniro span Of the bridge would present 100 42j
miles ar hour would give a pressure OF thirty
pounds to the square foot, or 500 tons on this
surface. Opposed 10 this force i the weight Of
the suspended structure with the cables. "A
tons. Thls would certainly prove ~ sufficient
resistance SECONDLY ~ TO the wind driving
TACO exposed i $3.50 squire feet. and cal'u-
latng ~ th" same way there would b. press
hIt "a 1@N fiuN. OllIDnt lf lNlS u tf'e rlEilIfN
lthe II 9of Truss =. storm cdhl =. both horizon
tai ana diagonal. md the cradling or cunycg-
enc oi tue cahl-s, mixing total resis'rn'" ot
2,bSl tons. But the wind. in Col. Paiur's "Npe-
rlcnc'. had never blown 1T right angles 10 tho
bridge and ~ II ga ih" structure could move
but Little. Even "a" iuoi bridge now used moves
very liule IN 5o-m.l' wind.
" To- the, connection ~ tho Now York and
bridge approaches. Col. Paine said that plans
hay" been drawn permitting the connection by
simply RAISING the TRACKS aud promenade unit
OF the FpUen - 10 the lefisht Of the tlnvgfI
roads. A. 10 the grade Of the bridge approaches
Beck inln street is sleeper throughout than they
are. The witness believed that regulations for
driving across the bridge need not be strict. 4
vehicle could PASS oyer AT almost any speed
without affecting III" bridge in any way.
Chpt. stephen b. Luce Of tho navy In COM
mand of the steamship Minnesota. when the
fky pole uf the nEinmhst struck the main cable
asst summer. said that he did It in steering out
10 avoid collision. and that such thing
couldn't occur once IN hundred yenrs. lie
didn't view tue bridge AZ Proposed as an OBJ
struItion to the vessels Of the navy. A number
OF Captains in the merchant service testified
that the Inconvenience OF lowering topmasts
will be- trivial
AT Mr. Murphy's request yesterday. the rs
sisthnl engineers unroiled map after map before
the ryrs OF the Committees to show the general
construction OF the bridge. lengthwsc. ondwisc,
Bidrwise, and IN every possible way for il 10 be-
represented Chairman Knowles asked whore
tho lowest Obstruction 10 navigation will be-.
Mr.. Coliingwood said that it would Do near the
lowers. pier is TO Iut out from the New
York side ~ feet from the tower and from tho
end Of tbs Pier TO the nearest ohstrur-
to be. at high water. l2l feet On tho
Brooklyn .sido is shallow water within
10 feet OF the tower. whore largo vessels may
not float. At this Distance from the tower the
distance upward IL 10 be- also III feet For $50
feet IN tn" centre Of the bridge the distance ~
hEh wni r Is to DO 1872 Icet and Tor 700 feet 1870
feet In height
President Murphy said in conclusion that 50
lar ~ ihr com Hny has power To- build rnll-
road on the bridge. tho company has power to
DO ANYTHING by which the structure may be
madr capable Tor attaining the end designed.
No extra rypensi has been gone TO in expert
meutug IN railroad plans. Tn. bridge il is
eXp't 81. Will. il the work can be- now recon-
nrnrcd b Completed IN tho fall Of 1850 by en- .
plOyiag 1000 men.
MINY BKQCEsIS no CH1RIIIES.