New-York tribune., 1879-05-22
ruF RPnnKIYN RRInGF.
REPORT or rnc ASSEMBLY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
CONCLUSIONS.


CONCLUSIONS.
ALBANY May 21.-The Assembly Commit
zee on Commerce and Navigation have made report OF
their Investigations affairs OK the NewIOrk and
Brooklyn Bridge. The following is an abstracr
Charles r. Knowles and Hessrs. Dugud, Wells, Low,
Grady sheridan appointed a subcommittee TO
take the testimony ordered. TINS committee began IFS
sessions in New-YOrk February 10. The investiga-
ton has occupied very much Of the time Of the COM
mittee since that date. Upward OF seyenty-d wit
uesses have been examined The Investigation has been
confined % The sJJtcmcu.s made by the mem0ralistS
and the subjects specified in the resolution Of the As
s-mbly. A large amount OF testimony taken as TO
tie obstruction wlich supposed this bridge viii
present t0 the commerce OF Hc Port OF NewIork. The
nature o. tbs obstruction was the cost and delay TO the
larger class OF sailing vessels, IN taking down
their upper masts pass under the bridge and the in
creased danger OF collision between vessels in this part
of the East River by reason OF the effort II pre-
sumed commander OF all the larger vessels will make
10 pass under the bridge It's where It viii be
fifteen feet hi-hcr than either shore Tine evidence
on this point was conflicting ana much Of Theoretical
Yet in the view % the committee, 10 was clearly esaD-
ished that the bridge when completed, will obstrGct
the navigation OF the East EIYer and impair the
ercc of the Port OF NeWYor % the extent Of requiring
all vessels with mass above the height Of l3J feet IN
passing the bridge lower part OF their masts
th the owners property above the bridge have
been deferred making requisite modern improve
meuis TO retain this 5uIppns that tho lessees Of this
dock propertVare unwilling ~ take leases, except from
year tO year, unless at greatly reduced rates that or
,rr- have IN been sent rO their agents by
owners Of vessels loading M foreign ports Tor New
York 10 have conditions inserted IN the charters Of
fe.p vessel. not distuarge above this bridge unless
AL charges damages and loss should be borne by the
cnuslgnrt and that consequence tle Warehouses
and property fronting ON the East River above the
brdge have considerably drpretuted lu value me TEL
drncv beng divert business from this properly 10
warehouses on the Brooklyn shore below fho bridge IL
vs also shown however, that large majority OF the
vessels frequent te Est River can freely pass u-
bridge under ordinary circumstances. Ine pun
records OF tnt more than 10000 vessels O
all c..ses that found the East River during the
year SIS. about 200 ocean sailing vessels OF s num-
Der would nave required lower their masts 90 IN
sure passage uudcr the bridge. In view OF
vital consequence 10 the city ana STATE or NeW-l Ork
maintaining this commercial supremacy, your com
mtee has hesitation in reporting th3t tue building
this bridge will be, 20 the extent referred TO- an n-
jury To commerce.
As o. the cost OF bridge. according to the report
made by the trustees 81 >69lo3 20 had Doen expended
this bridge up to February, 1870, when the New
York and Brooklyn Bridge Company was dissolved by
the Legislature and IS 100000 nyed Is the maxi
mum OF ITS future BY the reports ana exhibits put
OF the bridge up 10 February l, 1873 was eIOlO5,-
553 "a. The estimate gwen by the trustees OF TIE
amOGut required complete the bridge with the addI-
uOual required Is -3,j6U,O0O but III the Judgment
OF committee this amount Is uudefesumHled w NOT
less than ~jUOOOO. The committee recommend tuut "A
board competent ngneers be appointed 20 determine
the question or safety before the bridge shaH De COM
peted upon present plan. From the testimony suu
uiittd tnc committee clearly Ot the opinion tial
Whatever damage may result from the completion or
the bridge sucn damage VIII be manly slls'dhcu ny Tue
CRY OF NcHf0rk, aau tuat the benefits derived from
Z ne same will 1pcrue o flp firy OF BROOKLYN.