The New York herald., 1879-07-08
BROOKLYN BRIDGE.
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AMI
AWARD OF AN IMPORTANT CONTRACT TO THE
rncEuooR IRON COMPANY -COMPrROILFu

AWARD OF AN IMPORTANT CONTRACT TO THE
EpaEMooR IRON COMPANY -coMPTRoLLER
srEINMETz OPPOSED.
The Brooklyn Bridge has cost already between ten
and eleven millions Of dollars For long time
back there been circulated in official circles not
exactly charges of fraud in the construction of the
bridge. but certain innuendoes that all not
right. that it in the inception gigantic
political job and that now it was nearing completion
not only the wires which stretch out from the
towers. but the wirepullers themselves crooked
and unsound. The trustees of the bridge twenty
in number. the Mayor ana Comptroller of each city
being ex-oficio members OF the Board. 1t has been
known for Q long time that the Comptroller. Mr.
of Brooklyn. was not in accord with his
fellow members of the Board in regard to the
character Of the material to be used for
wires. The main question at issue appeared
to be whether Bessemer steel or crucible
iron was the cheaper and more durable; but to
what extent the interests of certain trustees
or the CLAIMS Of certain contractors weighed in the
controversy only those in the charmed inner circle
can tell At the last meeting of the Executive Com
mittee Mr. Steinmetz made speech which became
incorporated in the minutes. but at the regular
meeting was stricken out. motion
then made to have all the documents
relating to the canvass of bids received
furnishing the steel and iron for the suspended
superstructure and the communicat of the Chief
Engineer in relation thereto published. 1t was
pected at the last meeting that the award for the
ontract for wire would be made then; but as Comp
troler Kelly wrote letter asking that action the
subject be deferred until yesterdays meeting, Mayor
Cooper made motion to that effect which was car
ried.
YESTERDAYS SESSION.
fierce battle expected and the absence Of
Kelly b~s Of
trustees were chatting il the room in which the
meetings of the Board OF Trustees are usually held
A few moments afterward President Murphy
walked into an adjoining apartment and
with smile said. "Now we will let the press gang
in" Once in the Board room the reporters found
chair). Mayor Cooper. Comptroller Steinmetz,
Messrs stranahan. kingsley. Uhl slocu% Agnew.
Sswson. a i smith and Taylor. Tie Absentee; absentees
were Mayor Howell OF Brooklyn; Comp
Hump Humphreys and Barnes. The minutes were read,
and also the relative to the bids for wire.
as provided for by resolution at the last meeting.
Comptroller Steinmetz with considerable heat.
said that he understood his communication was
to be printed with the other documents two
or three recommendations by the Chief En-
the Edgemoor Iron Company, to which as
will be seen further on the contract was awarded.
President Murphy quietly ruled that the remarks of
Comptroller Steinmetz had no more right to be
printed than those OF any other member Of the
Board. The monthly statement OF the financial con-
dition to June 80 showed the cash receipts to be
So 432 50 and the expenditures S36.441 49, The gen.
eral financial condition since the commencement of
the work reported as cash receipts,
$10,623 492 94 cash expenditures. x10523, ,574 80; ;
cash liabilities $112, ,s07 62 communication from
the stonecuters asking for increase OF five cents
per hour was referred to the Executive Committee
. President Murphy then announced that the award
ing contracts in order. and Comptroller Stein
metz handed in long communication commenc-
ing:-
sm.At the last meeting Of the Executive Committee
for the and steel for the suspended
the lowest bidders the Edgemoor Iron Company accord
Ss obliged 70 receive or pay for more than about
S Ss ssns s
the ist of January $780, and until the LIST of May
enH the ins d
tract at the option OF the said company. be deter
after July 1881 either party may cancel said contract
THE DEBATE.
1t was upon the adoption of this resolution that
the whole OF the one sided debate hinges. Comp
roler Stenmetz claimed that IL the contract for the
superstructure awarded under the resolution,
"it would leave the trustees completely at the
mercy of the contractors. since there to be
intention to call during 1879 for more than 500 tons
Of Steel which it will be easy enough for them to
bid, while the remaining 5000 tons to be called
for only after May, 1880. when for the succeeding
fourteen months the contractors only-not the trus
tees also-shall have the right to determine this
cOntract" "
Comptroller Steinmetz's question appeared to be,
where the money for the final completion of the
bridge to come from. he had been informed
by the financial officer Of the city of New York
that he is unable to say either how much, If any
further money is to be paid by New York until
the final cost Of the work is determined" :"
The letters of Chief Engineer Roebling, above re-
ferred then read and Mr. Stranahan said that
the question such an old one and had been dis
cussed so often that he did not there any
cessiy for argument and hoped that when the gen.
tlemen got ready there would be vote that would
settle the matter forever. This the key note Of
the whole affair. Desultory talk engaged in,
mildly by Mayor Cooper. forcibly by Mr.. Kingsley,
in Interrogation points by Mr.. Aanew. the whole
being favored by red pepper dashes thrown in by
Comptroller Steinmetz. Mr.. Stranahan then made
a few honied remarks. after which the resolution
above quoted wac passed. and the contract awarded
to the EdRemoor Iron Company by vote OF l5 20 J.
foilows:-
YEAs-Mayor Cooper. Murphy stranhan, Kingsley. Uh.
Slocum, Agnew. Bush Davis Marshall, Motley, Ncwton
Roosevelt. smith and Taylor
NAY-Comptroller Steinmetz.
The great question of the day having been finally
disposed Of, Mr.. Kingsley stated that while he would
not advise q contract being made for either the
purchase Of brick, cement rubbe stone. he would
make motion (which carried) that the Executive
Committee be empowered to make such contracts
they might deem advisable for such materials ut
any time until the next meeting OF the Board which
will probably be held some time III September. The
regular meeting then adjourned, unimportant
meeting OF the Finance Committee being subse-
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