New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-13
FORK on THE EASTRIVER BRIDGE
ARRIVAL OF STEEL IRUsSEs-THE SUSPENDED ST.
PFKsIRUCTURE TO BE BEGUN sOON-THE AP-
prOICUTS NEARLY FINISHED

ARRIVAL OF STEEL 1RUssEs-THE SUSPENDED ST.
PEKsTRUCTURE TO BE BEGUN sOON-THE AP-
PKoACHrs NEARLY FINISHED.
The first consignment Of steel for the superstruc
ture Of the Brook yn Bridge arrived on a scow at the
wharf on the Brooklyn side week aGo. At The
time n | RiBUNE reporter was holding an interview
with Colonel W. II. Paine, one OF the assistant
glneers who furnished the following information
III regard 10 The hanging of the superStructure,
which is under his charge:
This consignment of steel is composed entirely Of
bridge trusses, steel bars feet III length which are
to be used braces between the floor beams, i'll
much the same manner as the tTusses between the
floor beams of an ordinary building. These truSses
cannot he put III position unt1 the noor beams ar
rive and rs the company which manufactures them
will not b. likely to interrupt the making of the
trusses until these are al made no floor beams will
probably arrive for some time. As soon they do
come the woTkmeu will at once begin suspending
them from the cables. The floor beams are to be
made IN two sections each forty three feet IN length,
and will be joined together after being
elevated in position, making continuous
beam eghty-siX feet long. the width of the bridge.
The floor beams will be composed of two different
beams of steel each of which made of two halves,
Iiveted together, making them SIX inches III depth.
These two beams will then be joined together,
thIry-twO inches apart by steel braces, in the
manner as the Orders OF the elevated railroad are
constructed 10
ished ready be put in place. They Will he h0Isted
M on the land side OF each tower to the bottom OF
tie archways, and the construction Will then pro-
coed each way from the towers. The floor beams
will be placed seven feet apart, and be sus-
pended by tie suspendipg ropes. Some of these are
in position and tie Others are roady 10 be used ds
fast as needed. The ropes pass through the upper
part of the foor-beams and are securely fastened
below the lower part As fast as the beams are
placed IN position they Will he braced and guyed,
aud temporary tramway will be laid on them, on
which car will be run TO transport the beams and
other material as desired. The car Will have turn
table top, so that two men swing the beam
around crosswise beneath the cables. and only few
more will be needed 10 secure IT III position. -Four
upright steel posts will then be inserted i'll each
beam one on each side of the two rOadways, and
these will be joined together lengthwise of the
bridge by steel bars. thus making tall barrier on
each side OF the roadway. They Will also be con
neced crosswise al the top at height sufficient to
allow cars and vehicles to pass under The roadway
OF the bridge will be somewhat narrower than the
distance between the two outer main cables. so that
the outer suspenders stand inward at the bottom
and serve to prevent the structure from swaying
sideways After the steel structure Is III position
the plank floor Will be iaId and the bridge will then
be complete.
The engineers of the bridge have been
much annoyed at the delay in receiving
the steel which should have been delivered several
months ago. The Cambria Steel Company which
fui nishes the eel, has about 1000 tons ready for
the Edgemoor Iron Company TO manufacture into
the shape required. The latter company has been
engaged on another large contract, which is jast
finished, and II is expected that 1t Will give its
full attention 10 the Brooklyn Bridge contract
The steel 10 be used has been already tested
to stand $4,000 pounds STAN to the square
inch stretching 10 per cent III lengths of
one foot. The heaviest STRAIN which. It IL
pounds 70 the square inch, or Oneith Of the strain
at which they are tested. only experienced men,
mostly ringers, will be employed to hang the road
way of the bridge as The company does not deem u
advisable 10 put an ordinary workman, unaccus-
toned TO dizzy heights. on this class OF work. The
guys of the superstructure have already been dc!iv
cred by the Besscmer Steel Works Of ROebllng q
Sons, at Trenton
A large force of men is still engaged on the APP
proaches the stonewOrk of which is expected TO be
finished by December /. The founda-
tons Of the last section OF the approach are being
LAID between Wlam-st. and Chstham-st and the
only remaining building to be torn down is the
News Building, which now stands Ia an isolated
position, with the busy work men digging on each
side Of IT. The plans for the stOnew0rk were all
sent to the quarries month ago, and the main
Iindrances now TO the engineers are The lack of
stone aud the obstruction of the News Building,
which expected to be vacated INSIDE Of two
weeks. The elevated railroad station IN Chatham
st. will also have to be removed before
the bridge Is opened. Proposals for building
the bridge over the elevated railroad at Franklin
square were opened recently and the work Will
probably be awarded some time this week. The
award for constructing the bridges the Brooklyn
approach has been slightly modified and will prOba-
bly, be signed this week. Both approaches arc ex-