New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-19
WORK ON THE GREAT BRIDGE.


DELAY ONLY on THE APPROACHES.
CONDITION OF THE MASONRY - BUILDiNGs THAT
MUST CONE DOwN-rALKs WITH THE ENGI-
NEEKs PROGRESS II Bro. KLYN.
The tearing down of buildings in Chatham
ST. 20 make way foe the New YORK approach OF the Las
River Bridge was begun few days ago. In the last
few months n rape advance has been made upon the
ann caches on both sides OF the rycr Notwithstanding
considerable delay caused by the difficulty in obtain
ing possession Of land aud buildings along the line OF
the work Tue arches CHI ST. and Vandewaer-st.
have received their finishing touches and are very hand
some beng lined with ,lcan smooth brick-w0rk which
appears a. If polished. The masonry OF the arch at
,se-s ia finished. but the brckwok is not yet COM
peted. This will he different rom the Others and
more striking in appearance. It has three centres and
u span 90 feet. peculiar feature OF this are
which Is eptcal thai il viii have seven keystones
while tho others have Keystone, and are semi
circular in shape. 1t will be completed in 1--WE or SIX
weeks.
About four hundred men are at work on the ap.
proGcnes between Rose aud Chatham-sts. The small
brick arches the block between Rosest and william
ST are nearly finished an active work Is going on upon
rho fnundotions Of the double arch which will cross
william and North Wlam-sts This double arch VII
be differ Mt from any other portion OF the bridge and
more difficult OF construction than the Otner arches III
will occupy the triangle at the junction OF the two
streets and Will consist of two segmenai SKEW arches
with seven One of the arches will be OF forty
feet span and the other thryeght feet. The roadway
here will be about seventeen feet above the street In
| Chatpamsf the approach TO the bridge Will be on
level with the street and rfe over 100 feet Wide IL
| will be nearly opposite the Court House Inc stone
rail n.y. four feet in height, which Ia to extend on each
edge Of the bridge its entire length, VIII end at the
house line IN the street. and Will be marked by oTna-
| mental stone posts. on which there will be lamps.
The approach leading from the street will be divided
IA follows In the centre promenade for foot-passen
gers This will be seventeen and half feet in width
and raised three feet from the rest OF the road
way OF the bridge. Next TO this and on each side Is
space for ra pid transit street car doubetrack rail-
| road These spaces will be separated from the prone
made nv an iron railing Beside these there will be two
wagon roadways for all kinds Of vehicles, on each side
of the bridge. limited by the stone railing on tue edge
This will be paved with granite blocks the promenade
will he Of asphalt concrete 1t is thought necessary
70 charge toll buildings for the purpose Will be erected
at tine entrance the street But this matter has
not yet been arranged though the present expectations
are that for a time. at least, toll will be charged.
! When asked by TRIBUNE reporter In regard to the
railroad to run across bridge, Engineer Congwood
! SAID:
"JJness other arrangements made the prige tus-
tees will probably build and their own railroad for
the number of persons crossing the bridge Will he ten
fold greater than that coming from any one railroad.
In the view Of gneers the best rapid transit road
won he one not connected with any road now IN cx-
ls;e1ce The arrangements are such that impecd
by steam and drawn by horse power can be run
over the bridge II it is thought advisable"
on the anchorage and on part OF the approaches the
roadway is filed sand ready for the pavement and
spbat the concrete OF the promenade is already laid.
This material Is being made upon the pier overlooking
Pearl-st and between tins point and Fandewaterst IT
| il distributed by means of small ears. space OF 200
feet vet remains unbut Pearlst, and over the
| Cd oil rad
the to This by an iron Ddge tc hpccih-
cations which have been made. although the con
trncts have yet been gwen out steps VIII eaO 10
the roadway OF the bridge from PcaIst and the ap-
proach will interfere with the elevated road station
Ihs square brick building occupied by the eueneers
Will De ,wered two stories IL IL evident that part lt
least of the elevated railroad station at Chathamsw
have to ne removed. but this Will not be our look
out" said OF the men ut WORK upon the approach
| "the city will have to take care or that
The subject OF hRutnx the bridge IL undecided. and
like that OF the railroad IL IN the hands o. the trustees
he used The interior OF approaches will be leased
for ire-proof torehOnses. ready Applications have
been mad for them Tor ths purpose, nut because or
the roadway running through them winch Is constantly
in use they be rented al present The houses in
FrOUtsof which the upper stories were taken OIL nave
been made fire proof ana are leased t. dnefent persons
| by the bridge company, which owns them.
Compairt made by Engineers Coll!rgwooi md Pro-
OF tie delay caused IN getting Possession OF the
amsts Their owners have refused part with them.
aud long reference suit. not yet ended mas been the
bosco, We would have all the masonry done In four
| months BcsIdes we could Use the bricks OF the old
| ssrr 10 Use new bricks" We would have had tfcse
bmjGngs down loug ago" said Mr.. Col ling Ood IT II
were ths reference case me NeWs Bul dlC mas
BEN condemned, bur we are not in possession yet"
I'm BROOKLYN the work or the approaches to tho
bridge IL nearly done. About 900 wOrkn,en are en-
moved tnere, and their labOrs confined chic hy To
| fnng In the fourth and last book Of the approach,
which is In Wasnngtoast., between Prospect and
studssts. The roadway the ether blocks Of the ap
~ practically anIshcd, also Is the rail
nR on each side. The last of excavation between
sands ana PrOspect-sts. was t1shcd on Friday. En-
| edupcr Young stated tJat all the masonry aud other
work would done and ready for the superstructuro
WITHIN three months Between 800 aud 400 tons Of
iron work, trussrs for the snperstructtre ate
expected week. and then the work OF attaching IL
tY the suspending cables Will he immediately begun.
All suspenders nand and ready TO he lifted
ou The crossing OF the streets
IN nroOkyn will not be by arches the New York
SIDE, but by OF iron bridges. The
thrre which the approach CROSSES are
yet been contracted Two large stone posts viii
mark beginning OF the approach AT sandsst IL is
thought that the narlOwness OF sands ST. Will interfere
with suitable entrance TO the bridge. aud IL may
be found necessary 10 take down The buildings in the
block opposite, which Is between SAINTS and lI.hsts.
This block contains the First Methodist Episcopal
Church. buit IN 1894 and rebuilt in 1913. and several
brick dwellings. The APPROACH at Prospectst makes u
sharp curve SaldssL AID is the only portion OF the
straight In EXPLANATION Of this Mr. Young said that
IL necessary order not TO block Washington
avoid changing the entire grade and extending
the al. roach to COucord-st. No provision has beei
made reaching the bridge at the anchorage when
isled. any place between Sgndsst. aud the East
River.