New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-09
DELAYS on THE BRYDGE.

The prolonged and vexatious delays which
have occurred in the construction of the bridge
across the East River are not at an end in fact
the end seems yet far off. The people of the two
cities, who have sunk already over thirteen mill
ions III the bridge, the interest on which they will
have TO begin to pay as soon us the structure is
completed, are beginning to grow impatient
and to inquire why it is that these obstacles are
not removed. The date at which the bridge
was to be opened for travel has been fixed we
do not know how many times but az often it
has been postponed a year and half ago it
was stated very positively that Brooklynitcs
would be able to discontinue the use of ferry
boats by the 1st of September, 1881. Consid-
cradle progress has been made since that date
by the putting in position of a large number of
floor beams. For time early this year the
work went forward rapidly. Then it Jagged
and was almost suspended; and for several
weeks past no work has apparently been done
The recent delays have been caused by the
failure of the Edgemoor Iron Company, which
contracted to furnish the STEEL to carry out the
terms of its contract. The company offered to
furnish the material, some 5000 tons of steel,
at a considerably lower rate than any of its
rivals. The contract amounted to about
$4,000 and the penalty for failure to per-
form it was fixed at 100000. 1t is generally
understood that the entire 5000 tons were to be
delivered by December /, 1850. That this was
not done and has not been done yet, nearly
year after the date named is apparent. The
public asks, Why has the penalty not been en-
forced and the contract broken and given to
some firm which would supply the steel with
prOmptness? President Murphy's reply has
been that the two cities were gaining an advan-
tage by allowing the Edgemoor Company to
furnish the steel at low price that the COM
pany has lost money on its contract because
the price of steel and iron advanced imme-
diately after the contract was made and that
the company has gone to considerable expense
to provide the necessary machinery for making
the steel, and it would be unfair to take away
the contract under these circumstances.
And now the trustees come forward with the
astounding statement that q thousand more
tons of steel will be required, and they have
advertised for bids to furnish this amount 1t
seems little short of marvellous that the bridge
engineers, in making out their specifications,
could have made so gross miscalculation as
to the amount &C steel necessary for the sus-
pended superstructure but it is said that the
right to provide additional material of this
kind was reserved by the chief engineer
When asked in what part of the bridge the steel
was needed, President Murphy said coolly that
it was required over the entire structure, and
not in any particular place. The whole pro-
ceeding has a strange appearance and Mr.
Murphy rather complexities it than otherwise
1t was not long ago that the bridge trustees
asked the Legislature to authorize the cities of
New York and Brooklyn to expend So, $50, 900
in addition to what had been spent, in order to
complete the bridge. The matter met with
considerable opposition. 1t was positively
stated then that the amount asked for would be
sufficient for the purpose, and the bill was car
ried through. The cost of the additional 900
tons of steel can hardly be less than 800, 900;
and as no hint of this was given at the time the
$2,250,O0O was called for, is it not possible
that the Legislature will be asked to authorize
the expenditure of AN additional amount in
order to meet this emergencyf
The sta4ement that it is the present intention
to make the bridge stronger than was at first
purposed is one of the reasons given why the
additional steel is made necessary. 1t is al
legged that certain parts are to be strengthened
trusses to be increased in height, braces to be
made larger, etc. This of course will add TO
the weight Of the superstructure. and the grave