New-York tribune., 1881-12-13
THE BRIDGE TRUSTEES.

DISCUSSIONS AT A SPECIAL MEETING.
TIE EXTRA STEEL NEEDED-ACTIoN TAKEN IN 1870
ABOIT THE PASSAGE OF PULLMAN CARS
A special meeting of the Bridge Trustees
was held yesterday at the Office in Water'st BrooAyn
Mayor Grace, Mayor Howell, Controllers Campoeh ana
semler and all the other trustees, except Erastus W.
Smith were present. President Murphy first presented
the financial statement OF what was due the bridge;
From New-York 1884 OOO from Brooklyn, S46G666 81;
cash on hand, S97,s74 43. The liabilities on contracts
now in force are S66si51 A. for land in Chathau-st,
800: balance due, $112,5s9 so report from the
chef engineer recommending that the weight or the
road in the suspended suporstucture be essened about
100 tors. was also read.
Mr. Roosevelt then said had examined the report OF
the chief engineer concerning extra steel and the Pull
man car matter as carefully he could and he could
not understand 1t. The report OF the Committee on
Transit made twelve months before the contract
was entered into The committee reported that the
dead weight which the bridge could carry was LOO
tons the factor Of safety being s. that is it could hold
ak times as much; 200 tons moro had been put
on IT, and it wOud seer. 10 be much as the bridge
would hold Perhaps the change to steel would account
for this Now the factor Of safety was
put at g. On the question OF the OF palace cars,
Mr. Roosevelt said IT looked II tho matter had not
been left the trustces bat had been liked by some
one c!se He also understood that the engineer had re-
duced some Of the In The steel in order to allow the
rdrmoor Iron Company to get through the work with
s limited rolling facilities. He offered resolution re-
questing the chief ngeineer 10 inform tho Board as 20
the total weight the cables would bear the total weight
Of the supcrstructnrc and at what time be Grange was
made 20 allow palace cara TO pIss over the bridge add
ing 900 tons 10 the weight on the main span lls was
adopted unanimously.
Controller Campbell then said that the last appropra-
tion by the Legislature provided for the fn completion
and equipment OF the bridge. According to statute the
trust could not incur any obligations tItncr than
this amount authorized. He could not see ms way TO
nav auv more money to the bridge II any further con
tract was made Mr. Murphy replied that there had
been contract made for any amount beyond what IS
authorized by law. Th@ outstanding contracts
were provided fOr by money on hand.
J. Adriance Bush repeated his question OF last week
70 who horized the increase OF weight ot the bridge
He wanted TO offer resolution or AGAINST VINO
soeycr was responsible Hs rescluion took ibis form
"Rcsnycd That the notifications alterations the
nan and construction uf the bridge aud incrcnee OF
weight nave made without authority and without
consultation with or authorization OF this Board and
that the officers aud engineers who have directed and
made such notifications alterations aud Increase IN
weight layo been guilty OF gross mismanageinent.'
further construction o tho byl-s he put In charge Of
committee composed Of Vice pgegiCcut kIngslcy and
Trustees McDou ld and smith, botr Of whom eugi
noCrs. MI kingsley refused 10 Ac' III any such hlhttI
and Mr.. Bush withdrew the second resolution and
tlou be tabled, and Nr kingsley seconded o. Mr. Bush
consented That should hc IN the table all next meet
Ing. The resolution 10 aOw no freight trains over the
bridge was called m, but point "i 'rp wa, raised
against the discussion. ne matter wac postponed.
General 4. C. Barnes offered = TcsniItlou, which was
adopted, proFidLg Tor special committee 70 InNcHll-
gate the original contract 81 the Edgnoor Company
and Ia ascertain u any Hc;'on Tor cauia-t WuLlHe Tor
for it, non -flfmou not allowing thr bonds % b" re-
leased General SlJcuu and tie csirnru Of tlr Finance
and Executive Committee were put on tAc committee,
anI the Lslcgs adjourned until Ae second Monday III
January.
and r,ri.tenel n with eofuo clqfpp1gur
t has been reported tu-t the rudIHay ~ the bridge
from tie NcwNorK licr to the middle Of tie main span
slgscd, ami that .ne N'rucn ha" ,t Dru dlC 20 re-
questioned about the report JcrieT"ay hc sdId that II
was entirely without foundation.