New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-28
REPAIRING THE BIG BRIDGE.
WEDGING TOGETHER THE WARPED PLANKS.
A POSSIBLE CHANGE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
FOOT-wALK.


POSSIBLE CHANGE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
FooT-wALK.
small force of men were engaged Yesterday in
repairing the panking the foot-waik OF the
Bridge. They started at the New-York end, and
began by wedging together the planks. which have
warped badly during the n,. not Eeath tSs
vacant spaces and those planks that had
suffered considerably from splintering were turned
upside down. new method was employed of fast
ening the timber to the iron crossbeam below. as
the old system had proved insufficient and nearly
one-quarter of the planks were partly loose; Inc
vorkmen bored holes in the planks and then bolted
them to the cross beams with screw-bolts, other
workmen underneath tightening them and putting
on caps The planks were originally spiked to the
beams from the under side. There was some sur
prise exhibited by the public that the repairing had
to be begun In trlfe more than two months after
the opening of the Bridge. Repairs were plainly
necessary however for the gaps between the tmbers
Occasioned by excessive warplng have been for
time subject OF conversation among those VINO
cross the Bridge daily Groups soon began 10 form
about the workmen, but they were duly adInon-
ished to pass on by policeman. and the yawnlng
gap made BY the wedgng was temporarily covered
over by broad plank as the sight OF the aperture
reporter called at the Office of the Bridge Super
aboat the NE lcus1 Mr. Martin stated that
the trustees had waited until the warplng was
Np,sHsd Seio1e eeShs Of and s feet
and 2l inches thick The planks were secured 10 tne
iron cross beams which span the foot-way at every
in very many instances wrenched themselves away
hom the cross beams on the side, ana u had peeh
thought best to secure them ior .ne & 10 r"aa
way for pedestrians was being considered an1lousy
by the trustees, who were most willing TO receive
suggestions from the public: Many persons now
ever proposed materials which would add greatly
to the weight that tho structure would nave 10
bear Some had proposed an esrtn ROAD; otheIs,
asphalt; but the only feasible proposition which
had been made was to lay the panks crosswlse, ana
this would make necessary an under course OF TIM
Weight Ss i Sy that Course OILY Tbe tus.s thought
we'll of this proposal, and would try 1t
upon section. The plankng at present was
man who had slipped upon it during the recent
rainy spell During the winter the ice would make
IT far worse The trustees bad resolved to sprinkle
1t with sand, and this, it was hoped, would
prove sufficient. OF course If the timbers
were laid crosswise there would be lar
would give an uneven track. might be seen by
the carriage ways, which were land in that way.
Still, rough walking was better than slippery. MI.
about month, for it had been thought adv isable
to do the work as gradually as possible, ant there
fore only small force was engaged.
The Bridge engineers are experimenting with the
cars upon the railway over the structure, taSin
them across with the switching engines and testing
the brakes and switches.
A FREE SHIPPING BUREAU FOR SEAMEN.
"Down with bood-money" was consplcuOusly
displayed all over the front OF the building at
Coentes-slp and Front-st., yesterday, which has
been opened under the auspices of the Seamen's
Boarding House Benevolent Association as Free
Shipping Bureau for Seamen." The large room was
filled throughout the day with sailors and captains
of vessels DESTROYS of shipping crews f. Alexander,
superintendent Of the Sailors Home in Cherry ST.,
who is the superintendent of the Bureau, has sent
o circular to owners, consignees, agents and
masters of vessels in which he explains the object
and principles upon which business Is to be con-
Quoted. The circular also says:
For many years back the unlawful exaction Of blood
money from seamen has grown WIN snch assouHu 6g
TO compel the payment by seamen OF 20 per cent OF
Their advance wages to socalied shipping agents OF
vary In from S TO $l2 out OF an advance OF $40
% ns on Sp n and
quarter Of million dollars Is nniawully exacted;
the pernicious system of extorting bloodmoney from
and for that reason alone this bureau is esta6
foreign vessels. aiee Of y per man vii be charged
III @ ir @s os bosr any hour
and ready for duty. Vessels that by law come under
oner win De given all facilities for selecting their
free OF charge to either the vessel or the sesmen
communication was sent to the Commissioners
of Emigration informing them that immigrant
boarding house keepers were shipping immigrants,
and asking them TO stop such ilegltimate proceed
ngs.
A COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER MISSING.
Inquiries were made at the Police Centra! Office
ias4 night for information concerning s. NJ MunRer
q wealthy commercial traveller, VINO disappeared
four months ago from his home III Chicago. lie Is
forty years old aud has family. He is well known
throug bout the Southwest where for many years ne
travelled for the large Chicago dry-goods firm OF o.
r. Keith a. Co. He bore the reputation OF being
the best salesman in Chicago, and he earned |
80 his friends assert from $4,000 to
S12 600 year. Just before he disappeared he had
q quarrel with one OF the members OF tue hrm
After he left Chicago his family traced him to No
40 East feminist, this city, which Is boarding
house. He stayed there only few days, and since
then all trace OF him has been lost. His prolonged
absrnc e has given rise to fears that he has COM
United suicide. MIR. Munger Is described as hve
feet ten inches in height, of 160 pounds weight,
with dark hair and eyes. and slightly bald. He IS
a fluent talker The police of this city have been
instructed TO look for him.
CONSIDERING A TARIFF REGULATION.
ID nf tha nviainn q