New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-21
THE EAST RIVER BRIDGE.
IT'S HISTORY AND CONSTRUCTION.

AGo-DIFFIcULTIEs ovERCoME-rhE RoEBLINGs'
CONNECTION WITH THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ING INCIDENTS.
The origin of suspension bridges is unknown.
One in China said &, date back 1000 years. and
other in Thbet India, to the year 65 A. d. Humbolds
found rudey constructed suspension bridges In South
America. In Europe they common. but the system
has been brought to the highest degree of perfection in
this country The application of the suspension system
to bridging the East River the subject of more
less discussion in this y and Brooklyn for least
half century before the work begun In 1919 an
engineer by the name Of Pope published an octave
volume Bridge Architecture in which he advocated
spanning the East River by single arch The matter,
however did attract much attention until 1t rig
orously advocated In TIE TRIBUNE in ls49 Numerous
articles were printed on the subject one of which ap-
peared in October ls49, and follows:
A BRIDGE TO BROoKLYN.-The great project OF NUM-
city nn Broofn nHT the b bgs
connecting the two shores of the East River
ahs an An ao%y Sed Se ,WssS WssShyH a
Brooklyn is preposterous and absurd, and i.,l Is
"c %os Sr S BY ker
alive such feelings 1t is in the inevitable course of
should constantly be overrn with the pressure OF bus-
ness and population aud should he seeking outlets ior
the excess IN every possible direction The great natural
remedy for this commercial and popuatiye plethora Is
the immense and swiftly increasing intercourse between
counting house and home to many thousands OF our
OF "a
built from sore hign point in New-York to another
in Brroklyn-thus permitting vessels OF every kind to
steady stream OF vehicles and pedestrians. Such
bridge wonld become instantly an immense and impor-
tant thOroughfare, second scarcely to broadway ltse
FREE BRIDGE WANTED.
In various other articles the project was advocated.
The position taken that the Bridge should be free.
and that upon its completion the two cities should be
united in municipality On October %. 1910. 1t was
stated in TIE TRIBUNE that the Bridge should be 100 feet
wldc. and mako easily accessible It should start at
distance OF 100 feet from the shore on the New
York side lt should entirely free, well for car
riaso as for foot passengers On Christmas night OF
1919 gale caused the water in the East River to be-
that feryb bats went aground while crossing,
and travel entirely stopped from p M. to a. III.
Thousands OF men, and children remained about
the ferry houses all night waiting orhe water to return
that the boats could run again; and many Christmas
entertainment spoiled In equence. After that
renewed and vigorous discussion OF the
Bridge project. and estimates were made OF Its COST
Ono engineer whose estimate published in The
thought that it could be built for about tho
same cost as the High Bridge the Harlem River
No practical steps taken toward erecting bridge
until 1863
MR.. Re EBLINGS EARLY INTEREST IN TIE ENTER"
PRlSE.
John A. R0ebling. of Trenton, \. J., the distinguished
engineer the only member OF his profession In this
country who thirty years sg0 had thorough practical
knowledge OF the suspension system OF bridging. lie
first became in subject ofbridging the East
River according to member of his family, III 1893. In
the month OF February that year he detained with
his wife and SON. Washington then lad OF fifteen years,
fcrrybOat IN the East River for several hours who
the boat dred hepessy about in the ice lie Is said
to have resolved time to build bridge cross the
river Not long afterwarl letter from him discussing
tho feasibility of the project was published.
Tue matter slumbered until 1863 at which time Mr..
Roebng engaged in building the COvpston and Cin-
cinnati Suspension Bridge. In that year oliver X.
ngerso of Brooklyn. addressed letter TO Mr. Roeb-
ling asking for estimate of the cost of suspension
bridge across the East River. According to testimony
given by Mr. Ingersol before cosmittee OF the Legs-
aturr he received Il letter from Dir. Roebllng IN 1866,
Offering to build double suspension bridge 200 feet
ears at "a cost OF 900 900 lie interested Granville 4.
jerks in matter and tho plans and specifications
were procured. Abont the same time ;. B Clttenden
caused to he published in local magazine an article on
suppositicu bridge over the East River ai TINS ed Mr.
william C. Kingsley then rich contractor to become
| interested in the project lie ai,o consulted Win
M S r 'Ei Kn%ev or those secured y Mr.
lngersol that were sent to Henry e. Mnrphy, then
state Senator ana which caused ni 10 'Hc % on
has testified that he sent his plans along with the drao
bill to incorporate company, OF wnich Mr lhger-
soil and friends should be members to build bridge.
THE NEw-YORK BRIDGE COMPANY
| Mr. Murphy introduced the bill ia 1867. but Mr..
! Ingersolls not among those mentioned In tho
act which became law in the same year. company
| formed consisting OF JOnu l. HOHnsn, SHHcoh Do
Chittendeu John Roach Henry L. Pierrepon and many
others some OF whom aerwaTd attained distinction as
members OF the Tweed Ring. The cities or New-fork
and Bro Dkyn authorized 10 subscribe to the capital
| stock such amounts as two-thirds of their Common
| Councils, respectively, should determine
Under the name of the New-YoIk Bridge Company the
work was prosecuted until 1874 when Law was passed
by which tue control OF the erection and completion OF
The Bridge was in the two cities. Eight trustees
| Tor New York appointed every two years oy tho
men, aud eight for Brooklyn 10y the Mayor Sontroller
are ex ocio In June next the terms Ot an Oh
the present trustees except the ocio members Sillei-
| pire When the old bridge company was dissolved IN
ISIS the money subscribed by individuals was returned
70 them with interest. The cost OF the Bridge was
limited to Sso0ooGo onethrd OF whlsh n"uRr no. roo WAS
iyn il being considered that the latter city would derive
The original estimate lor the Bridge wus T'oooooo.
The total cost will he about SlO,OOO,oOo'
Tmn DEATH OF TIE ELDER RoEBLING.
| As soon AS tho Ncw-York Bridge Company was
formed under the of 1867, John A. Roeng was en-
poyed as chief engineer and his Colonel Washington
A Eoebliug AS assistant. The young man. who served
honorrDly In the war, had been associated with his
father Ia the erection Of the Cincinnati bridge When
that wus finished he went To Europe to collect the latest
scientific Information upon the subject OF pneumatic
foundations for use In rcomng the difficulties OF Sc
curing foundations for the great piers OF the Bridge
He returned to this country in February, 1862 aud Sc
lec,cd his present home Columbia Heights where he
has lived the greater part OF the time for fourteen years.
From bis window he can view the structure, which he
has been unable personally to inspect since 1872 be-
causo of peculiar disease he contracted III the prose,
cunn of the work that time His mind has not abaei
| i'm viror and he has full control OF every part
| of his body, and walk about the house,
hut he is unable talk listen save for short time
VIM ne exerts himself he has sudden attack OF weak
ness prostitutes HIM lie mas Desn the chcI engineer
of the Bridge the death OF ILLS father IN 1869
The elder Roebng drew the original plans and esti-
mates which wore approved by General Newton &c tho
head of u Commission OF Engineers. appointed Oy Johu
| A. Rawlins Secretary of War; in 1869. After Com.
mittrc of Chamber OF Commerce. consisting OF Henry
Worthngton sinclair Touscy and George Opiy Ike, had
approved plans, Congress passed act authorizing
| Tie construction OF the Bridge. The elder Roeb-
ling made tho initial surveys. Whle
| standing OH suiug piece OF the pier
NEXT to Fulton Ferry slip, Ia 1862 fixing a location for
IL t,.ool,lyn ,oxver ferrv-boat IN entering the slip