New-York tribune., 1888-03-22
FOR AND AGIINST IRTHUR KILL BRIDGE.
HEARING BErORE A BOARD or GOVERNMENT
neutrality-suspicious. TESTIMONY.

board OF army Officers Of the United States Corps OF
Engineers Army Building. Houston ana Greene
sts yesterday and listened 10 testimony OF WITNESSES
and arguments Of regarding the bridge In process
OF erection by tho Baltimore and Ohio ana the staten
Island Rapid Transit companies the Arthur XIII De-
tween Staten Island and New-Jersey. Inc oosio was
convened by Of the Secretary Of War; ana Is COM
posed Of Colonel Thomas Lincoln Casey PRESIDENT Lieu
Colonel Henry NJ Robert LieutensntCoone Peter
c. Hams, Major William r. King and captain Eo"aru
Mcguire recorder Last December President Roberts, OF
the Pennsylvania and President Wilbur. OF the LeMgn
Valley Railroad companies petoned the Secretary OF
war to direct the removal Of the whole structure or
such alteration made in the bridge as will prevent
the obstruction Of navigation that now re-
suits from tho construction Of the present
WORK, and will be most seriously increased by Its
completion on It's present plan" The bridge which was
authorized by act Of Congress approved juno TO- 1885, TO
erected under the supervision Of the War Department.
and completed Juno 80 1885, has centre abutment
span either aide Of 200 feet and Is thirty
Eve the low tide. Its cost to date
was said 100000 The boards instructions were
inquire whether the bridge dangerous and obstructive
navigation, and report its conclusions and reconmenda-
tions the Secretary Of War.
Elk United States Senator w. j. Scwe appeared FOR the
Pennsylvania; Wilson s. Bisse OF Buffalo, President
Clevelands former law partner for the Lehieh Vey'
and Albert Boardman, OF the law firm Of Macfarland,
Platt for the Baltimore and Ohio and staten
Island companies Mr.. Sewel presented the petitioners
brief and q Of afdavts, together with maps ana
drafts The Arthur XIII at the bridge. he said was only
ZOO wde and the bridge would he serious incon'
venience TO the navigation Of important waterway,
through which 900 tons Of freight passed annually
The bridge sad had raised the rate Of towage from
cents per between Amboy and NewYork Bay TO IL
cents per ton and greatly essened the aggregate Among
the witnesses examined Chief Engineer Richards OF
the PENNSYLVANIA road ex-senator D. O. Chase Of South
Amboy superintendent Of the Delaware and Rartan Tow
ing Line and Captain Isaac L. Fisher Of the Perth
Amboy Towing Line, whose testimony went TO establish
the dihcuty and danger Of navigating the Arthur XII
since the building Of the bridge begun An afndsVt
BY Robert Sayre vice president Of the Lehigh Valley
declares that the bridge s built as proposed he Will
advise company its improvements at Perth
Amboy, which, he have now cost 81 100000 and
10 seek another termnus The counsel urged that the
building should be stopped and that Instead the bridge
should built which recommended BY the engineer
board Of which General J. G. Duane United States En-
gineers president to have $50 feet span on the
Staten Island side with draw Of 125 feet on the
New-Jersey side, and to be nfty feet above mean high
water.
Mr.. Boardmsn produced great mass Of andavtts and
maps evidence put In by the petitioners
These showed Arthur XIII was at its best dangerous
stream and the bridge made 1t no worse He made
long speech which attacked the facts and figures OF
his opponents detail He said that the petitions and
adavits against the bridge were made by employees OF
the two companies obliged to make them get
out"
Mr.. Bissel closed the In brief and temperate
argument The board took the papers but will make no
report until after March 81 On that day, with the
Senate Committee Commerce. 1t viii vist the bridge
witness the passage Of loaded tows through tho XIII
and observe the condition Of navigation there.