New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-02
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL
NETWORK AND NEW-JERSEY BRIDGE.

NEW-1OKk AND NEW -JEfsSf-i biNiDH~'
GUSTAV II. scIIWAB DISCUSSES THE MERITS OF
THE SUSPENSION AND cANTILEvER PLANS.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: In the recent stockholders meeting OF the
Ncw-York and New-Jersey Bridge Company the
treasurer OF the company submitted report "hich
interests not only the stockholders. but also the
general public. As It contains several statements
which have a tendency to mlsead public opinion /
beg leave correct them.
- he report asserts that the Board Of Engineers
appointed by the President to decide upon the
length Of span had pronounced the cantiiever bridge
with pier in the river. the only safe and practica-
be structure and that a suspension bridge, without
a pier would only be safe III certain modes OF con-
structon were followed" As fact, the Board or
Experts declared both kinds of bridges equally SAFE
and practicable and said that suspension bridge
III certain modes OF construction be followed
would cost s. $4,000 more than the cantiever but II
'other modes OF construction be followed IL would
cost only 1900 600 more. These "other" modes OF
construction were pronounced by the Board OF Elk
pers absolutely safe and answering al practicai
purposes and the second estimate was given IN ac-
Acknowledgement OF the too severe and, Tor COM
parsOn, unfair conditions on which the calculations
for the first estimate were based The board went
sim further and In their report pointed to several
circumstances favorable to the suspension plan
which had been dlsregarded, and to certain prices
which taken too high.
Engineer W Hidenbrand, who represented the
Chamber Of Commerce before the Board OF En-
gnecrs To argue the technical and financial pract-
cabity Of a sngle-span bridge. has gone over the
boards calculation. and corrected the figures In ac-
corIancc with the Board Of Experts own sugges-
tons and making due allowance for all facts ac-
knowledged by the board to be true The details
OF MIR i!icnbrand's calculations were pubshed ~, IN
found that the cost Of suspension bridge II the
corrections indicated by the Board oil EhRlne"IS
a. that OF cantlevcr bridge, hut thar IL "ouIl ne
fully 5000 100 less II a slight modification be adopt
eomparis ,ai' could have no objection MIR Hidden,
brand draws attention to the expensive method
OF Experts. and he shows that with the same knd
Of anchorage for which the New-iork ana b r0ok,
Ign Bridge furnishes a precedent. about %hVlWp
more could be saved In other words a sinss-span
SUSPENSION bridge viii cost $500" less man
ing tho aforementioned slight modification. IL passed
entirely upon the plans and calculations OF the
In the report Of tho New-York and New-Jersey
Brl gc Company 1t il also mentioned that the Board
Of Experts DECLARED their estimates not absolutely,
but only relatively correct: hence the board &c,
innate Tor the cantilcver was deiiberaie.y reduced
from S2670N0D 10 S2e NpO0o while for the cost or
the suspension bridge IN comparison with the can't
lever. the Board ~ Experts figure was retained.
II tho BOARD Of Experts assumed too high prices Tor
material and labor. which II corrected WOULD max
1t possible to huld tho cantever bridge Tor 500
90 pr0port!onatc reduction must also y" mage 'Or
~" suspension hrils". VIZ. from &5WOW 70
s9s so c'0 This. however. is the figure which the
Board Of Experts IN their report haye acknowlel6ed
10 Dee much too high. but the report of the New
York and Eew-Jcrs"y Bridge Company. endcavor-
ing 10 make the cantileyer bridge appear 50 mucn
cheaper than the suspension bridge, takes no no.
tee II this fact nor Of the second and more IA
iional estimate as recommended 10y the Board OF
Experts
The assertion ls also made in the report Of the
New York and New-J"rsry Bridge Company mat II
would require four years moro t. construct the suS-
pension bridge ;han the canti."Vcr. Where are the
proofs FOR this assertion? Mr. Hderbranl. speak
iur from experience and with thorough know edge
OF subject declares that the construction OF the
suspension bridge II ANYTHING would take less tne
than building ~" cautilev'r bridge considering the
unprcccGentedy deep river foundation necessary FOR
the latter
The irle facts. therefore, are tina, single span
etff ant urrctlrllio suspcn'0 on hriIr" can be hut
f.r o. ,1d JOS. -nd in tho or less time than
.tut.irt,- bridge. with pier In tho mlil" OF the
river Ir Iilldf nhrnud IL wiling 10 prove his as
s.r,ons hy figure - any one Interested In the sub
jec'. and his calculations and opinions expressed
are fully corroN0rntod 10y Colonel v. \. Roeb.!ns
the engineer OF the New Y ork and Brooklyn Bridge
Tho knoVl.gc = these facts VIII be interesting not
only 10 sh.,-ovuors and all persons who believe IN
a harhor unohs,ructed by piers. but also to cant
ia ists who intend 10 invest In a bridge enterprise
GUSTAV II. SHHWAB.