New-York tribune., 1896-05-15

whether the trustees have fulfilled all OF their
obligations to the public in regard to them.
Surface indications point to a weakness On
the Brooklyn side there are no vault stores
under the arched approaches Ihis evil. II IL IS
10 prove an evil at some time in the future Is
confined to the New-York end AS has Deen
said the main cables are safe. for they are
anchored eolidly In the big square of stone, al
though adjoining. under the first two arcnes
between that pier and Pearl-st, or Franklin
Square. there are two vault storee Az feari-st
the arches begin and run west along FrahkIort-
ST. The first is occupied by cold storage ware
house and this overaps into the second, OF
No. f. No :; the first indication appears or
possible disregard of public safety. 1t Is oc-
cupied bv N1uor-house and the open windows
reveal to the eye OF the observer that the TWO
upper floors reaching into the apex of the arch
are stored high with barrels OF liquor. IN lIis
rear is q barrel yard where cooper WORKS ana
right along side. and following the line OF the
Bridge stone work back again 10 Peari-st.' is
low building containing battery or boilers
No one who has never been close observer OF
spirit fire imagine what degrees OF heat
can be obtained. and until fire mas occurIeu IL
will never be known how much havoc WIN the
stone brick and concrete work above IL & IRE III
this establishment would play.
ALLEGED SAFETY OF THE CABLES
Chief Engineer Martin. to whom the reporter
was referred for information, was asked the
ouestion as to the possible effect of such hrc
upon the cables Of the railroad that crosses the
Bridge. None at all was his decided answer.
'If a fire should occur In any Of the vaults, II
would simply burn out the vault. The Bridge
approach would not be injured. why even II
there was an explosion below, IT would SIMPLY
blow out the ends OF the vault affected Notnlhs
could lessen the stability of the stone WORK IN
the arch The stone arch and the transverse
arches of brick OVERLAPPING it. the concrete ana
the paving form a covering anywhere from nVe
TO fifteen feet In thickness over each OF the
vaults. The cables would not be harmed IN the
slightest degree" ,. ,
TRAFFIC would not be delayed at alp asked
the reporter. .
well. | am not so sure OF that now. expect
that the smoke and even the fire might rise along
the exterior OF the arches, and the wind would
carry 1t across the tracks so as TO obstruct the
lection would apply to a fire In any of the build
ings that line the Bridge approach on either
side 1t would be impossible though FOR the IRE
to get to the tracks themselves. 1t would nave
to rise and overleap the parapet Of heavy stone
and then Jump across the driveway twenty-five
feet and descend four feet TO strike the cables
OF the road We have never had fire In any
Of the vaults and of course cannot conjecture
the full extent OF the possibilities. We nave al
WAYS had a good class Of tenants The vaults
are let on ten-year leases, with privilege or re-
newa for ten years more, and some OF the ten
ants have begun their second term.
LEATHER AND LIQUOR ESTABLISHMENTS.
Adjoining the liquor establishment mentioned.
vault number six Is let to car-heatng COM
pany and then the arch opens for the passing
Of Cliff-st. Across Ciff-st., the vaults are oc-
cupied by leather dealers clear 10 Nandewater