New-York tribune., 1896-05-25
THE SAFETY OF THE BRIDGE.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Ny attention has been called to an artIcs
In The Tribune Of May Is on the safety Of ,hs
Bridge" In that article the writer seems 10 believe
that the chief danger 10 be considered and pra.
vided against IS that arising from the possible
burning OF the contents OF one or more OF the sor.
age vaults in the masonry approaches on the New.
York end OF the Bridge. There Is indeed some dan.
ger 10 be apprehended from the storage Of CON.
bustible and explosive materials IN these vaults
Spirits cot health or 'of wine') should not be al.
lowed there, or. in fact any highly combus,INs
material The burning Of vault filled with "spir.
It's" would undoubtedly cause an explosion. wh.c.
would do much more than simply blow out me
ends OF the vault affected" (is Chief Engineer
Martin says The flying bricks would endangsf
the lives OF whoever were opposite the ends Of the
exploding vault ard the life OF one faithful fre.
man or policeman Is Of more value than the rem.
ais OF many vaults The danger 70 explosions 10
time OF fire should be guarded against by evey
possible precauion. for the magnitude OF the con.
sequences cannot re anticipated; and II Is far from
the exercises OF a wise caution TO minimize Their
possible intensity. either in thought in word. or
to harbor any confidence as 10 their simple" and
harmless character. The underwriters who insure
the property opposite he ends Of these spin
vaults have probably asked their policy y-holdersn
pay a premium fixed in consideration OF the dar-
gerods proplnquty OF spirits which may 90 sua
simple" things as 10 bow out the ends Of
vault and incidentally to blow in the walls Of al
opposing structures.
Furthermore. the effect of the expansion OF 'he ma
ter!a,s Of the vault due the intense heat Of ou'n'
ing spirits II Is impossible 70 predict In us en-
tirety but It Is certain hat II cannot properly %
described by the word simple" for II VII. withous
doubt twis, all the iron beams and srcers sup
porting the floors OF the vaults into most con-
pick forms. and il is well known that h!gn ness
is absolutely ruinous to granite IL. tnere'o'e SeeA'
10 be only the exercise of wise p.ecauton 70 Keep
out OF these vaults all materials tha' "1' Uu'
with rapidl,y. and certainly all which are NAos'
uhan burning 10 generate explosive gases
/, is not 10 be supposed that the Bridge t!unsn ~
would agree 10 ten years lease OF one OF ,n.s, ~
vaults for ne syerage SI Srck 10 solid ali opening,
in the ends OF the arch and not reinSse ys, sua
powder until the expiration OF Ii,ay Iis e.s danger.
a use Of vau. would be aDs9'u.s1y I1yys,v AZ much
out than the daily receipt ana dehvss, ,r,r =. he
less explosive materials but no oassly 20 great m
that which would arise from ilre aho .I. ~ All
In the buildings beneath and ad)aeent worcs,r,gs sss
spans extending from the towers $40. 70 see The III
hume October 90 1895. and November u :" al
connection with communications Inss, I.,ss 70 vhL,s
buildings called attention 70 the 9anse' ~. vsrs.
the Prldge is exposed hese points ,,r ,.,.rl
houses beneath these spans are usea asnoos,i M AI
storage DurpOset ana IL IS not ~ " h8
,hslr owners would lose a good tenant oess.-sd cr
bridge would be endangered II his gooas ''-
exploded. - -, v,rehouss Mee
with miscellaneous materials are 700 s,rS scr TIE
this danger 10 be ignored when tonna.hisul Il any
safety OF the Bridge and 4, is quite hs Wiling
Underwater could be found who woua ,sst s,rsct-
for any reasonable premium, 10 ,sss ,nsss'
UrT under are .ne SO many and such n.So o
pendent on the Bridge that every preeAas. Ss end the
be taken 10 insure It's safety. ara w.niture ~ than
70 remove all tho buildings boaneyss eysssu.York ana
Roosevelt South and Water SIS. !. ~ the anchor.
those north OF Fulton-st. and west o,.sred snaces
age in Brooklyn. ahd TO conver, tnrr 'nf.RFEE.
into parks Yours truly, crs,,,,nS Enginte.
No - Jewett-ave.. West New-Brsn'0H'
Island May -. 1856.