New-York tribune., 1896-10-08

THE NEWTOwN CREEK BRIDGE BUSl-
Mss CAU. i,S PROTESTS.

BUILDERS DEMAND \ HEARING AND SAY THAT
THE BAsCULE PLAN ADOPTED Is not
THE PROPER THIXG-A KICK
OVER MLAUGTLIN.
Engineers who. in response 10 the advertise
ment Of the joint committee on bridges Of the
Board of Aldermen and the Queens County
Board Of Supervisors. presented plans for
bridge across Newtown Creek. at Manhattan
ave, protesting against the star chamber
method in which the Brown bascule bridge was
chosen. This bridge was selected on the recon-
mendaton of John L. Mclaughlin, who the un-
successful competitors assert, is not bridge en-
gineer at all. Mclaughlin IS Queens County
Democrat to whom the old Board of Supervisors
were to give enormous fees for bridge en-
gineering work The Brown bridge Will cost
more than twice as much some of the Others
offered and Mr.. Mclaughlin is TO receive per-
centage on the cost.
The Joint bridge committee has the secret ses-
sion habit. The thought that the public may
be interested in the construction of Slooooo
Newtown Creek bridge never seems TO enter
the brain of any of the members except Alder
man Leich and one of the Queens County men,
who are always in painful minority on TINS
subject Aldermen Williams, LEIGH Francisco,
Wassmuh and Haubert the Kings County
members Of the committee.
A meeting Of the joint committee was held
in the Controllers Office yesterday afternoon
Alderman LEIGH said he had a letter from
constituent complaining of the manner In which
the Brown bridge selected. Chairman Will
iams said that he likewise had a communica-
ton but he was convinced that both should be
read in executive session Alderman Francisco
wanted them laid on the table. but Alderman
LEIGH succeeded in getting them read
The letter TO Mr. Williams from w. II. Breith-
haupt a member of the American Society OF
Civil Engineers with Offices at No IL Broad
way. was read After a general protest against
Mclaughlin he adds:
~ is hardly necessary for me 10 state that
bridge engineering is important special
branch of the profession and requires much
special study and experience. With all due re-
spect TO Mr. McLaughlin's abilities. / maintain
that he is not a bridge engineer. and that the
plan selected by him. although admirable in
many respects and carefully worked out in its
details. is not as good for the intended location
as several others that are submitted its funda-
mental defect being lack of stiffness. If centre
props are not used. and centre props for such
a bridge have long ago been discarded as i'm
practicable.
II with others entered this competition and
did a great deal of work in good faith, expect
ing that selection would be made fairly ana On
merit and that qualified bridge engineer, or
a board of such engineers. would be asked TO
select the design to be adopted. as is the Gus
tomary and only fair procedure in such COM
petitions"
Mr.. Breithhaupt closes by asking that COM
petent engineer be employed TO aid the com
mittee.
WOULD NOT DISCUSS THE SUBJECT
In his letter to Mr.. LEIGH. Robert Creuzbaur
OF the firm of wilkins & Creuzbaur. says that
he wrote to Mclaughlin on September - for
an Interview. in order that he might draw at
tention by illustration to important points IN
movable bridges" He likewise made the same
request of each member Of the committee. On
September 80 Mr.. Mclaughlin told the commit
tee that several engineers had requested the
same privilege which he could not grant Mr.
Mclaughlin then recommended the Brown
bridge. Satisfied that this is mistake CON
tinues the letter, fatal to the cities concerned
which the explanation rendered could have pre-
vented as; that this decision be suspended
so that the two cities may be secure from last
ing costly disappointment, seriously threaten
ing their prosperity.
As reasons Why the Brown bridge should not
be adopted he says:
Il The Brown brid &c being a double bridge.
the chances of arrangement are far more thah
doubled. and quick operation impeoed.
80 1t is of 100 feet span. 100 feet being sum
ciert TO pass two vessels abreast each OF AZ 1eet
BEAM with 20 feet to spare The larger ana
heavier a bridge the longer time 1t takes to OPP
crate it, to say nothing OF the unnecessary aooi-
tional cost
OBJECTS TO EXTRAVAGANT EXPENDITURE.
The writer calls attention to the danger OF ex-
travagant expenditure in these words
THE estimates Of cost Of the various bridges
given are not backed by guarantee. and are
generally delusive. Submitting the selection to
open competition would not remedy the error
of having selected costly bridge under de-
lusive estimate makins it the cheapest Ihere
is no occasion for expc.nt the travel between
the two cities to su a Unnecessary uhpie' =
dented risks and complications. while ne I'os'
rigid and most secure service. Su''' icu v,
Years of use be OBJ l.'s. at IA VA cos,
of construction and Of ma'.ena3 p. in.tedd p1
building out cantilevcrs from each 81 o'e. meet
ing in mdair.
He recommends a plan presented to the com
mittee by the designer Of the Harlem River RAN
road bridge An Improvement IN that DrldSe.
sixty feet wide he estimates, would cost SdUVm,
for the superstructure. and $4,000 to S30.Wo
for the foundations
In closing he asks that those who have pre-
sented plans at great expense De allowed 10 ex.
plain their plans and have the advantage or
Open discussion and be given reasons Tor the
rejection OF their plans.
Nr Mclaughlin said yesterday he work
ing ON some improvements on the Brown bridge,
and agreed when finished 10 abide by the cru-
cism Of Thomas Cooper. bridge engineer
whom Thomas r. Brown, jr, the designer OF the
accepted bascule bridge plan gives as leier-
encc as to his ability.
After deciding to keep all the plans submitted
until after the two boards pass on the Brown
plan the committee went into executive session
and had Mr. Mclaughlin explain the Brown
bridge to them. This put out Of the room not
only the reporters. but William ScherZer. the
corrtructor Of the rolling lift bridges in Chicago
ScherZer may have something 10 say at"i.
-------A-
A CHILD FATALLY BURNED.
While four-year-old Mabel Mills was playing
her home