New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-06
THE East RIVER BRIDGE.

Sir: That the architectural appearance or many
OF our public buildings and monuments leaves
much to he desired Is we'll known TO need COM
ment. Public taste Is improving. however and will
no longer tolerate without criticism the erection OF
structures which should be monumental In their
character but which are designed with disregard
OF artistic considerations. beg space IN your val
ua BILE paper to call attention 10 the designs Oh wv
suspension bridges proposed Mt New orH' '"'
plans views and descriptions OF when nave re-
Gently been widely published. One Is inc Ne" .'''
River Bridge. to be constructed between brooklyn
ard Williamsburg and the other the large bridge
over the North River proposed at Fifty-ninth-s''
In both bridges the principal features consist vi
wire cables In combination with stihening trusses
and towers of braced steel columns. stan"'"s VI
masonry pedestals reaching some twenty OF 'n''H
feet above water. The remarkable dsresa'" y. ."
tistic te-and In fact, the vulgar ue""ess VI '
proposed structures-is generally commented upon
but seems TO have escaped the at'eh'o" VI '"'
commissioners in charge.
As regards that North River bridge with It's uf-
necessarily high and double-humped st.hening
trusses II is for other reasons hardy WORTH o'''
cising and let MS hope, for the reputation VI H,''
lean art and engineers that II Will never DC pu' u"
that plan. But regards the New f'"S' i''
pr,dco more ncel be said because It's construc-
ton has already begun. As II Is 10 he pun. WI"
pubc funds every intelligent citizen should be In
sioners in charge design to give us.
Tho engineers of that bridge could not. OF course
snoil the graceful lines Of the suspended cao'es'
nature prevents that. The stinenng UusSeS' "
bonn,v also true have In this bridge designed
with parallel chords. which Is the only propei AZ
chitectura as we'll constructive form LOT ''ei''
Ru I'm almost every other feature the Architectural
anncarance of the bridge will be an eyesorc' a. wy
,overs the s,iffenng trusses are obque'y cut OIL
&c - ,ho builders had run short Of material 70 con-
,,rue them through the towers and 10 the a"cn''
apes Instead of supporting the iahu sp"' ~
the cables above, as Is the case al '"e eS
Brooklyn Bridge. 1t Is proposed 10 suppo' ~.
from below on so-caled tres'le structures Vi ~
unsphtly regulation pattern OF the elevated ro''''
Tins thoroughly spelling the pleasing u"'.s y, az
pearance for the superstructure But inc he'sn' ~
c,,ress seems TO have been reached In the ior'" VI
IN. towers which resemble some OF our ho"se
oroc,,on derricks. with haphazard and Irregular
,.,o,ng between their legs 1t Is doubtful whether
a more unsigh,ly form could be got up 10 o,"e
When Il is considered that this priose WIN o ~
=, tho largest and most noted engineering s.r"c'
Vi .". 49, oountrv and built by two Of the richest
,,,s T., tho world and that 1t Is TO last GENUINE
,ho intended design signifies most as'on'...'"s
disregard of the taste and OPINION vi ", .,o
community and siguar want vi ann" 1T
designers Here Is rare chance io' VIC
s,ornrs and their engineers to immor'a''ze 'n.i'
mo
.. h;oh alone can perpetuate their repu'a"o"'
,.a,so tho mere work of safely dirnehs'o"'"s '''e
structure must be regarded nowadaSs "s
~ course hardly worth special commemorate.
The mos, beautiful suspension bridge III VIC 49,
,s s,ul 70 be found in Budapest. venture 10 s's
70 -. ~" aor. ono who has seen II for the first time
vs. stonped and admired its grace and beauty. Al
hoe now been in existence for over mt! ye'"'' an
10 os good az ever The noble dignity OF Inc a'c''
lecture OF its stone towers. the sohdi'!'
details and pleasing curve oi tne "o" a,
,ac.d one above the other each side, inc s'"l'u
entrance and finish OF the anchorage apu'ne arx
The unobstrmcted view from the roadway sanse
Thing about that bridge impresses one Win al, ir"h
- rs cion and pleasure which can haruN "
S y. The name OF the English engineer VII
lam Tierney Clark. has been HANDED aT"a man 10 of
,nri,v ,bro,Igh that structure as that OF MN y,
real genius whereas. had he designed " WIN
disregard to apPearanr,c,s ana enginesr his name
would be forgotten and the structure "''' "
kn Tnc rookyn Bridge prominent feature Of the
beautiful harbor OF NewYo,k Is known " Wo rni
wide Its massive tow Cab a" ' roaGwsy make
pleasing effect and eniG ho,,t the Architectural
dn%e me w Of Rs Bridges
Bridge has structural faults mot affecting: m0W
G NS lnec study OF suspension bridges but they
as well architects and lnymeM w nniy and
hcau,v Of that structure That the tops OF the Tow
sr shown in his s. desT bsh T should be and
The suggestion has been made mat an aIcWtv e.,
should he consulted for the ornamenhton VI III.
New Eas. River Bridge. Hear ye or 9 gus n,r,ces
suggestion, As If galvanized or cast iron corn,css
r"settcs consoles and other frills OF sham aren't
lecture could give character and dignity 10 ~.
~. rbich in its very outlines shows inuliIcr'Is
~ art and beauty and as IL good archltcctuI; uIu
not require the harmonious proportion'hg oi inc
structure itself! I. ~. ,oo ,a,o for
sisting Of the chief engineer two rcai nrcnitectS
1nu distinguished from mere house front uecora
,nrc, men like those who designed the large build
;pgs for the Chicago Worlds Fair. having nice
sense ~ harmony and proportion OF masses anu
nmon'tcrioi-nnd one engineer who should DE a man
OF cultured taste: then invite compeutVe, re,i Iii
,ecturai prize designs on n uniform scale snd
ha ed on n skeleton plan. giving length OF /pan
width and arrangement OF roadway heiGnt vi s.ro
,nwors and suffering trusses above wafer anu
cher general engineering features. leaving every
hing else as TO form to the competing desgners
Tbe experience in competition or inns knu IL
,hat when the decision rests with a jury OF ac-
dmces the best talent to participate IN lnc c4mPeu
lion II is considered an honor to have aDic men
sizing in Judgment on ones work There nght
~; ,hroa priZes OF 81 100 81 900 and $1O-certainiy
notrv sums In the invitation for competitive de-
spns II should be distinctly stated that mere OF
ninnes So high up that they cannot be seen without
Geld glass will not be regarded Us meetng the
nnonditions and in rendering the awards let the
;vrw sote in detail the reasons FOR its several de-
Jdjns The result would In all probability be De-
scns OF a high order OF merit In arr, rom Whicn
something hitting and reprSs"ntave OF sns h'sh
civiliza ton of our cities couo '"eh "c stI
New-York. Peb 20 1871