New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-01
ANOTHER BRIDGE FLOOR.
THE HTLDENBRAND PLAN ATTRACTS Al
TENTION OF ENGINEERS.
MORE CABLES pRoposEp-rnEsE WITH NEw

MORE CABLES PROPOSED THESE. WITH new
TRrssEs. IT Is ASSERTED. WILL DOUBLE
THE CAPACITY or THE Structure
Many engineers who in common with large
part ~ the community. take d lively interest "'
the Bridge facilities between the boroughs VI
Manhattan and Brooklyn have been taking
recently about plan practically to douD'e 'he
capacity OF the present structure Inc 'oe"
Gomez from William II. iiildenbfand, the en-
glneer TO whom Mr. Rosbling intrusted the 'asN
OF making all the calculations as 20 strength
stability strain and other details OF the brooh-
Ism Bridge a. the time OF its erection. There-
fore il g.. that the proposition. coming from inns
source attracts respectful attention from all en-
gineers and the more 80 because MT f"ue"
brand has TO ii certain extent demonstrated tue
feasibility OF the idea in the similar ehisrse-
ment Of the Cincinnati bridge. which he receh''y
sunervt.ed That structure. which was built
thirty years ago. has been so renoociieo 'ha'
tho nresent bridge has double the strength OF
the old.
I'm turning his attention toward the Brooklyn
Bridge Mr. Hildenbrand does so with knowisnss
Of its present strength and capacity. and or the
improvements which have become necessary II
# IL to accommodate all OF the traffic which the
The plans which the engineer has worked out
y.ou,d ~ savs double the capacity of the
Bridge at a maximum cost OF S2,5oO~W TO
carry out his ideas Mr.. Hildenbrand WOULD
rafs. the height Of the towers some ten or t"eVe
feet Then he would suspend four auxiliary
cables above and in the same plane as the pres-
ent ca Dies The present stiffening trusses. SIX
in number would be replaced by new and deeper
trrsses Of a common depth. The Increased
strength I'm the trusses would afford the key 10
the scheme as ON their upper chords. on either
side Of the footWay. there could be constructed
another floor reaching across the present udcns
and roadway. This extra floor would doubie the
capacity Of the Bridge for wagon and car traHlc,
and the great benefits which would come from
this Increased artery from Brooklyn to Man
haitian are obvious. The pull or the new 'aDies
would be taken by additional anchorages piaceo
behind the present anchorages
IL will be seen that all classes or travel Wouid
be greatly facilitated by duplication or the
present floor OF the Bridge. II would be posel-
Die 10 give up the present moor 10 me uses VI
the electric cars Double tracks could be con-
structed on each roadway, and the extra lines
would enable the cars TO be operated much more
advsntageously than at present Inc DocHaoes
which OF frequent occurrence would
IN a measure be obviatsd, and as fewer cars
would be any one track. they could De run
at greater speed than IL safe under present con-
dtions. The saving in time would oe consider-
able.
Then Il might be possible TO increase the track
facilities OF the regular Bridge railroad Ii IL
painfully apparent that the present tracks are
much overcrowded with the regular trains or
the Brooklyn and the Kings County Elevated
railroads running to Manhattan. In addition 10
regular traffic OF the "trppers" from one ter
mnal to another In rush hours the trains ioi-
low each other closely that ii Is almost I'M
possible to keep them running smoothly.
Chief Engineer Martin. when seen yesterday
would not discuss Mr. Hildenbrands plan.