Evening star., 1901-07-29
Temporary Repairs to the Brooklyn
Bridge Completed.
STRUCTURE THOUGHT TO Be SAFE
Proposed Million Dollar Steel
Speedway for Automobiles.
LAMONT FOR GOVERNOR
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


NEW YORK, July 2s, 1901.
Temporary repairs have been made on
the Brooklyn bridge. and 1t is now thought
to be safe enough to withstand proper use,
even to the operation of bridge trains and
trolley cars Nearly all the engineers are
on record as believing that the piers and
main cables are strong enough to with !
stand four times the strain that has ever
been put upon them, but nearly all OF
them have also declared that the girder /;
structure and suspension rod system are
too light to support the demands that are
being made upon the bridge.
An investigation and presentment by the
grand Jury, IT is also said. would be de-
sirabfe for the purpose of properly and
officially placing responsibility for the ap-
parent culpable negligence that resulted in
therecent disturbance OF public tranquility,
but 1t will not be sufficient to restore pub .
lie confidence in the stability of the bridge
The public will probably demand a COM
mission of bridge engineers Of approved
responsibility and attainments. 1t is fully
asserted that the Tammany gang In con-
troll OF the structure at this time will be
ioath to proceed In the matter. since the
hndings of any such commission are bound
TO prove an indictment Of Tammany in
competence and mismanagement. IL not also
OF Tammany greed and corruption; but il
then 1t is probable the grand jury will
be asked to take the Initiative
Charles r.. FIint's ResiEpation.
The resignation of Charles r. Flint as
treasurer of the United States Rubber
Company is believed to be preliminary to
the consolidation of the several rubber COR
poratfons. and Independent concerns into
a single corporation. The news OF Mr..
Flints action created no little excitement
IN Wall street which was not allayed by
his explanation that he had withdrawn
from the official position because his inter-
est In the company was Insignificant, his
chief concern now being in the fortunes
of the rubber goods company.
A consolidated company would probably
De capitalized for not less than S125. .0O0, 600
The present Flint group has a live capital
of $75,OOO,OOO.
Steel Road for Automobiles,
George F. Chamberlain. former president
Of the Automobile Club Of America. saws
that several automobile enthusiasts who
have abundant wealth are planning q
plate steel or sheet steel speedway to be
built either in Jersey or on Long Island.
1t will cost over 100000 and will be
used exclusively for automobile racing.
Horses will be barred as strictly as the
horseless vehicles are forbidden on the
Speedway. II the present plans do not
miscarry the proposed racing road is to be
100 miles long. and. If possible. straight
suitable locality Long Island is pre-
ferred II a right OF way can be obtained
there The enterprise is to be purely
private affair. very similar in mode Of
maintenance to the mfIIionaires' railroad in
the Adirondacks In fact, the old turn
pike system of tolls very likely will be
adopted, and each auto will be taxed as It
enters. The cost OF construction is not to
be considered. as the men who are behind
the scheme do not care what becomes of
their money. Their aim is to make a rae
ing track Of steel about twenty-five feet
wide, which will be an attraction to all
the chauffeurs Of Europe. Thus 1t is hoped
to hold an annual meet or race OF inter-
national Importance.
Woman Claims to He the Messiah.
There is a woman in New York, young
and good looking who prociaims that she
is the Messiah. To her hearers she prom
ises rewards on earth through more har-
monious conditions and alternately
threatens them with severe punishment in
the present state by vibrations from her
own personality. She Is Mamma Strafford.
Her strange sermons are the sermons of
the basement" for 1t Is In that lowly quar-
ter Of the house she chooses to preach to
''her people" on Wednesday and Friday
nights. Mamma, as she calls herself, is the
sensation of the neighborhood just west OF
9Th avenue. Many of the women are afraid
Of her, others laugh at her and hoax her
into the belief that they accept her.
Lamont Talked Of for Governor.
Friends Of Daniel g. Lamont are trying
to get him to run for governor on the
democratic ticket next year. Time was
when the colonel had ambitions In that
direction. but he is now devoting himself
to the task of making money. When he
retired from the secretaryship of war in
President Cleveland's last cabinet Colonel
Lamont made valuable business connec-
tions In New York. and he is now an OFF,
cial In twenty-three corporations J. ffer-
pont Morgan is official in only nine
more. Mr.. Lamont fs vice president Oh
seven corporations, director In sixteen
and trustee in six. His business inter-
ests now comprise banking, street and
steam railroads, steamships and express,
transportation Mr.. Lamont insists that he
is too busy to think of running for gov
ernor, but some Of his intimates believe
that he may be induced to enter the race
when the convention of 1902 comes round.
Gambling Houses to Close.
The gambling syndicate. at a meeting
held last week. decided to close, tempo
rarily 90 per cent of the gambling houses
In Manhattan, and keep them closed until
the scope of the proposed crusade Of tho
Parkhurst Society be determined.
This action was agreed upon as result of
the syndicate's attempt to bribe the agents
of the society. The attempt was signal
failure, and just to announce the fact.
Jimmy Wakely's pool room was rafded.
Up to this time the gambling syndicate
was so sure that 1t would not be fnterferred
with that it was quietly preparing for the
biggest gambling season in years. Para
phernalia had been placed in many of the
houses, and several were already doing
business in quiet way when the Wakely
raid came like q stroke of lightning from a
clear sky The decision of the syndicate
does not affect Long Island City, where
the wheels are turning briskly, this being
considered out Of the Parkhurst Society's
territory.
Records of Enlfstments.
From the New York Sun.