New-York tribune., 1901-07-30
BRIDGE INVESTIGATION.

The public will be slow to accept Commits
sicDer Shea's view of the Brooklyn Bridge acci-
dent as CLOSED Incident without some fur
ther reconcilement of the contradictory reports
issued by the bridge officials and assurance,
as the result Of investigation by independent
experts that the bridge is really right; that it
has been in the past competently and honestly
managed; that those in charge of it are reason
ably trustworthy both for engineering knowi-
edge and adherence to the truth, and that ade-
quate precaution is taken against future breaks.
The mere say so of Mr.. Shea is not enough
His record of truthfulness about the bridge is
typified by his declaration that the rule reguir-
ing trolley cars TO keep 102 feet apart on the
centre span regularly enforced before the
accident. Thousands know that, on the con-
trary, the rule was habitually disregarded. Mr..
Probasco's say so will not do. He has made
himself ridiculous beyond repair. The most
skilled bridge painter could not cover the rust
marked flaws on him. Nobody would dream Of
believing what he said about the structure with
out confederation, for ignorance or deceit about
1t is fixed habit with him, as is shown by his
statements that the breaks We're new; that the
suspeDder rods Were fixed to the truss and We're
broken by the lengthening Of the latter On
expanding; that the roadway had not sagged;
that rods frequently broke-all statements not
OF OpiUloH. DHl VI idcas NifitB nave Dten OIs-
proved by evidence denied by Mr.. Martin
Nor is Mr. Martins word entirely satisfac-
tory competent as we believe him to be- and
great as have been his past services. He is
identified with things as they are, and can
hardly be expected to see the defects Of the
existing system. His report was straightfor
ward, and doubtless was meant honestly to go
10 the bottom OF things; yet its failure TO do
so is obvious. Mr.. Martin admitted that some
of the rods were broken a considera BILE time
ago-Probasco maintained that the breaks were
fresh. Did he know better not? He says.
however, that IL was impossible TO discover this
till others broke and the bridge sagged, pulling
the broken rods out OF the blocks and exposing
their ends to view. IL this is true ii Is not
reassuring. 1t means that the essential sup
ports OF the bridge can give way without
observation until a whole section of the
structure drops.
This time traffic was suspended and the snap
ping OF supporters stopped after some fifty feet
OF the roadway was left hanging to the rest of
che bridge. II the load had continued longer
~ the next remaining rods had been a trfe
weaker, more might have snapped, with each
new break putting heavier load on those
remaining, and in quick succession cutting off
eli support for long distance Unless some
way can be found to detect these breaks
promptly there is telling how much harm
they may do unseen. Nor is there any faith.
under such circumstances, 10 be put In Mr.
Martins inspections. With one breath he says
that there was no way to tell about these
breaks till the bridge sagged, and in the next
he gives assurance that all the remaining sup
ports have been examined and found intact
Either inspection could have discovered the old
breaks or inspection cannot now discover that
many other breaks do not exist What trust
can be placed In an inspector who says the
rods are all right when he admits that even If
they were broken he could not discover it until
there were so many broken that the bridge
sagged and revealed their fractured ends TO all
eyes.
II is not to be supposed that with proper
Inspection breaks would be unnoticed and Mr.