New-York tribune., 1901-07-26

years ago. when there was buckling of bridge
trusses, as follows:
THE buckling of girder or truss has no such
significance as would attach to the breaking of
a suspender. Had one of the suspenders broken
| it would have been an ominous warning that
there too much strain on the bridge or that
a weakness had developed
II don't know that Mr.. Martin ever said any
thing of the kind" replied Mr.. Probasco
Bridge Commissioner Shea was said to be on
a fishing trip in Peconic Bay.
DO YOU think the breaking of a dozen sus.
pender rods in the middle Of the bridge is not
serious matter?"
"OnIy seven of the rods broke. Traffic on the
north roadway Of the bridge has been suspended
and will not be resumed until the breaks have
been repaired"
Were any rods broken to-day?"
Not that 1 heard of. The rods that broke
were all under Cable A. at the north side OF
the bridge Some of them were on one side of
the expansion joint in the middle of the bridge
and the others were on the other side of the ex-
panson joint"
What caused the rods to break?"
Expansion of the trusses. due to the heat
The rods all shSrt, solid steel rods in the
middle of the bridge. They are moved out of
perpendicular by the expansion of the trusses
Seven of them broke yesterday under the
strain"
SAYS RUST HAD NO EFFECT
THE rust had not affected the steel The
breaking was due entirely to the expansion of
the trusses.''
How long will It take to replace the broken
rods?"
About thirtysx hours, possibly two days"
Have you the new material ready?'
Yes. the material is ready"
he 10
under the other cables 10 see If they are sound?"
That will not be necessary"
After the broken rods are replaced. will the
bridge be as strong as before the breaks oc-
curred?"
The bridge will be as strong as 1t ever was
and traffic viii be resumed as usual"
Had electrolysis anything to do with the
breaking Of the suSpender rods?'
There was no electroIysis. The mass Of steel
on the bridge is too great TO be affected by the
electrical currents in use"
Had you received any warning that the sus-
pension rods might break"
Il had no intimation of the accident until yes
terday afternoon"
District Attorney Philbin was out Of the citv
yesterday, and Charles lie Barber was the act
ing District Attorney Mr.. lie Barber sart a
letter 10 Police Commissioner Murphv asking
Tor report on the condition Of the bridge and
compHmenting the police on their promptness
In stopping traffic and their efficiency in hand
ling the crowds on the bridge after the accident
bis letter concluded with this significant para
graph: i
If the officers OF the bridge had been in a no
1 i1ion to have known of these defects for some
subject viii You he GOOD endnrb pa upon ne
once 10 this office. together with all any any other
relating to this matter
CROSS SEES LIE BARBER.
AS result of the letter sent by Mr. LIE Bar
bier Inspector Cross called at the Office OF the
District Attorney and held Il conference with
MT lie Barber for twenty minutes Inspector
Cross was not in pleasant frame Of mind
When he issued from Mr.. lie Barbier's office he
SAID that he was going TO prevent traffic on the
nortn slde OF the bridge until the bridge officials
and the police got together and there were as
surances that the bridge safe
Il see 1t stated in newspapers" said Nrr q
Barber, that the officials of the bridge and of
| me Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company knew If
this weakness in the structure for a hou+ - -
Or course, don't know whether this Is trna or
not; IT 1t is true, some one is guilty Of culnebIe
htenSehce II the report of the Police Commits
Sloher can give Us any just ground To vorI, ~,
we will issue subpenas at once and have ~,
matter called TO the attention ~ &c 30 W 5 llg
jury" Vi 'i'e grand
Later the Inspector made a rerort ~ t-o,
sioner Murphy, telling about the stonnine ~
Traffic Traffic on the bridge on Wednesday evening The
report says the traffic stopped not h,, or1er
or the police, but by order Of ] c Rrarkjrrtaa
superintendent of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
ny advlce OF Mr.. Probasco. One part Of In
spector Crosss report. referring 10 wbst 90
CURED on Wednesday evening is the folIov,inr.
Ma Al tfor about 745 ? m of the bridge station
and asRs5 met met MI robasG9 introduced myself
epeeer epge He e told me that he the assistant CHIEF
pc PEI - Soi IN Autholty; asked him to inform me as
80 coiiutlon OF the bridge. He said The hridoa
bridge BIRD trains said there was '9 no i, aneer ao%
shuttle trains told him that some one nrao,rn o ~
anly IN authority had given orders 10 discontinI,o
nIs rne running or all cars the bridge and that
propoSeu 10 prevent all vehicle traffic on the hridp
until he authorized the resumption Of ran " 'oie
dSdlH sald that there no danger and tbst
i"isn' with SAFETY open up traffic on the roadway
POLICE DID NOT STOP IT.
Inspector Cross when asked about the oraou
Tor the stoppage of traffic on the bridge said.
The best proof in the world that the noIice
ala not order the stopping of the traffic was
mat when we got there traffic had already beep
suspended"
President Sexton of the Board Of Health semi
Two inspectors TO look at the BROOKLYN Bridge
yesteraay afternoon and report fully on the
Dreak ana the condition of the bridge, with tho
traffic that is allowed over it, and the renairs
being made. Those men started off at onca 70
make the inspection. President Sexton said.
i snail be glad to cooperate with the District
Attorney and Police Commissioner Murnhv Ia
this matter. The Board of Health has siinar
vision over all structures, and If any nlihIic
building or structure is menace to human life
we nave authority to take action and | NAV
stop all traffic on the bridge if the inspectors
spectors are made to me tomorrow morning T
shall confer with the District Attorney and
Commissioner Murphy. 1t does not matter who
is affected. The Health Board will do its duty"
FIVE MECHANICS AT WORK.
Five mechanics were at work yesterday at the
middle of the north roadway of the bridge They