New-York tribune., 1901-12-21
RRIDGEMANAGERS BLAMED
TIE GRAND JURY FINDS CULPABLE
NEGLECT.
WILL IT PRoNoUNCEs THE STRUCTURE
SAFE. IT SUGGESTS THE IMPORTANCE
OF CONTINUAL INSPECTION.


The grand jury yesterday filed presentnent
r-,,h Recorder Goff. in Part of General Ses-
sions criticising the manag cement of the Brook
1vn Bridge. This came after five davs' investi-
cation The investigation was the result of the
breaking CT several suspenders on the big
structure on July p. The grand jury does not
,barge any one connected with the management
e the bridge with wiiful neglect of duty, but il
.svs that there was a lack of proper care of the
structure
Il makes some recommended tons which Re
corder Goff said. when the presentment was
fled with him. should be needed. This" added
the Recorder, ''is an important subject to the
citizens of this community. because the safety
of the public is involved From my hasty ex-
animation Of the presentment I find that there
is not enough evidence to make out the crime
Of wiful neglect in bridge management. but
there has been culpahle negligence. will direct
that copy Of this presentment ne sent to the
-roper authorities"
Assistant District Attorney Schurman, who
had charge of the case before the grand jury,
said that Mr.. Cooper, grand juror who is an
expert in engineering, had refrained from taking
any part in the consideration OF the case, be-
cause Of his association with some of the man
ayers of the bridge. The presentment is signed
by the foreman of the grand jury. r. K. Carter,
and has the Endorsement. Twenty jurors pres
ent vote unanimous"
After explaining the nature of the accident TO
the bridge, the presentnent continues:
The grand jury finds from the, evidence before
it that the New-York and Brooklyn Bridge has
never been either regularly or systenaticaIy IN.
spected. and that its management in ta!s regard
has by no means been IN accord Wiln lIsC 49, -
would naturally characterize its manaeeTnent Eau
good business man charged with responsibility
charged with its safety. Methods OF inspectlon
.,d -7er1a
s5 7tst r fbe bridge ba5 been periodically sub
jected TO q proper systematic inspection such an
accident as that Of July "A last would nave oeeh
Ne further md that during. the period under
consideration such inspection Of the br!dge as dld
eters and such mechanics, wholly unGlrected ana
uninstructed as TO methods cy any ea@lneei; anu ana
vaIs and that their so-called inspection did not IN
he briSea as a whole even bv such methods as
might suggest themselves 70 these InechaIlcsi;
cupable neglect in this regard in the managsnent
and maintenance Of the bridee yet Il: view OF Ger
T,o0 % n0' f @ 6 crr iesign5Ied by the statute
- s.iif1i or s-irh as 70 demand The present in
dictment OF those responsible for such cement
We also ind, after carefully conslcerlns s,4s shs
evidence Of the numerous engineers VINO testlleQ
before Us, that the New-York and Brooklyn BFiose
a whole, may be considered in SAFE conQluoh
present, but that there are certain parts OF
Of the Soor system. Which should not be subjected
additional strain because the present strain
safety
Account should also be taken Of the fact that
under the same conditions OF traffic the strains
upon certain portions Of the bridge are greater al
certain seasons OF the year than al others,
The grand jury, accordingly, respectfully recon-
mends:
First-That as soon as is reasonably possible
there shall be made by under the Immediate di-
rectfon and supervision OF competent engineer,
more rigid and complete inspection OF the entire
structure than possible, in the limited time at
their disposal, for the engineers examined before
Us who not regularly connected with The
bridge
Secoad-That the future management Of the
bridge shall require similarly rigid and complete
inspection by the best methods. at stated and fre-
quent intervals that such inspection shall oe made
BY under the direct supervision OF q competent
engineer who shall be responsible for the th9rousn-
ness and completeness thereof and the sutficiency
and accuracy OF the written reports Of the same
which he shall oe required to make as each inspec-
ton proceeds; that these parts OF the bridge IN
which any break or disarrangement has occurred
may occur, and which are vital 10 the safety OF
the bridge, be watched with the greatest care and
frequency, so that upon the first appearance OF
defect or break the may be Immediately cor
rected and prevented from extending In our opln
proper inspection would require practically the
entire time Of such engineer.
Third-That some system Of regulating the traffic
on the bridge De adopted in order to avoid special
strain al any point. such as resulted IN the
tuckling the lower cords Of the stifenng trusses
occasion prior to the accident above re-
ferTed