New-York tribune., 1902-11-12
rHE WILLIANsBURG BRIDGE FIRE.


The fire which damaged the incomplete Will
iamsburg Bridge on Monday night differed in
one respect from some other accidents that
have accompanied the construction of public
works in this city within the last few months.
Little injury was done to adjacent property.
such as was experienced on Murray Hill twice
last spring. Everything considered the loss Of
life, too, was small The most serious phase of
the matter is the delay which viii be caused to
the opening Of a much needed avenue OF com
municatiOn between the boroughs of Manhattan
and Brooklyn. Already that consummation has
been unduly retarded by other embarrassments
IT would be nothing short of a calamity IL an
other long postponement should be necessary.
The peril which attends the use Of the old
bridge is steadily increasing, and anything
which threatens TO prolong the growth OF the
new bridge is to be regarded with grave appre-
hensfon.
Calculations as to the length Of the delay
which will result from the recent fire must all
be based on the extent to which the main cables
have suffered. If not more than 200 or 800 Of
the whole 200 wires IN any of them are dam
aged, then the proposed repairs can be made in
a comparatively short time and without ap-
preciably lessening the security OF the struct-
ure Should a much larger proportion Of the
wires be rendered unserviceable the question
would Immediately arise whether splicing
should be permitted. Each cable as originally
constructed has only about three splices TO
every four wires. and the joints are distributed
evenly between one end and the other OF the
bridge. Were all of the constituent hbres. or
even one-eighth OF them, so harmed that new
material was needed the situation would be
different. From 1000 TO 7,7OO splices all
within a distance Of fifty feet Of the tower
could not fail 10 be a source Of danger Each
joint, no matter how we'll made would be
weaker than a solid wire. That weakness would
be enormously multiplied If any attempt were
made TO introduce fresh material for a short
section on a large scale. Rather than resort to
that expedient it would be better to lay an en-
tirely new cable, even IL the city were obliged
TO wait ten years for it. Bridge Commissioner
Lindenthal seems to be satisfied that only two
months are needed to set things right. however.
II is TO be hoped that no subsequent revelations
viii show that he has been mistaken
Whether the initiation Of traffic on the Will
iamsburg Bridge be deferred for only a few
weeks or for several months in consequence Of
this fire. no little indignation Will be felt by
the public over the occurrence. In storing a
large quantity Of tar, oil. lumber and cotton
waste at point where the Fire Department
could not check the flames the contractors
seemed to invite a disastrous condagration
No doubt exceptional vigilance and discipline
were maintained on the top OF the towers for
time, but these were evidently relaxed too far
IL matters little just what started the fire.
Even the humblest beginning should have been
impossible. Nor will it reconcile Brooklyn peo-
pie to the actual delay, or the contemplation
OF the chance Of even worse consequences. TO
remember that If the work had been properly
pushed The time would now have gone by when
hre on the towers could do any particular
harm- There is great difference In contrac-
tors' some OF them finish their work sooner
tnah Iney promise Others are behind with
| their engagements Luck has less m do ,,,th