New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-12

TO what extent has not yet been ascertained-
but II will be less than at first had been sup
damaged wires-probably several hundred of
them-and replace them with sound wires. This
work may delay the completion Of the structure
not 10 exceed sixty days.
The bracing between the towers has been
bent and warped in several places, and it will
have 10 be Strengthened
A minure inspection Of the damage sustained
IS now being made by engineers of this de-
partment preliminary estimate of the dam
age does not exceed $4,000.
1t is almost miraculous that no lives were lost
Had the fire occurred half an hour sooner. when
over one hundred workmen We're the foot
bridges, working on the main cable. great loss
of life would have been almost unavoidable.
None OF the damage viii fall upon the city
which is amply protected in its contract for the
work The principal loss was sustained by the
John A Roebling Sons Company. which com
pany has the contract for the steel wire cables
rrl,e sre ,-as 30 a., ,,,,,s,,al ,,at,,-. - 80
ably the first one OF its kind in the history Of
metal bridge construction. Respectfully,
g. LINDENTHAL.
Commissioner OF Bridges.
Meanwhile the problem Of how Manhattan
business men shall return to their Brooklyn
homes remains unsolved. The bridge crush is
stu a nightly annoyance. Women continue TO
be crushed and children stepped on without any
effectual official action. The four loop plan OF
the Bridge Commissioner is stin in the hands OF
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, which
has as yet taken public action in the matter.
Two hundred feet OF the double footbridge OF
the new East River bridge hung dangling yes
terday from Tompkins-st. well out into the
river. Each suspender had its beam at the end
The appearance Of the myriad wires and the
broken up wood OF the footbridge hanging to
them was much like that Of wrecked kites on
telegraph wires. There was also something Of
the effect IN the aerial wreckage Of the guy
ropes and flying trapezes hung around in pro-
fusion at the top of q circus tent. Half way
across the river the footbridge is intact though
twisted about as to hang slantwise giving
the appearance Of an immense shutter.
The original cost Of the foOtbridge was $780,
GOO. It's value was purely temporary as so much
scanolding for the worl1nen. In four weeks IL
would have been cut away Meanwhile
the Roebling Company Will employ either
a footbridge, 10 be suspended from the four main
cables. or ''buggies,' which are in the nature of
breaches buoys.
The work OF cutting away the wreckage
has already begun. All the hanging Mreckage
VIII be unfastened and removed and this Will
be done without any delay 10 river traffic The
TWO saddles, which have sprung forward six
inches, VIII be restored to their original positions
by block and tackle, and strands OF the injured
cables VIII be replaced by splicing which Is
not an unusual process in bridge construction.
It was said yesterday. at the Office OF John a
Roeblings Sons. Brooklyn. that the footbridge
had fallen and been wrecked not because the
fire had loosened il, but because its twelve two
and one-quarter inch thick cables had snapned
asunder when the pressure from the four main
cables was brought 10 bear upon them The
great cables fell into place in their saddles after