The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-19
EAST RIVERS
new BRIDGE.
Mayor Low In Mldair Watches
Work On Immense Affair.
But He WENT TO MlDSTREAM
Cables Are Being Spun and Structure viii
Be Open 10 Public Ia Fifteen
Months
BUT He WENT TO MIOSTREAM

New York, June ls.-Clutching the ropes
OF the narrow footpath high over the
East river Mayor Low stood yesterday
TO view the work on the Williamsburg
bridge. Swayed perceptbly by the wind.
the perch or the mayor rocked between
tn, mammoth cables, now almost com
ploicd. The mayor did not seem afraid
10 venture OH on the work with the most
skilled chmotre Of the engineering staff.
PANAMA GAVE HIM TROUBLE.
The risk Of having his new Panama hat
puffed OF into the waters far below SEEM
ed 70 trouble him more than the thought
tightly, and when the breeze threatened
10 lift 1t or anyhow 1t was tIrned over TO
the cere OF one OF his escorts.
Gustav Jindenthal, the commissioned OF
bridges. had the mayor in charge. There
Is only one strand OF 203 wires TO be put
In before the giant cables are done and
proper will begin Mayor Low was one
OF the first TO go across the present
Brooklyn bridge when II was In an IN,
complete condition. He had promised
over the footpath OF the new bridge when
the cable stringing was finished.
The mayor and the commissioner met
Charles G. Roebling, who. with Chief En-
gineer William Hildebrand, has charge or
the work at the Manhattan tower OF the
bridge. They climbed slowly 10 the top
over iron glrderS covered WIN grease
across scaffolding so begrimed that the
mayor asked for pair OF gloves. He
explained that he could catch better
hold with the gloves.
BUT HE WENT TO MIDsTREAM.
Mayor Low was immensely interested
In the view from this airy perch. Far
across Long Island he could look and up
the river TO the sound-almost 10 his own
summer home II was different when he
turned around. for the buildings In this
borough were so obscured by pail or
smoke. from the soft coal that 1t was Inn
possible 10 see any distance.
With the commits ssioner and the engineer
he started out on the footpath. This Is
narrow crossing OF boards built tempo
rarily for the purpose OF helping the
workmen I'm making the cables. Ordinarily
IL does not sway very much. but the wind
yesterday gave IL noticeable rocking
and frequently the mayor had TO eaten
hold OF the guard ropes 10 steady himself.
Because or an engagement he explained
that IL was impossible for him TO make
the trip entirely across. He went 10 mid
stream.
CABLES ARE BEING SPUN.
Commissioner Lindenthal told him all
about the technical points OF bridge con
struction. The bridge. he said. would be
entirely completed within fifteen months
and the cables would be hnished next
week.
city hall Mayor Low said Il was not
at all frightened. The thing that gave
me the greatest anxiety was my Panama.
l didn't want TO lose H. The climb was
dirty, but we had a splendid panoramic
view We were more than $50 feet IN
the air. The work on the bridge Is pro-
crossing favorably.
"I think that the work OF spinning the
cables will be finished next week and IL
will then take about four weeks 10 band
them This banding requires considerable
time. Under the old commissioners there
were no regular reports concerning the
work but under Commissioner Lindenthal
there are weekly reports.