New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-20

The excellent results in the Bridge Depart
inent under the fusion administration fully
bear out The wisdom OF Mayor Low in appoint
ing as Commissioner an engineer an expert IN
iust the kind Of questions on which he has 10
mass daily Gustav Lindenthal the Commission
en- Is his oan chief engineer. and is fully CONT
rpetent 10 tell whether his subordinates are 40
ing their duty. lie has taken the department
cut Of politics. has reduced its operating eN-
penses thousands OF dollars, at the same tlihe
putting it on a higher plane Of technical stand
ing than it has ever occupied before vast
operations are under way for new connections
between the two great halves Of this city.
Reorganization was the Commissioners pol
icy at first, until he got down TO rock bottom.
Then he put his force on a business basis, and
has kept it attending TO business ever since,
under his personal supervision. On taking OF
fee he abolished the borough deputy commits
eioners and appointed one deputy for the en-
tire department one foreman, one assistant
foreman. one bridge keeper. fifteen bridge tend
ers a transit man, axeman, a snip carpen-
ter and many laborers. all places unnecessary
were dismissed The political followers who
had had sinecures under Tammany went out
TOO In 1902 the reduction in the salaries list
from all causes. was S93.S4 H. In his reor-
ganization the Commissioner found that many
engineers and workrnen doing excellent work
We're underpaid-perhaps because they had no
pull This was remedied. and, after many in
creases had been made. the saving for the year
in salaries alone was S43516 Is.
The bridges in each borough now in the
charge Of assistant engineers. who are under
the Civil Service rules. These engineers are
responsible for the condition Of their bridges,
the discipline Of the men under them, and the
construction Of new work where it does not call
ar7i-- ion
neers. as well as the heads Of each bridge and
bureau in the department make weekly re-
ports TO Commissioner Lindeuthal. giving de-
tails Of the progress made in the work under
them.
The Brooklyn Bridge is thoroughly inspected
now 50 there is no danger from break like
that Of 1901. Each suspender rod and stirrup
is examined and on the slightest suspicion Of
rust or wear il repaired or another substituted.
The traffic over the bridge too. has been reg
ulated Early in 1902 the Commissioner put
into effect a car schedule which added four
hundred round trips daily TO the schedule then
in force -Four additional loops for the surface
cars are being built az the Manhattan end OF
The bridge
The plans for the municipal building and
bridge terminal which the Commissioner sub
rnitted 20 the Mayor recently rep. sent one Of
the most important phases Of the departments
cars would cross Manhattan one bridge
and go back over another would make the
present confusion and congestion unnecessary,
and would increase greatly the carrying capac-
itv Of the railroad. AL tie transit systems. the
surface roads, the elevated lines and the sub
way system would be able to transfer their
passengers at this great terminal structure
Then, too, the Commissioner has advocated
stin another system Of transportation which
would provide Tor many thousands OF the taV-
cling public-the moving platform from the
Battery TO Williamsburg, with its three-cent
rare.
Before the fusion administra ton. the idea of
making q bridge INTELLECTUALLY pleasing had
not occurred TO the Bridge Department Com
missioner Li1denthal advocated this and has
revised the plans for the Manhattan and Black
Wells Island bridges. prepared under the Tam
many regime. They did rot como w to the
standard as regards capacity. structural work
or beauty. Henry i Hornbostel. well known
architect, was engaged 10 supervise the archi-
tectural features. The original plans did not
specify fireprOof rOadways walks. Ia the
revised plans these have been called for The
Art Commission has given its approval 10 these
new plans which 1t withheld from the originals.
The Blackwelis Island Bridge VIII be the hand
soonest cantilever bridge IN the world. as the
Manhattan Bridge. destined 20 be the most di-
rect connecting link between Manhattan and
Brooklyn, VIII be the largest and heaviest sus-
pension bridge N the world. II viii be COM
pletely freproof
There is no delay and clubbing about the
pay Of the citys employees now says the City
Gun, IN Its pamphlet on the Bridge Department.
The city paymaster delivers 10 the Bridge De
partment the monthly and weekly payroIls. and
the men are paid with city checks al their work
ing places. There is no running from one Office
10 another or paying a percentage TO get the
money cue. Another petty meannrss which has
heeil abolished WAS She 'tarung' OF the uni
forms. The meE who had to wear uniforms
We're called together and told 10 choose the
contractor they wanted They appointed a COM
Inittee. who received bids. then chose a contrac-
tof--uot The Iammauy taVOrite
The WCrA on the Williamsburg Bridge was
moving very slowly ia rammany times The
allotted TINE for the cable work was past hut
The work was unfinished. Commissioner Lin
denthal hurried along the contractors who
finally finished their work. giving the OF hers
who I'd been waiting FOR them a chance The
work is nearly completed now. and the deDart-
INERT expects 70 have the bridge open Tor traffic
on December J.
The LenoX-ave. bridge over the Harlem is
nearly finished. The cost w;n be considera bly,
less than the estimate. 81 100000