New-York tribune., 1903-07-17
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST EYE-BAR CABLES.
SECRETARY MARRIOTT SAYS ROEBLINGS SEEK TO
PRESERVE THEIR MONOPOLY
WEAKER AND MORE EXPENSIVE.
Wilhelm Hildenbrand Again Attacks Man
haitian Bridge Plan

To the Editor of The Tribune
slr: The timely editorial in yesterdays Tribune
has probably helped much to convince some
aldermen that the question between eve-bar
but that 1t is a fight OF good engineering
and economy against bad engineering and waste
fulness. II the aldermen look at the matter
In that light and will try to be enlightened
about the merits OF the case, they viii defeat the
appropriation unanimously when it comes to be
voted on again by the Board of Aldermen The
hasty act of the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment In repassing the resolution is a proof that
this board is not anxious to learn the truth about
the case in question: but simply wants TO assist
one of the administrators appointees at the ex-
pense Of the comfort and safety of the public and
to the loss and detriment of the taxpayers. All
that the opponents Of the eye-bar system claim
is lair play and chance TO show and prove either
by indisputable figures or by actual bids that a
bridge built on the wire cable plan will be much
cheaper, safer and be erected in much shorter
time The actual facts which personally vouch
for. and which should wish to demonstrate before
any impartial tribunal, are these:
A bridge constructed as economically as the VIII
iamsburg Bridge may be built with eye-bar chains
safely the latter extra cost Of s. Ooo.
This is under the supposition that the eye-bars
have the same strength as the small test pieces Of
steel. The real strength OF such large eyebars is
unknown and is probably q per cent less than
that Of test pieces The extra cost of the Man
haitian bridge with chains made Of eye-bars. re-
So 61z.0OO
The Manhattan Bridge as designed by Mr..
Lndenthal. is IN all parts. except the eye-oar
chains. extravagantly and wastefuly con-
structed that it should and will cost least 5000
600 in order to carry the same loads with the
safety the williamsburg Bridge does. The
eye-bar chain in Mr.. Lindenthals design is, how
ever extremely weak. II weighs only $500 pounds
per nea foot and ought 10 weigh 2l,4s0 pounds. It
has, therefore less than one-half the strength of
the williamsburg Bridge. or. in other words, it has
less than half the safety when carrying the same
burg Bridge Is This the greater Strength and
greater economy boasted by the Commissioner
OF Bridges? It is hardly possible that the Mayor
and Controller know the true facts else they would
not have hurried a second passing Of the resolu-
half so strong as the williamsburg Bridge and with
factor of safety far below that of the old Brook
The Board OF Estimate and Apportionment, to
Eether WIKI the Commissioner Of Bridges. may
argue that the plan had been passed by the unani-
nous resolution Of five expert bridge engineers. But
he MADE 10 forge eye-bars Of and on this slender
and only argument they based their recommenda-
ton OF the commissioners design They did not
the PROPOSED structure but were psrticIIarIT eau
tious not to touch upon these points. The figures
given above are therefore, not even cOntradicted
BY the board of experts That none Of these ex-
perts ever built or assisted to build suspen-
sion bridge has been stated before and that just
gineer in the country in this line Of bridge con
f6r beeRe If Ro' "a @ s6a P spy IN % o6ae16 6af @
the aldermen that my figures and statements are
Commissioner is wont Of doing. is OF course, the
best tactics from his side, he contradict
but viii the peopIs who are interested in tRe pubIic
safety and in the public money ignore them. too?
and work only for the public good; let every alder
man be thoroughly informed about the question
opponents Of the eye-bar scheme and there is
making this scheme possible. will unanimously and
New-York July Is. 1905