New-York tribune., 1904-09-08
CROKER MURPHY SCHEME.
BEST TO ENGINEER IT.
To Jam His Manhattan Bridge
Plans Through art Commission


It was learned yesterday from members of the
Art Commission chat Bridge Commissioner Best,
backed by powerful interests in Tammany Hall.
is preparing 20 jam through the Art Commission
meeting on Tuesday "a resolution adopting his
plans for the Manhattan Bridge. 1t is alleged
by some of the members of the Art Commission
that this plan would cost $3OO0O00 more than
that FOR cye-bar cable bridge prepared under
the direction Of Commissioner Lindenthal APP
proved 10y a commission % engineering experts
ana formally adopted by the Art Commission.
The scheme to be attempted next Tuesday is
said to have been devised by Frank Croker and
Charles F. Murphy. It's execution would give
the Roebling company valuable contract for
the bridge cables. Frank Croker and his father.
Richard Croker. are said TO be financially in
terested IN the Roehling company.
II is understood that Commissioner Best Will
not invite bids for the eye-bar bridge. He
stcadfastly declines TO show his plans to- any
one submit them 10 an impartial commission
Of r. Ige engineers
The Art Commission is supposed 20 be a.
Tided II its opinion with refereace 10 the pro
priety Of approving the Best plans Some OF
the commissioners hold that It would be hu-
initiating for the commission to approve new
plan after adopting the Ldndenthal plan. 4.
Augustus Healy. the Brooklyn member OF the
SuO-cotUInlftre on hfldEcs. il IN Europe. II
the friends OF the Best plan are in a majority.
those opposed VII demand that action b. de-
ferred until Mr. Heaiy returns and Joins his
colleagues IN making a report.
II the Best scheme goes through as planned,
Il Is arranged To let the contracts for the
chorages within the Following five days These
anchorages viii cost upward OF 100000. The
Roeb:ng firm viii be sure OF "a profitable con-
tract OF several millions for wire cables as IL
has a monopoly in bridge cable work, whereas
in the case Of the eye-bar bridge. eleven bridge
building companies are prepared TO bid As
precautionary measure, TO checkmate any possi-
bic snap action, papers are under preparation
in a taxpayers suit to bring the subject into
court for ventilation and adjudication
1t is now fully four years since this work for
the Manhattan Bridge was authorized ApDro-
priation sufficient only for the two pier bases
was made and these have been in position for
time
The charter makes the expenditure of the city's
funds without the approval OF the Art Commis-
sion Illegal in such come within the
jurisdiction of the commission. In Structures
costing $1.0OQ,O0O or over the approval OF the
commission is specifically required.
The approval of the commission to the eye
bar chain design of the Manhattan Bridge
given on March 10, 1908, after it had been ap-
proved by a board of expert engineers. and
Bridge Commissioner Lindenthal asked for
appropriation of $75O0OOO TO provide anchor
ages and superstructure complete. The request
reaching the Board of Aldermen, that body
withheld the appropriation asked for, and the
Low administration went out of power, helpless
to put the bridge project under way through
lack Of funds
When Mayor Mcclellan took office appro-
priation OF S1O,OO0,0OO promptly placed at
the disposal of Commissioner Best for the
pletioE of the Manhattan Bridge The plans al
ready on file in his office needed only call for
bids to put the work under way. He ignored
Art Commissioner an entirely new design OF
the familiar wire cable type illustrated in the
old Brooklyn and newer Williamsburg bridges
The Art Commission asked the Commissioners
of Bridges to give reasons for the rejection of
the plans approved by Il and the substitution of
clusiOns Of the former board of experts
mere expression of personal preference"
The Municipal Art Society has warned the Art
Commission of the gross bunder, or worse.
which il may be tricked into permitting. The
Fine Arts Federation has likewise objected to
the Best plan.
Ii is suggested that new commission of out
side engineers of the highest grade be named by
the Mayor to advise him OF the comparative
merits of the rival plans.
The Merchants Association directors at a
meeting yesterday adopted resolutions protest.
the Manhattan Bridge until such plans shall
have been submitted to a board OF impartial
engineers for investigation and approval as to
their engineering merits ana until "A satisfactory
explanation IS made Of the proposed increase of
SZ,4ooDoO IN cost on account OF the changed
plans. a copy of the resolutions was sent to
the Mayor and the Art Commission