New-York tribune., 1904-09-16
WIRE CABLES APPROVED.
Only One Vote of art Commission
against Best's Plan.

The plans Of Rridge Commissioner Best for wire
cables for the Manhattan Bridge were ap-
proved by the Municipal Art Commission at it's
meeting yesterday. There was one vote cast
mission, John DE Witt Warner. The action OF the
Art Commission settles long controversy over the
choice between wire cables and eye-bar cables.
When Mr.. Best took Office he found that the plans
of ex-COmnissioner LindenthaI were for eye-bars.
and that the Art Commission of that time had ap-
proved the eye-bars Commissioner Best an
.nOunced himself as opposed 10 the eye-bars. ard
had the engineers of the Bridge Department pre-
pare plans in which the wire cables were sub
stftuted for the eye-bars. Mr. Best was greatly
Now that i have the necessary approval shall 90
ahead at once and advertise for bids.
When the question of the plans OF Mr. Best came
before the meeting "A representative of the Mers
chants Association read paper, in which the asso-
citation recommended that the question be referred
10 a commission Of expert engineers The paper
read follows:
The Merchants Association. which does not pre-
tend 70 any engineering knowiedse' anu does not
other, most strongly urges upon your commission
the present Commissioner of Bridges be withheld
until both sets Of plans shall be submitted in detail
ested engineering experts Of at least Gs high
standing as those who passed upon Comrnissi0net
as to the strength, cost ability and speed ct
technical men OF standing and reputation. whose
whole community.
The allegation is made that the bridge proposed
under Commissioner LindeuthaIS plan will cost
S'.6(o.t0e while the appropriation asked for and
missioner BeSts plans is Sl1000900. II is further
stated thar these figures the respective bridges
are entirely comparable. The difference. namely,
s. 10000, represents an additional burden the
taXpayerS % this city. apparently without any ad-
dttiu1dl return therefor.
Should Your honorable commission decide TO aD-
prove Commissioner Best'S plans without submit
ting them to expert engineers, the whole RESPONSE
operation Of the bridge and for disaster which
might occur thereon as a result of inherent
cheering weakness. VIII rest upon shoulders,
because the approval of VOur commission is
menCe- Your commission. therefore, is the only
body which compel the submission OF the plans
expert engineers for decision their relative
merits.
Chief Engineer Nichols of the Bridge Depart
ment then spoke in favor Of the plans Of Mr.. Best
The subcommittee MesSrs Marshall FarragIt
Healy and Warner. submitted its report in which
II was stated that the question of submitting the
pla ms Of M Best a commission OF engineers
for the art commission properly 10
decide, the bridge commissioner and not the
ART commission was responsible for the stability
and the economy o. the bridge The Sub-cOnlTnlttee
recommended the approval OF Commissioner Best's
plans. In asking 10 be recorded in the negative
Mr. Warner said that the structure to
upward OF S0tlQ@o and that the Art Commission
in assuming to decide between the eye-bar and the
wire cables was put 10 great responsibility, par
ttcUlary as the question was one on which experts
divided
The Art Commission then approved the plans 81
the city staten Island Ferry. The plans OF street
Cleaning Commissioner Woodbury. for the Chateau
stable IN FlUShinE-ave- Brooklyn. We're approved
To the interior. but rejected as to the exterior