New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-07
STEVENSON SILENT
ON BRIDGE CHANGES
UON'T DISCUSS SAVING
IEF4TED TRICKS.
Mystery as to Whereabouts of Strain
Sheet That DisclOSes Weak
Points IN Structure.


safety Of the Blackwells Island, Greensboro.
Bridge. made public yesterday. indefinitely sue-
gests provision for the future of two of the
four elevated railway tracks planned for the
structure Commissioner Stevenson declines even
10 discuss the means. the cost or the length of
time il would take To make the changes neces-
sary for the carrying Of this suggestion
The report Of Nessrs Boiler & Hodge states
that to provide fair margin of safety all four
elevated railway tracks must he abandoned un-
less the weight of the bridge itself is further
duCed by a considerable amount which reduc-
tion would doubtless make necessary the prac-
teal reconstruction of portions of the bridge.
Without details as to how Professor Burrs
suggestion is to be carried out. the general
assertion that two of the four elevated rail-
way tracks may be made available for future
fails 10 carry conviction and gives little hope
that elevated trains can al any time be safely
run over the bridge without the expenditure
first OF further large sums of the taxpayers
money.
There seems to be some mystery why Messrs
Boiler & Hodge did not submit with their report
strain sheet showing the stresses with the
specified loads. which they state prepared
by them. Alfred P. Boiler says that this strain
sheet disclosed so many weak points I'm the
structure that it became necessary to eliminate
as much dead load as possible and 10 rearrange
the live loads to bring the structure within the
limits CT safety The details of this missing
strain sheet viii evidently shed further light
on the blunder which it IS evident was
made by the officials of the Bridge Department
in the design Of the bridge
WILL MAKE SUGGESTED CHANGES,
Commissioner Stevenson said yesterday that
Mr.. Ingersoll. his chief engineer was going over
the reports Of the engineering experts and that
soon as possible work would be begun to
carry out their suggestions. The extent and
cost of this work were topics on which Mr..
Stevenson did not want to commit himself. He
appeared to believe. however, that the cost
would not he great.
Asked If the depa rtTnent had the stress sheet
referred TO in the Boiler & Hodge report for
the loads called for in the specifications on
which the report was based, the commissioner
said that he did not think the stress sheet had
been submitted 70 his office. After consultation
with Chief Engineer IngersoT he said il had not
been submitted 10 his Office, and that his men
did not nave q copy Of it At any rate he said.
he would not discuss this question until he had
consulted Mr.. Hodge. who was out of town
Professor Burr in his report said that TO get a
still further reduction in the dead load il would
&c necessary to alter the plans for the COM
pietlon oil the structure by reducing the weight
OF the concrete roadway. by z change in H.
railings a rearTangement Of the details of Tho
passenger walks and a resrra n near,er,+ g =,
lo"er -'or Commissioner Stevenson say,e ba
Goes noe know TO what extent II would b -
essary TO reduce the weight Of the o,,,o-ot,
0s' OF py what means it would be effected
N17' me cost would be All these subiects
ne says. are things to which he win bsa 80. -
more mature reflection before a,,---.: So
eo refuses TO discuss the changes +, +b g.
P4Ssenger walks and the rearranger,a,+ ox -
lower floor eeiiIeHI OF the
QUESTIONS UNANSWERED
,or,o l,NoiS "hlch remain unanswered
"hat would happen in the event ce - |
oelns found necessary later 10 usa tho ~, - -
side elevated railway tracks Ill W Jul
covered up with the concrete, raeean.,. II
"hat it would cost TO remove the yra1l,e 80. 80,
their present position. where would tho, he 10 /
Gated and whether there would he one or NV.
passenger walks substituted for the two that
nov laid W
What viii il Cost?' he was asked ..to ,,-.,7
the elevated railway approaches for the two
outside elevated tracks from the point where
me foot passenger walks now dip down from
the level OF the upper floor Of the bridge to the
street level on the Manhattan side of the river
upon the level Of the upper floor to the elevated
railway tracks in Second avenue in the event
of these two tracks being later required for ee-
waited traffic?''
No answer from the Bridge Commissioner.
How long viii il take carry out all the /
changes suggested by Professor Burr for fur
ther reducing the dead load Of the structure"
10 answer.
VIII the test Of main compression members
suggested in the report Of Professor Burr he
made ana. If So when and where?
No answer
,1f-ed . Roller. Of the firm Of Boiler & Hodge !
r-ae asked bv a Tribune reporter yesterday II |
his firm prepared the strain sheet referred 10
IN its report giving the stresses the bIldSe ""uu
have been subjected if the structure had heeh
completed according 10 the specifications con-
tained in the contract
YES replied Mr.. Boiler. we did prepare /
such strain sheet"
Is II not fact ahat this particular strain /
sheet formed the basis Of your entire inVestisa-
ton into the safety Of the bridge" Mr. BoHer
vas asked.
Yes. vas the reply.--'that is quite true.
Would you object to stating why II was not
incorporated in your report" asked the re-
porter
STRAIN SHEET DISCLOSURES.
The disclosures OF that strain sheet re-
Piled Mr.. Boiler. developed many weak
points in the bridge that il became necessary -
eliminate a. much dead load as possible and to
rearraFge the live loads bring the
structure as erected within the limits of safety.
This after all. Was the question Of greatest
moment Another strain sheet then pre-
1lared showing exactly what dead load would
have 10 be eliminated and what live load the
bridge would carry with a fair margin OF safety.
This second strain sheet does accompany the
report"
Hove you auy objection, asked the reporter,
TO giving The Tribune copy Of this first strain
sheet which you say formed the basis OF your
Investigation?
We are quite willing" replied Mr.. Boiler 10
give the public that or any other strain sheet
G..yr fre-E