New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-14
SEAMAN APPROVES TEST


and T do not recollect that / did agree enureE
with the findings of the Canadian commission !"
it's report which made later, saio MI sea
man"
..,r, c,,,rissioner of Bridges also says that
.fter vou returned from Quebec complete re-
examination of the Blackwelfs Island Bridge was
made bv YOU and the other engineers who accom-
panied you to Quebec?
.At the time ] left the Bridge Department to ac-
cept my present place complete review OF the
strains or the BIackweIls Island Bridge was being
made and probably has been completed by this
time"
DETERMINATION OF BRIDGE
.D,d Won as the Bridge Commissioner stated
report to the Bridge Department after inns re-
examination that you were satishsu tha' the SUI
ure was absolutely safe?
..r.oon,eta recaIcuIations of the Blackwelrs ISL
and Bridge stresses commenced Immediately
after our return from Quebec. and an examna-
ton was made of the structure ana its various
members There was marked difference IN the
design of the main compression members as COM
nared with the Quebec bridge. There was also
difference in the method of manufacture In favor
Of the Blackwers Island Bridge over the method
of manufacture in the Quebec bridge. Inc oetaiis
of the verbal report / do not recoect but shonid
think that the Department of Bridges would well
come Endorsement by commission of expert en-
gineers as to the safety OF the structure
The objections made by Commissioner Stevenson
TO the making of a model test Of the main com
preston members of the B1ackwelfs Island Bridge
in order concusively to demonstrate whether those
members will be under dangerous stress when the
bridge is completed. on the ground that IL would
be a waste of public money, cannot be regarded DIS
a strong argument against the test being MADE
The Tribune is informed that thorough and com
plete test of the kind indicated by Mr. Lndenthal
could be made at cost of from 5000 to 5000 and
within two or three weeks
In the interview with him the Commissioner also
took another fling at The Trbunes anonymous
engineer" To begin with. in using the singular
the Commissioner was mistaken, for The IT'D
unes Anonymous engineer is entitled TO De
spoken of in plural 1t is quite true that names
have been withheld. The reason should be oo-
vious to Commissioner Stevenson. The accurate
nature OF the detailed information winch these
engineers have supplied 10 The Tribune Indicates
the reason why names withheld The tribune
has no desire be responsible for number OF oft-
cial decapitations which undoubtedly would take
place in spite of the fact that the Commissioner
is mild hammered man.
REVISED STRAIN SHEET WITHHELD
The apparent unwiingness of Chief Engineer
Seaman Of the Public Service Commission TO an
swer the questions put to him by The Tribune re
porter indicates natural reluctance of engineers
who have had any connection with the city to put
themselves record opposing the views OF the
Bridge Commissioner. 1t is, however apparent
from what Mr. Seaman said that he did not YER
bay report to the Bridge Commissioner that the
Blackwells Island bridge as erected was per-
fectlv safe 1t is also obvious that complete re-
vised strain sheet of the new bridge has been pre-
pared by the engineers of the Bridge Department
II the Bridge Commissioner is so POSITIVE thdI
the structure is safe why is it that he refuses to
nroduce this revised strain sheet, which has just
been finished and which would give the results OF
the recent recaculations of the bridge stralns-re
suits which have been verbally reported TO the
Commissioner? Instead the only strain sheets pro-
duced are a of blue prints which bear the
stamp indicating that they received in the
Department of Bridges March 16. 1906