New-York tribune., 1908-05-28
EXPERTS FOR BRIDGE |
ACTION FINALLY TAKEN.
Metz appoints Firm to Make
Test of BlQckreRs Structure

Controller Metz yesterday afternoon apnointel
Boiler & Hodge. consulting engineers of No
Nassau street. TO make a thorough investigation
Of the carrying capacity Of the Blackwelis
Island Bridge. This step by the Controller is
directly the result of The Tribunes articles con-
cernins the probable structural weakness of the
bridge The announcement of the appointment
Of Boiler Hodge was made by Bridge Com
missioner stevenson the City Hall, after
talking with the Controller
The Controller" said Commissioner Steven
son, has appointed Boiler & Hodge TO make
an independent report on the Blackwelrs Island
Bridge The firm viii report TO him. / have
appointed Professor William H. Burr TO make
thorough report for the Bridge Department
The engineers in making their investigation
viii work independently. so that there be
question about the completeness and trust
worthiness Of the reports
The Bridge Department will pay Boiler &
Hodge for their work While there has not at
any time been any doubt in my mind about the
safety Of the Blackwers Island Bridge 1 am
heartily in favor of having thorough investi-
CATION made this time If it is made now
there viii he no further question about the
carrying capacity Of the bridge. II we did moth
ing. when the trolleys started running across
the structure the question of safety would again
come up. and il would recur when started to
run the elevated and subway cars across If the
engineers see flt 10 make practical test of the
steel the city viii pay the bill. I expect that
the investigation will cost the city sd, 600. The
engineers will begin the investigation at once"
When seen at his home last evening Henry
W Hodge Of Boiler & Hodge had not heard
that Il had been decided to employ his firm
make an examination Of the Blackwels ISL
and Bridge.
WORK WILL BE THOROUGH
You can rest assured" said Mr.. Hodge, that
e We undertake make examination Of the
bridge the work will be done thoroughly There
viii be no question Of taking anything for
granted The stresses Will be figured out at
every point absolutely independent of any strain
sheets used by the Bridge Department or any
ore else All We require is the shipping bills
showing the amount Of steel put into the struct-
and the general plans Of the bridge When
the actual stresses asceTtained II II is found
necessary. model lists will be made of the main
compression members. and tire most conclusive
evidence viii be given 10 show whether the
bridge IS safe or not
How long will this work occupy" Mr.. Hodge
was asked.
1t is Impossible TO make any accurate time
limit. The bridge is very large one, and the
stresses viii have 10 be figured upon every piece
that has gone into the superstructure- 1t will
mean several months of work before any
port can be made. Nothing will be taken for
granted, and a thorough examination will take
considerable time. Until that examination is
concluded we viii not be in a position to de-
eide whether 1t viii be necessary TO make actual
tests Of models Of the main compression mem
bers"
Bolles & Hodge is one of the best known
firms Of engineers = the city They superin-
tended the construction Of the Monongahela
oantilever bridge, and expert bridge engi- |
neers- Mr. Hodge was member of the COM
mission which appointed to investigate and
report upon the plans prepared by Gustave
Lindenthal for the Manhattan Bridge.
LNDENTHAL. DENIES STATEMENT,
Chief Engineer fngersoll. who is not bridge
engineer. says that the changes made in the /
design Of the main compression members Of the I
bridge was real Improvement. and states that
4 vas former Bridge Commissioner Lindenthal 4
himself who made changes in the original plans /.
to- the structure Mr.. Lindenthal. however /
denies absolutely the accuracy Of the statement I
made by Nj IngersolI, and says that not only I.
did he make any change IN his original plans .
or authorize any 70 be made. but that he would .
have absolutely refused TO sanction the changes .
that were made in the plans after he left the /
department.
The statement that Henry 2. Seaman, now .
chief engineer Of the Public Service Commission.
reported TO Commissioner Stevenson verbally /
after the re-exan2inatjon OF the Blackwells /
Island Bridge made subsequent 10 the Quebec T
disaster. that the local bridge was absolutely (
sate. is again repeated. although this statement
were fatty cortradicted in interview with .
II. Seaman published in The Tribune ten days
ago
Nr I-gersou, in an interview attributed TO
him and published in IF the morning pa pers.
points out hat while the design Of the main
compression members Of the Blackwell's Island
Bridge is similar 10 the same members of the
Quebec bridge, much more and stronger steel
WIS used in the fabrication e the members used
Il the local bridge
Nr. Lirdenthal was seen yesterday by Trib-
rne reporter regarding Mr.. Ingersoll's statement
that ne Mr.. LindenthalD had altered the plans
Of the bridge before resigning the office Of
Bridge Commissioner.
The statement attributed TO Mr. Ingersolt in
one of the newspapers said Mr.. Linienthal, is
absolutely untrue. l did not alter the orgina!
plans tor the BlackwelTs Island bridge under
which the contract was awarded in any manner
Whatever More than that. the plans were not
altered 10y any else during my term Of Office
With either my knowledge or approval If the
BrloEe Department has IN its possession plans
showing alterations purporting 10 have been
fnsce by ne or approved by ne they ought TO
Produce them ! knew of such plans and
would like "a see the blue prints. if any exist"