New-York tribune., 1908-06-06
BRIDGE TESTS ORDERED
ESTIM4TE BOARD ACTS.
$4,000 for Black1celPs
Structure Examination.

The Board of Estimate at its meeting yes
terday authorized the issue of $4,000 Of cor
porate stock to pay the cost of an investigation.
rather of two investigation into the safety
of the Blackwers Island Bridge. The appoint
ment. made by Controller Metz last week. Of
Messrs Boiler & Hodge, consulting bridge en-
gneers. of No / Nassau street. was confirmed
They will receive a fee of $4,000 as will also
Professor William H. Burr, of Columbia Uni
versity who is making an examination on be
half of Bridge Commissioner Stevenson.
There were two proposals on the calendar
when the question of authorizing the fnvesti-
cation up at the meeting yesterday A
communication from Borough President Coler
suggested the appointment of a committee of the
board, composed of the Borough Presidents of
Manhattan and Queens with the chief engineer
of the Finance Department. to recommend the
appointment of an expert engineer to investi-
gate and report upon the structural condition
and the strength of the bridge. Controller Metz
submitted communication from Messrs, Boiler
& Hodge offering to make the investigation at
estimated cost of $4,000.
When the question reached Bridge Com
missioner Stevenson Informed the board that
the report alleging structural weakness in the
Blackwell's Island Bridge first published in
The Tribune and emanated from an anonymous
engineer 1t was subsequently supported by
he charged, based his opinion upon inaccurate
information. The report had also been backed
up by the Borough President of Brooklyn
While his engineers assured him that the bridge
was absolutely safe he realized that an ex-
pert examination was wise to allay any pos
sible public apprehension He had he said
already engaged the services of Professor Burr
and asked that he should be paid the same sum
as Messrs. Boiler & Hodge. He suggested that
A1Tr rorrnV 70
stock on account of the construction of the
Blackwell's Island Bridge to the amount Of
$4,000. out of which the cost of the investiga-
tions could be paid.
Borough President Coer objected to such
large payment being made 10 Professor Burr.
who he said was already receiving from the
CITY more money than the salaries or the Mayor
and the Controller put together He was In
favor of the investigation being made. especial
ly in view of the statement, made upon what
appeared to be good authority. that 1t was pro-
posed to load the bridge more heavily than the
load under which the Quebec bridge collapsed.
The engineers of the War Department at WASH
tngton had made expert examination of the
bridge at Quebec after It's fall, and he was OF
the opinion that they should be asked to make
tests of the main compression members Of the
Blackwells Island Bridge
Commissioner Stevenson explained that the
design of the mem OerS OF the DrluBe at SueptC
which failed and caused the collapse was diff
ferept from the design of the corresponding
members of the Blackwels Island Bridge. One
of his engineers, L. S. Moisseiff, had made re-
mort to the government at Washington upon the
fall of the Quebec bridge. He had subsequently
been one of the engineers who made re-exam-
inatiou of the local bridge and reported it to
be absolutely safe.
"Why spend $4,000 then upon this other ex-
animation by Messrs. Boiler & Hodge II the
bridge is safer asked Borough President
Ahearn.
Controller Metz urged the appointment OF
Messrs Boiler &. Hodge to make the investiga-
ton at once so that their report might be re-
ceived at the earliest possible moment The
safety of the bridge had been questioned ana the
public would not be satisfied until thorough
investigation was made, he contended. 1t would
he cheap at the price. he said, to have the ques-
tion settled forever.
It was finally agreed TO authorize the issue
Of $4,000 OF corporate stock for the examina-
ton