New-York tribune., 1908-09-29
" SHOP BUCKLES" IN
BLACKWELL BRIDGE
COPPER Plates USED TO
REMEDY DEFECTS.
Strength of Other Members than
Those First Questioned by The
Tribune NO7c in Doubt.

a,r,os, five months ago The Tribune called
-,,b1ic attention 70 the fact that there was 80
-io,,s apprehension among competent bridge en-
,f,ae-s ovor what was alleged TO be the danger
or,s overioading Of the new Blackwelrs Island
bridge across the East River between Manhat-
-s7 and Queens. The facts presented were con-
,-fnrirr enough 70 induce the Board OF Estimate
and Apportionn1ent TO appoint expert bridge en-
-ineers 10 make an investigation for the pur-
nose Of determining whether the new structure
as erected was safe for public use. The report
of these experts has not yet been made public
The sections OF the bridge which were then al
1ered 10 be not sufficiently strong 10 carry the
had intended 10 be imposed upon them are
known as the main compression members, or
lower chord II now appears that the city
Bridge Department. or the contractors, have
discovered other weak sections. for The Tribune
s informed upon good authority that since the
investigation was ordered, four months ago
strengthening cover plates have been added
70 bridge members the strength OF which had
Tot previously been publicly called into question
These cover plates, it is asserted by those who
depreciate their significance, are really not in
tended 10 remedy any serious defect, but merely
u cover UP shop buckles" in the members 10
-urhich -bev have been added. Engineers state
that what is technically known shop
brcz1es~ are the result of poor workmanship in
-hA sho1s where the steel is fabricated What
ever The cause the fact remains that buckles
have appeared il the carrying members OF New
vo-ly's newest great bridge structure The ap-
-ea-ance OF buckles in these members Of the
-ouehec Bridge were the precursors Of its dis
asr-ous failure
Il spite Cf the disclosures made by Inc ITlo-
r1re regarding the weakness in the lower chord
which resulted in The investigation now going
~ 5--o -he zaferv of the structure. and the fur
-La- ezr-. .-rs- other carving members have since
had 10 Be strengthened the civic authorities. II
Is said. are proceeding calmly with all prepara-
lions for the formal opening Of the bridge for
-77rlic traffic Mayor Mcclellan. il is under
stood has appointed 2 committee 70 supervise
the arrangements and the date has been more or
less definitely announced for next month II Is
--ue that the final work Of making the new
structure ready for traffic IS still q long way
from completion. and unless q very much larger
force is employed than is Il present engaged the
bridge cannot be opened either next month or
a snv tine during the present year. Still the
original plans for completion are being carried
ont in absolute disregard OF the important con-
sf4eratio1 -ta- 10 one yet knows whether or not
rhe bridge IS safe, OF whether the work which IS
ror- being done VIII not have TO be done all over
again uren The report Of the Investigators into
the safety OF the structure is made public.
Commenting upon the Blackwels Island
Bridge II its issue Of July 80, The Engineer
trz News z recognized authority upon techni-
cal engineering questions. had this 10 say re
gardrg The opening Of the structure for pub
IT use.
We want first 70 know more regarding that
The PfscEw=lls Island structure than amy one
now knows before we shall Join in the chorus,
You are right. and / an right. and he is right
---=- rz -E7a- Is
tior with This bridge Is not expert opinions, but
facts We said emnhaucally in commenting
upon the Quebec Bridge disaster that actual
tests of large sized columns must he made before
The engineering profession could have fun con-
tdence II thu stability and safety OF It's great
est structures We hold the same position To-
DAY The BlackwelIs Island Bridge must not
Be opened Tor public use until the strength Of its
great compression members has been proved by
actual test. We can and shall say the same
thing IN stronger terms II need be, but We trust
4 viii not be necessary.
The language used in this last sentence sounds
much Ike threat. and would seem 20 indicate
taat The Engineering News was holding fur
ther Information Of an important character in
reserve. Was that information the fact that it
md beer found necessary 10 strengthen other
carrying members Of the bridge than the bottom
chord This would certainly be saying the
same thi-g in stronger terms" Il IS also
significant that at the time The Engineering
here quoted. The Tribune published an interview
with Henry ". Hodge, Of the engineering firm
of Boiler & Hodge. who are making the in
vestiga-i01 into the safety Of the Blackwell's
Island Bridge al the request Of the city aUthori-
ties, il which he said that il the intention
70 make tests Of the bottom chord, if such tests
Rere found 70 be necessary. That was two
months ago and no tests Of bottom chord mem
bers have been made. Nj Hodge, speaking TO
Tribune reporter yesterday. said that his re-
port was very nearly ready Asked II he had
made any tests he replied that none had been
made bur that he was prepared TO make them
L the- were considered necessary after his re-
port was presented. What the nature or finding
q his report would he Nj Hodge refused TO in
dicate and would only say that it would be
ready shortly. and that the public would then
know al about il
Al this would seem 70 indicate that the bot
ton chord q the B-ackweIl's Island Bridge IS
perhaps not the weakest member Of the struct-
ure