New-York tribune., 1908-05-22
BRIDGE CASE UP TO-DAY
INQUIRY. TO BE ASKED.
Coler Has Resolution for Board of
Estimate-Met2 an Fauor.

AT the regular meeting of the Board of Esti-
mate to-day the appointment of commission,
Of expert engineers to determine whether the
BlackweIrs Island Bridge is being dangerously
overloaded will come UP for discussion.
Borough President Color Of BROOKLYN has
given notice Of his intention to introduce a
resolution for investigation. Controller
Metz is now of the opinion that an investiga-
tion should be made. and will be armed to-
day with a report made by Chandler Withing-
ton. his chief engineer. 1t is possible that the
Bridge Department also will be heard FROM
as Professor William H. Burr Of Columbia
University, has been examining the bridge
within the last few days on behalf of the Com
missioner Of Bridges.
When The Tribune published the story a
week ago that there was grave apprehension
among bridge engineers over the loading OF the
new bridge between Manhattan and Queens it
vas promptly characterized as absurd by Com
missioner Stevenson and the engineers of the
Bricge Department. The mass Of evidence
published since in The Tribune has shown that
there was good ground for the apprehension
which existed among those accustomed to
figure on the bearing strains and stresses in
bridge construction
The strong opinion expressed by of the
best known bridge engineers in the country,
tracted for. that there was grave danger of the
structure erected collapsing if loaded as
yurposed aroused the interest of the engineer
ing profession generally. Even the former
bridge expert Of the Bridge Department
promptly denied the assertion of Commissioner
Stevenson that he had reported to him person
ally that the structure absolutely safe.
Another expert witness has now added testi-
rnony that already published in The Tribune.
The Scientific American" in its issue OF yes
terday. devoted q column upon its editorial
page to e discussion OF the question raised in
The Tribune Not only does The Scientific
American demand an immediate ard thorough
investigation, but the failure Of the city Bridge
DEPARTMENT 10 make tests Of main compression
members Of the bridge during construction is
strongly condemned The design of the mem
Der actually used in the new bridge is charac-
te~ized as much inferior TO the design of the
main COMPRESSION member used in the ill-fated
Quebec structure as already pointed out in
The Tribune. Practically every statement
made in The Tribune regarding the possibility
Of The bridge coIlapsing is reiterated in The
Scientific American" only in q much stronger
:orn.
The Scientific American is generally recog-
rtzsd among all professional men as one Of the
highest authorities on engineering subjects in
the country and its utterances on technical sub
jects carry weight that no daily newspaper
could be expected 10 command.
Printed in this mornings Tribune is q dia-
gran, Of one-half Of the channel span Of the
Blsckwells Island Bridge from the pier on the
Manhattan side TO rlid-stream with the figures
taken from the original strain sheet for the
bottom chord Of that section Of the span ana
The figures taken from the revised strain
sheet. To engineers and those accustomed 10
figure upon strains and stresses comparison
~ these two sets Of figures Will tell their own
story Accompanying the diagram is snort
s1-ropsis explaining what the hgures sho" SO
far as that particular member OF the blloge Is
concerned. and the effect the change OF strains
has had in interfering with the SAFETY OF 'iie
bridge IS originally planned
controller Metz came out yesterday IN IaNoi
cf IN investigation My idea" ne said, is that
The reorIe are perfectly justified in wanting 10
know something about the truth Of the charges
thar the bridge will be dangerously OVERLOADED
i continued according TO present plans want
10 know what there is in il before We go any
further with this bridge.
..Cf course the BIackwelFs Island Bridge Is
Iir6er-aaIs baby and naturally he is somewhat
s1Iicl-tous regarding it But he may De an
vrong n his fears. On the other hahd' uie
Bridge Denatnent may be all wrong. l real
iZe hat the question Is laIEelS O4Io VI f
opinion. lay-nan shouldn't attempt 10 pass
upon il.
Mr. wilmington my engineer. who has been
loaktrg into the subject. has not made any for
ma -erort 10 ne Vet But his idea is that some
competent outside engineers should be employed
Il 20 carefully into the whole question The
people are entitled 10 have definite knowledge ol
the safety u the structure Mr. wilmington Is
noa. lorferrlng with the Bridge Department TO
sse what can be done about arranging for a
thorough Investigation
Wale the Controller is anxious 10 keep in
harmony wiki the Bridge Department IN any
steps that may be taken, he is convinced that
1he engineers 10 make an unprejudiced lnFesu-
CATION should be selected by persons outside OF |
i1e department