New-York tribune., 1909-01-20
CITY CLUB TURNED DOWN.
Second Request, Like First, Referred
to the Bridge Department.

,.0-.o >,oAnenv. president of the City Club. said
Yesterday that the clubs second request recently
sent to the Board OF Estimate and Apporliohiieh''
for an independent investigation OF the plans OF
81. rr.dge Denartn1ent for the Manhattan Bridge
strrctsre had been turned down. The second re-
ouast like the first he said, had been referred 10
tho Bridge Department.
II recent letter to Mayor Mcclellan Nelson P.
Lewis chief engineer OF the BOARD oi hs'ii"o'e anu
Apportionment. said:
Ralph Modjeska has been SELECTED az the eSPper' SPn
70 make the examination Of the Manhattan Bridge;
ta+ IN eoe and records on file in the Department OF
Bridges both as to work ALREADY gene am am aS aitne
erection He will check all the shipping weights
from rom shop drawings; here on his inyestiga,
tion win be entirely independent OF nad,ne te sssump
lions Win make his conclusions of the stresses
resulting from tSese Sne s and compn
tatons. While he is at liberty TO employ SGcn en
known that the number of men experienced IN the
design Of s al and 5S ue shf te be saved BY
allowing now employed In tne oepaf f tn,eni theV ~
viii for the time being be subject wholly TO ms
orders, regardless Of any connection IneS nave Vi
As to the suggestion that steel be placed lace ] until
inTolve a very serious delay as an examination OF
whch it is sPeS5ed VIII T proba6y
Consume six months, and besides the delay in the
completion of the structure o9isss seT4ns 2es The
Commissioner Of Bridges and the chief engineer he
rnet
given TO Mr. Modjesd 20 furnish the Beard or Es-
with any Information desired: and 10 loloW an. any
suggestions which will be made as to the dlrec1Sn %
oni scone of the inquiry and Investigation. Ihe
nana%tn3ent of Bridges realizes that any invesuga-
tio1 which can be considered eX parte or IN tne
slightest degree Influenced by the department or
s engineers would be valueless so far as the puo-
lie Is concerned Il earnestly desires TO nave tne
which is TO be made as Luli'
tree and Ilntrammeled possible II the Clty
CTuh wishes to suggest any rational hne OF liVes-
tipation and will advise the board or It's engineer
81 its wishes in the matter. l ami sure thst MI
Nodteski will give due consideration 20 sucn sug
gestions The statements made in the Ietter OF
necember IL from his honor the Mayor 70 Sir
Folks would seem TO make perfectly clear the an
ference between the manner In which the Manhat,,
ran Bridge contracted for after tnIi detaII
nIsrs had been made. and that which was IolloWeu
In the case Of the greensboro Bridge, Ehere tne
contract was first made and the details suose-
quently prepared. .,,. o,,,. ,,s
I am una ble TO any reasons which Xould JUS
tfv the delay and the expense involved IN a sspa
rae investigation be undertaken by the boafo OF
Estimate and Apportionment.
Regarding these suggestions to Mr. Lewis ana
the action on them, Mr. McAneny said
THE City Club cannot accept this disposition OF
the matter as wholly fortunate. While not oues-
tionins the fitness the high professional stand
ing of Mr.. Modjeski, the club still feels that an
investigation of this importance should be con.
Quoted without the possibility of an appearance OF
prejudice"