New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-04
BRIDGE BLUNDERS
CITY PAYS FOR POOR
ENGINEERING.
Construction of Qusensboro
approaches Marked By
Needless Losses.

QueenshQro Bridge but IN the construc-
ton Of the approaches on either side Of
the East River as well there has been
the most ineNcusable laundering in the
making Of plans and the carrying out OF
contracts
owing 10 the stupidity Of the engi-
neering star Of the city Bridge Depart-
ment in preparing plans for the erection
Of the steel vfaduct. which carries the
UPPER deck Of the structure over the
Manhattan approach TO the bridge
proper the city has been compelled 10
pay a bin for extras amounting 10
SlOS3d
The contractors FOR the erection OF the
Manhattan approach 10 the bridge were
the Snare g. Tries; Company Working
under plans and specifications prepared
by the Bridge Department. the oontrac-
tors began the erection OF the huge steel
viaduct which carries the upper deck OF
ihe bridge from the bridge proper 10 the
point where TIE approach begins at Sec
ond avenue. This viaduct Was designed
70 carry the four elevated railway tracks
~ the upper deck level from the super
structure 10 the present elevated rail-
way tracks on Second avenue After
ne work had been partly completed il
vas discovered that the viaduct vas too
narTow 10 permit OF the installation OF
the terminal loops for the four trolley
lines on the lower deck on the Manhat-
tan plaza. and that the overhang OF the
,ars in rounding the curves would inter
f,re with the huge upright steel columns
supporting the viaduct carrying the up
ler deck az that point
PREVENT CARS BEING SMASHED
when this discovery was made work
rad 70 be stopped. that portion 81 the
v6duct taken down. the material al
ready erected sold as junk and a new
structure erected that would permit the
trolley cars 20 round the loops on the
lover deck without battering their over
fanEs sFainsr the columns supporting
Tic yiaduct carrying the upper deck. The
making Of this elementary blunder by the
engineers OF the Bridge Department and
v-at II cost the taxpayers 10 rectify il
az disclosed in a report made by the
engineers q the Finance Department
Commenting upon a payment TO the
Bridge Commissioner order for SlO.-
$50 20 cover the cost OF the change.
The report OF the Finance Department
engineer states:
The quantities shown in connection with
20 Nalols Items listed nave Deeh Nrrl-
ned. partly by personal inspection and
partly by a. inspection OF departmental
records. However. the. issue Of order
81 TIE Commissioner % Bridges i noted.
ro cover she expense Of certain column and
E-1er changes due 10 the failure 70 fore
-. and provide suricienrIy for the over
rang ~ cars 70 operate upon the lower
me total estimated cost OF these changes
d glo.6s6, with an allowance by the con-
tractors 10 the city FOR nine columns eigh-
fpo1 Orders and small scsap steel removed.
These fOrty-fve tons 81 material cost the
c-s ses a ton. OF S.4le and the credit %
he allowed for junk Is $50, ~ az the
-s.r ~ 3 a Ton ,eaNIIs ne het cos -. ol
MADE by this department 10 secure a more
sdEantageous offer for this scrap material,
f-f unnecessarily The contractors charge
f-r THE 170a0 pounds OF new steel fur
r.-.ed under this order IS 4s-lD cent
pound price corresponding with mat
slr-rlrfec 10 this department on July ;.
- f0- the purpose Of auditing payments
% rre entire steel work - the approach
amounting 20 10000 pounds
The report ends with the necommenda-
ton that the amount certified 10 by the
Bridge Commissioner for making the
changes be paid In this case the blum
der was unquestionably the Bridge De
Ta-rments. and the taxpayers had 20
stand the loss for its incompeten p
MORE INCOMPETENCE
IT. another report Of the engineers Of
~, Finance Department. made on March
last. on the final payment 70 the
snare 4 Triest Company for the erection
~ t.s Manhattan approach 10 the bridge.
mach light is thrown upon the manner
o. Vhira Contracts 81 this sort. in which
lf 20 time for completion Is made
an essential condition % the contract.
are carried out.
C1umnnriug upon the manner in which
~. contract work was performed. the
engineer % the Finance Department
a.
Ths was a lump sum contract in the
amount ~ $1,000, the extras and Bridge
onil .ss."uers orders raising the amount
~ E.t-..5bi- The Controllers certificate -
f-Hos was added on Ma =. 1907. and TIE
t1-'rscr specified completion by March =,
1873 Excluding Sundays and HOLIDAYS. but
making no deductions for tnciem@nt
nea-re-, es5 working days were thus alb
sfl'e.. liked FOR completion, requiring con
-nl0l-t $500 worth q work q day. The
.'T.et neeessity ~ prompt completion
Inc CONTRACTOR 20 work overtime. he agree
~ 80 work three shifts Of Workneu
osF as nav De- directed by the COmmis-
-lurer. and for nou-comp letion on time.
go a day damages were fixed.
~ executed fhe work stood completed on
f1r-arT is0f. some go calendar DAYS
.Ner 'me or excluding Sundays and holt
Nsif. - DAYS ue'. or lN per cent excess
Ger time stipulated and ali allowed by or
- FOR extension 81 time granted by the
bncEe Comm issionsr Al this rate. on the
eiteioea contract. some S.eo worth ~
"o-k vas done "a dav. as against the origi-
Iore noted A. no time Wa three-shift
WV ordered o. undertaken. 80 that what
-IaFErs TIE contractor included fin
- nloI fo cover the contingency 81 eNces-
~" costs on overtime work these have
ffh cost 90 flr city. with the likelihood
sf tac This eNaefiun been omitted Ga Tie
N-i more Intelligent competition would
"ete e1-4ed at a large saving.
CITY CANNOT RECOVER.
The report then points out that under
70 Terms of the contract specifications
'hiensloHs ~ time are permitted only
70 eases - Interference Of other con-
f"ctors. b~cause IF strikes. and when
suspension 81 work ga the City's later
's's NarraHts compensatory time "a
''i-l". t' ih, contractor. Sone Of these
'''1s. tf" report states. account for
H" DELAY .u the completion II this par
.arraHH