The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-28
BRIDGE PAYMENTS.
Com missioner Kracke on specinc
Complaints and the Problem.

To r,,r ENRON OF THE SuN-Str: "A
o." writing from Boston or the con
ditlons on the Williamsburg Bridge'
says:
am positive that the work on ms
north drive OF the WILLIAMSBURG Bridge
could be finished up In Ave days; ana IL
has now being going on weeks sno "
not near completion.
The work on tho Williamsburg Bridge
TO which attention Is called Is oadway
repaying. The condition OF tho pave
mnr, on the approaches Of this bridge
makes necessary the complete replace
mon, OF approximately one-half or ths
roadway width, an area OF 10.15O square
wards. of this an area OF 3,0s6 square
yards mas been repaired. The work has
been and is being expedited IN every
way consistent with a n OF IN
convenience to traffic and a minimum
cost to the department.
In connection with the roadway re-
pairs IL is necessary to renew expansion
Joints. which in this case are made OF
steel. This work can only be done
after the old pavement has been taken
up and before any concrete or any new
blocks have been set in place ms
| believe. has given your correspondent
"a false idea OF the time required TO 90
this work.
Let me cali attention at this time 70
my dissatisfaction with the roadway
conditions on the Williamsburg Bridge
and also on the Brooklyn and Queens
boro bridges. II is my entire convic-
ton that the roadways OF these bridges
should all be repaved. and a programme
covering the entire work Is now peing
worked out In this department. rms
programme has not yet been presented
either TO the Board OF Estimate ana
Apportionment or to the Mayor IN fuii
and comprehensive fashion, although the
department has. from time to time,
pointed to the necessity OF repaving
the bridge roadways In such a manner
as 10 reduce the present heavy repair
and maintenance costs.
The Capitalization of his programme
has been deferred solely because oil
the %stringency of municipal funds, but
1t is my belief that money Tor this
substantial Improvement should be ap-
propriated in view OF the pubic con-
venience it would afford. and OF the
fact that II would pay for itself very
rapidly in diminished yearly expendi-
ture. / am now having prepared charts
howing the heavy maintenance costs
of the roadways for several years back,
and II Is my hope that these figures
will be sufficiently convincing to induce
the Board OF Estimate to feel that this
is an expenditure fully worthy OF con-
sideration even at a time when all ex-
~penditures of city funds are being sub
jected to the closest scrutiny.
referring generally to the roadway
problem, | would say that II Is my In
tention TO replace the present roadway
planking of the Brooklyn Bridge with
wood block. Experiments with blocks
OF various kinds have demonstrated that
the proper pavement will be . creo-
soted wood block on an untreated tim
Der under deck. The requirement. of
this structure with wood block will
mean a saving OF many thousands o.
dollars yearly In repairs and mainte-
nance. as we'll as eliminating the con-
slant interference OF traffic that these
repairs occasion.
ON the greensboro Bridge a dificul,
problem has confronted the department.
The pavement on the greater part OF
tho bridge, in fact on all OF this bridge
with the exception OF tho Manhattan
approach and part of the queens APP
proach. has failed completely. The
failure has been primarily due to the
lack Of proper foundation and to the
increased vehicle loads that this bridge
now accommodates. Several experiments
made BY the department have proved
TO my satisfaction that the proper
foundation has been found.
vi NV DA'tb' o 81
replacing the present Medina sandstone
blocks with granite blocks. h Medina
block is a very soft stone and some Of
the blocks have shown a reduction In
depth OF over four inches due to wear
one Of my first acts in coming into
the department was TO issue orders thai
no more Medina stone should be used or
this bridge and that granite blocks b,
substituted.
When the letter OF "A. O." was oallet
10 my attention ! called for a specia
=. report on the progress Of tho roadwa,
work. and also had tho work inspected
and checked UP by the Chief Engineer
The reports OF the engineer In charg,
and OF the Chief Engineer of the de
partment are quite convincing as set
Ting the question that a work present
ing many difficulties is being prosecuted
with intelligence and economy.
+. J. IL. kRAcKK,
Commissioner. Department Of
Bridges.