Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-01
euILLIAEM AERTsEN
On the Delaware River Bridge

"YoU cannot make it too strong that the
L responsibility for the building of the
Delaware river bridge mrst rest with the en-
gincer," says Guilliaem Aertscn, president Of
the Engineers Club, discussing the question
of who shall build the proposed new span.
ut is only common sense that it should
be this way" he said. 'The bridge builder
is primarily q civil engineer, and the prob
lens involved in constructing such a span
belong strictly within the province Of the
engineer.
"All precedent points this way. Most of
the big bridges built in this country have
been under the supervision Of engineers.
Take the Hell Gate bridge at New York,
one of the most difficult engineering fcats
ever accomplished in this country and far
more difficult problem thnn the Delaware
bridge would present. That structure was
planned and in charge Of an engineer.
'It is pointed out by architects that the
general outlines Of the bridge are the thing
and that beautiful structure must be
erected and that consequently an archi e.
tcct is the man to supervise the building Ct
the span The engineer. they argue, could
work with them in an advisory capacity, 70
figure the stresses and strains and other de-
tsils.
.My answer is that the engineer can get
any number Of capable men ut compara'
lively small charge to work out nii the de;
tallS, 80 tnaL pIb h'oh "'"'' ''NN ~ $1,000
in that way.
Problems Of Engineer
"rurthcrmorc. the bridge is more than an
csthetic proposition. It's primary purpose -
70 carry vehicles and passengers across 4
r;,or or whatever other kind or obstruction
nicht prcyent them from getting from one
desired point to another
..rhere are certain engineering difficulties
1, tho way of selecting the point at which
Tho snan shall be built. aside from any otn"r
considerations The lay of the land, 'or
instance, II an engineering prno.'Tih that wo"
simple, If after finding spot Una, w9u,d
onn,, to bc the center of business and indus
,ev opI nIse general traffic and after over
rnminp the question OF expenses anu 'ne
question of condemnation OF property he'CS-
sary to build an nnnroncn 10 tne pIiuSe, .Ie ~
question OF the quaii'S Vi 'Ne 80
an important one.
,orho lind of bridge, too, II peculiarly an
rinner's rather than m architects prob
Ion, When il came to the QuCS'loh OF
Nbnthcr II was feasible or financially poSSi-
Mo to build bridge Of the cCantileyer type
rather than n suspension priuBe' VIII coc'u
| decide that but the enginec::
m,nv nobly conceived and wel-huilt
| br;dgc cannot help but be thing OF beauty
Thn architect will be necessary with his ad-
| .;ao os to bcnutifying the structure and en-
hnncina its general lines and appearance,
hut he must first have MS louhGe'ioh' tht
brooI bmo lines of the structure itself dcsi gned
b,0t Nv The engineer before, his work will be ui
| any avail ,,o 90 ,or;ors rrob,o,,o
N he considered by the enginGer IN the
bnilding of the bridge. First OF All the ques.
ticn must be settled. Who is going to do it
Whether nc be engineer or architect that
must be decided before any cehnite move
| can be made.
Location Of Bridge
Then the great question will be, Where
shall the bridge be placedf There are &c
| many factors to be considered here that tht
| bridge commission or whoever shall have
the final say will face a tremendous re-
'''"Thc question of figuring the center Of
traffic IL one problem. This must be con
sidereG from the standpoint of the growth
| Of the city as to population and its indus
| trial layout and growth
| '"There seems to be some question Ms h
whether II should lie some distance south
Of the center OF the city, due to the fact tha,
Industries are developing In that direction
and the amount of ground available, oi
whether 1t shall be north The general trend
of many large industries seems to lie north
northwest, and this must receive considcra
tion.
'Then there Is the very difficult question
Of condemnation. Wherever this has TO bs