The New York herald., 1922-08-01
Favor Manhattan Approach
Between 23d Street and
Williamsburg Span.
MILLER FAyORS PROJECT
Manhattan President Approves
but Brooklyn Comptroller
May Offer Objections.


Plant and Structures, expressed conf
dencc yesterday to a reporter for THE
New York HERALD that within two
weeks his department would be ready
10 present such preliminary plans and
estimates for construction of a new
bridge across the East River as would
meet the approval OF the Board Of
Estimate.
His hope is that his tentative plans
may at least warrant that body sane
tion for more definite action. While
the Commissioner did not say. his air
of confidence gave the impression he
was counting upon the cooperation of
Mayor Hylan.
Mr.. Whalen admitted le had not
yet determined at just what points
the approaches to the proposed bridge
could be placed to best advantage.
Studying Possible Sites.
Il have some OF our department cngi-
neers," he said. and some of our best
appraisers of real estate at work to-day
making surveys on both sides of the
river for the purposes of formulating re-
ports upon the most desirable locations
Tor a new span and estimating the prop
erty values involved In acquisition OF
real estate in different localities. Until
/ have formulated and studied the re-
suits of their observations ! shall have
no specific or detailed plan TO advocate.
The Commissioner denied he had ever
declared the Manhattan terminus should
be at Twenty third street. When pressed
to state what localities he had in mind
Mr. Whalen said he thought logically
any new bridge connecting the two
greatest boroughs should have its Man
haitian terminus somewhere between.
the present Williamsburg Bridge ana
Twenty-third street"
Concerning the most desirable ar
rangement at the Brooklyn end. he suG7
gested it would be feasible and might
be most utiitarian to have three ap-
proaches, or spurs" as he calls them,
to the span itself, to accommodate traf-
hc from various sections OF Brooklyn
borough His idea, which he admitted
to be nebulous as yet, was that one APP
Tooroach might lead to Greenpoint, sec
!. 5nd to the immediae vicinity or VIII
! iamsburg. to divide traffic with the
present williamsburg Bridge, which be-
fore long will have attained its limit
capacity and a third TO some point
between williamsburg and Greenpoint,
as, for instance. Metropolitan avenue.
would Keep Old Bridge.
While plans for a new bridge are
underssdiscussion, Commissioner Whalen
said the idea OF replacing or reconstruct
ing the old Brooklyn Bridge will be per-
mitted to remain in abeyance, so Tar
ms concerns himself and his department.
With the present pressure upon the
e.ity's transit facilities, he feels II can
not afford to close the old structure TO
electric transit. horse drawn vehicles
and foot passengers. to which its use
since June Is last has been restricted.
Mr. Whalen holds that, wholly apart
from any slipping Of the main cables OF
the old bridge. the city graveiy needs
a new one. and after provision has oeen
made for that it will be time enough 70
Determine what shall be done with the
pioneer span of them all.
The Commissioner was reminded tnat
Gustav Lindenthal, engineer OF the Heu
Cate bridge who was Bridge Commis-
sfoner twenty years ago. had prepared
nlans AT that time which he was con-
fidont either then or now would permit
reconstruction and Strengthening OF the
seyeral roadways, with the suspension
of traffic. on only one side OF the bridge
al time Mr.. Whalen reiterated his
confidence in his own engineering staff,
than which, he said. there Is none bet
ter "as they arc living with the bridge
ana studying IL daily and hourly" They
had advised him. he said, that II would
be unsafe to undertake any material
structural changes without closing the
whole bridge to traffic. Certainly inso-
far as concerned the main sixteen inch
supporting cables. he said, he would be
unwilling to assume responsibility or
proceeding otherwise.
boards Attitude n Question.
Just what the attitude Of the Board
OF Estimate is likely 10 be toward so cx-
pensive a project as new East River
bridge cannot be forecast. Both Comp!
froller Craig and Borough President
Riegelmann of Brooklyn are out of the
CITY. Close associates OF the Comptrol-
lcr reported him yesterday as opposed
to a new bridge at this time. but they
added 1t had been known for some time
that he would look with favor upon
plans for reconstruction OF the old
Roebllng structure. II possible. 10 meet
the demands or modern traffic.
Julius Miller. Borough President OF
Manhattan. said yesterday he believed
years fully warranted a new bridge.
regardless or the questions lately raised
concerning impairment Of the pioneer
structure. Hc declined 70 commit him
self 10 any specific site for new
bridge. but thought that before tho sum-
uer had passed the Board OF Estimate
probably would he In position TO give
serious consideration both to the aucs-
flon OF locality and 10 engineering plans
for a new span TO be prepared by tho
city engineers OF Commissioner Wha-
lens department
One OF thcao city engineers authorized
the assertion that under normal varia-
ton In stresses plus expansion and con-
traction due 10 changes In temperature.
the main cable Of the Brooklyn Bridge
shifts at times sufficiently to cause n
variation OF four feet IN the elevation
of the roadways above the river sur
fncc. lie added that a cable slip or
one and three-uuartcr inches on the sad
die, such ss has been reported in the
case OF cable a. would not be enough
to make differences Of one-elghth inch
IN the actual elevation OF the roadways
above the water
1000 nov sCOUTs IN SWIM.
Two thousand Boy Scouts will take