Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-21
bay Bridge Plan
Hit as Hazard
10 Navigation
Steamship Association
Requests Army to
Rescind Permit
BY me Asseeiofsd Press

Rescind Permit
r sy the Asseeiotsd Press
BALTIMORE, Aug. ala steam
ship association has denounced the
proposed bridge across the Chesa-
peake Bay as hazard to naviga-
ton"
Stevenson Mason, vice president
and general counsel Of the Steam
ship Trade Association, told the
State Roads Commission yesterday
that:
l. The bridge would permit a nav
igable channel only $500 feet wide.
II a ship by error tried to pass un-
der the bridge at the wrong SPOT, it
could cut the suspension cables.
sending the bridge into the water.
2. The present bridge plans were
not the same as those the United
states engineers had approved.
). The estimates of the bridge
cost mad been lowered to make it
the logical choice over construction
Of tunnel.
Public Hearing Denied.
The charges were made to the
commission after the association
was denied a public hearing before
the road officials.
Chester F. Hockey, chairman Of
the Maryland Highway Advisory
Council, said today the Council and
State Roads Commission will hold
a closed meeting Monday to con-
slder IN detail the complaints OF
the steamship trade association.
Mr.. Mason said that because of
the changes to the bridge plans, the
association has requested Secretary
OF the Army Royal to rescind the
Army permit for construction of the
bridge.
Robert M. Reindollar, chairman of
the Roads Commission, said the as
ISOLATION had been assured that full
consideration would be given to the
points made in its presentation.
He said the commission would
meet for that purpose in a few days.
When asked about the changes to
the plans mentioned by Mr.. Mason,
Col. w. w. Wanamaker, district en-
gineer, said there had been a few
minor changes, but they were "im-
provements for navigation" and
constituted nothing major or in any
way hindrance to navigation.
Argues for Tunnel.
Mr.. Mason told the Roads Com.
it was shame that "a mis-
cradle 100000 difference in favor
of bridge rather than a tunnel
should stand in the way Ct bust.
ness bringing In excess of $500,00O,-
600 to the people of Maryland and
Baltimore year"
In arguing for a tunnel. Mr.. Mas
son said there would be a central
ventilation island 200 feet square
with 4,6O0 feet of navigable water
east of the island and 3,700 feet on
the western. or Sandy Point, side,
Mr.. Mason said the claim that
the bridge could be built in 10
months less time than the tunnel
was ridiculous"
Neither one will be finished with
In five years." he said, because of
The steel shortage.
About $4,000 tons of structural
steel is the estimated need for the
bridge and $4,000 tons of sheet steel
Tor the tunnel.
Figures Questioned.
The figures questioned at the
closed meeting by the s. T. A. are
those based on a report by the j. e.
Greiner Co.. consulting engineers
for the State Roads Commission,
in which the cost of a bridge Is
estimated at $35,0O0,O 900 as against
s44, 100000 for a tunnel.
Members of the Steamship Trade
Association said they had requested
a public hearing before the COM
mission and the Highway Advisory
Council, in the presence of repre-
sentatives of the Greiner Co. and
Palmer & Baker, Inc, who with
Ole Singstad, were hired by the
commission to make a study Of
tunnel costs.
The Coast Guard, Army engineers
and Attorney Generals Office also
were represented yesterday at the
invitation of the commission.
Mr.. Mason said he had asked for
a public hearing and was under the
impression that the hearing" was
public until the steamship men were
thrown out" after presenting their
views. After they emerged against
their will from the commission
Offices, where the proceedings we're
continuing, they learned that q
newspaper reporter had been or
dered to leave the session earlier.
Trade Loss Seen.
The Steamship Trade Association
represents employers Of
every maritime industry in the port
Of Baltimore-also. charged:
That the bridge would mean q
serious loss of trade to Baltimore
and Maryland; that shipping re-
Gently has dropped so much the port
couldn't afford to lose any more.
That the State had gone to con-
siderable expense In employing
tunnel engineering experts, but ap-
parently disregarded these experts
estimates, both as to construction
and operating costs, in arriving at
their conclusion"
That the Maryland Pilots Asso-
citation, the men who take the
ships up and down the bay in fair
weather and foul" is strongly OPP
posed to the proposed structure.
Deep-Water Foundation,
That the Army engineers saw At
TO issue bridge permits for the
and Delaware Canal,
but that in the course Of a rela-
lively short time. ships transiting
the canal have knocked down all
but one Of the bridges"
That the proposed bay bridge y" is
he only bridge in the country, at
east at any major port, whose
are in deep water. Most
BRIDGES abut on dry land, or at least
,eyond the ship channels; but most