American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-02-03
FOR THE WATcRMAN.

1t is subject of much qualification TO the inhabitants
of New Castle County and to travellers of neighbor
ing districts that have intercourse with that have
the benefit of bridges in good order. The pre-
sent time Of high water makes it more important By the
extraordinary and unprecedented freshet of Feb 1922,
many of them were prostIY and BY one general effort
they have been rebuilt, with all the precautions that such
an rise Of water 1922, could have pointed
out to be needfu and may according 10 all human cal
fculaon place confidence in their continuance, especi-
Tally the covered ones
The County has gained much credit by the improve
ments Of the past year. and is grateful to hear that
timent, both home and abroad, frequently expressed
Some will say have heavy Ta1others say, mat
ter have paid for them and arc OF debt and
the poorer.
Those constructed the Brandywne, by LOUIS WERN-
WAC, esq the protested Bridge Architect foremost
the list Of the County State for combining scien
ic principles with good workmanship aid first tim
bcr especially the one put up this winter al Kinks and
Youngs Mills 1t is hundred and ten feet span, and
has been viewed with much scrutiny by ell acquainted
with the principles of bridge building, and pronounce
ed be the peecron of any tng of the kind
in the County-although a small scale, compared with
many long spans in other places yet the same principle
Of framing without morse tenant may be applied to
amy length of span and the two single arch pieces one
Immediately the other each side, between double
kngposs, renders it sufficiently strong for span of that
length longer-and has been proved by several
tons passing at the same time without noticing any
effect The bridge built by him the BrandywTe, at
the tide mills, in 1892, is about humid ed and forty
feet spanwth double passage and foot ways WheA
finished it partially slackened in the bearing the
russes scaoldng, let the abutments feel the
weight of what they had to support This pressure in
night, and with arch. had shown weakness in the
work, the pressure of those kind of bridges is
lateral and not directly perpendicular The bridge was
Immediately keyed up again its original bearings
Tussels, and left the wood work being finished In the
mean time better stone obtained and stronger spur
wall Vas built, sufficient for its support. L. Nernwaas
men gone before the walls ready to receive
the burden. Consequently there experienced
workman to lower the bridge, which blacksmith under
took TO PERFORM and as suppose, without order from the
proper authority The consequence injurious the
whole of the wood work, by lowering SIDE instead
the whole together The wedges wholly taken out
on that side before any relief given to the other
Common and understanding would point out the
mischief that follow. The whole fabric got such
Gas would say) that it recovered
recy the evil but till his credit bridge builder
had sufferedthe Of failure being known
the public.
He sent two competent men, who went to work under
the BRIDGE by travellers, and with their accustom.
ed skill and activity, few days after the necessary pre-
paration, brought the lateral swag deviation true
line of perpendicular bearing, and the bridge became
straight il by enchantmen before the people APP
priced of the and manner of doing it.
Thus far the writer feels justified in stating facts the
consequences of which have had tendency TO lessen L.
Wernwag's reputation as competent builder when the
ground of the failure not i'll his part Of the work. but
weakness in the masonry The preparation of the abut-
ments of the upper bridge done by his and
under his direction. lis undertook the responsible
ty of that wholly, anAit will stand a monument Of his
capacity and the Commissioner prudence in giving the
preference to him. n Friend 10 Improvement.