The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-31
FER t1e Unio...
LITTLE FALLS BRIDGE.


The various statements made in the House Of Represent
aves and elsewhere concerning the Little Falls bridge
and those connected herewith in many respects
much variance with facts that beg leave be indulged
in the Of your columns place matters in just and
view before interested public and such members
Of Congress have been msled by the
ments presented 10 them
Captain Thom of the typographical engineer corps
placed in charge Of the construction of that bridge under
appropriation made by Congress last year The plan Of
bridge adopted iron suspension truss bridge
Bridges constructed upon the plan and Of the
material have been advantageousy used in New York,
Virginia and elsewhere both for railroad and
road purposes; Buffalo creek Buffalo, New
York having the length Of span tleo fee) that
adopted for the Little Falls bridge This plan had here be-
come popular such degree that this community peti-
toned to have II adopted at the Little Falls
Mr. Rider Of this city, from his long experience in build
ing such bridges and the confidence reposed in him
recommended contractor for the bridge He received
the contract for building complete in all ito parts except
the painting and masonry in the best and most workman
like manner and furnish all the materials therefor tin
Guiding the scaoding) the reasonable and moderate
specified in the contract the dimensions Of the bridge
being in accordance with plans furnished him.
The masonry built under the immediate direc
ton Of Capt Tho and by days work-fhere having been
perches Of laid in hydraulic cement and
wen secured with iron bolts and clamps
All the parts Of the iron work carefully examined,
and the quality Of the iron satisfactorily tested and the
work in all its details inspected by the experimenting
gineer before as well as after it was painted.
This bridge had FAR progressed that it would have
been temporarily opened for travel about the first instant
had accident occurred to the contractor in the exc
cuon Of his branch Of the work. arising from unforeseen
defects in bis machinery, by which the two spans then
nearly completely entirely demolished The masonry
in whatever injured by the shock 10
which il was subjected by that accident
The statements made that the castings full Of
flaws and defects having big holes filed up with lead
and painted conceal the defects from the eye Of the
inspector that the work upon the piers could not have
cost less than Sl0 per perch perhaps more and that
half the amount expended ample for the purpose
have foundation in fact and truth As only that ror
Of the bridge which spanned the had been painted
and had since the accident been under water forty
feet deep ii is by probable thai the honorable
member found il accessible Or the examinations which be
he has made since the accident and by which be dis
covered those defects concealed with lead and paint
Pieces Of iron work which bad been condemned and reject
ed BY the engineer well the contractor lying
upon the ground before and after the disaster 20 were
pieces o. lead used in securing the iron bolts in the
sonry well in the Eone to which the derrick guys
secured And these by inference only and oppo-
siiion c furnished argument for attacking the
honesty Of the contractor and the competency and vig-
lance Of the experimenting engineer
The masonry, including iron bolts and clamps
he difficulties attending is construction in that locality
is quite low II would hsye been done by contract
The numerous experiments made upon the splicings
weddings and workmansbp ocruped much time and az
tenion and afforded most Satisfactory rsultL The
pimens upon the strength and quality Of The iron proved
II 10 be Of superior quality, aud rotten sA,ed
The strength o the bridge cannot be estimated from the
result Of the accident the force netting upon II
tally different from ths 10 which would have been sub
jected in lie ordinary usage
The opinion Therefore q he s2laetsuh of twenty Or
thirty yca experience who rad worked upon the bridge
but e il because he feared ihe resU which has followed
aul whose apprebensions were confirmed ~ the falling OF
the bridge may have We b viii those who have
studied and examined the principles Of bridgeuid-
ing; but cy would question The value Of his opn-
icns on knowing Ghat be discharged from the work
much against biz wishes and their ncwng The ct that
his duties sharpen tools or The stonecutte, cut
bolts for the masonry &C. and that be was in hammer
whatever employed the bridge All the iron work
was made at The contractors foundry in this city,
and was put together the opposite side Of the
river and distant one-fourth Of mile from the anvil
al which the duties Of the blacksmith required bis
presence His apTrehensons, which have been confirm
cd since the accident expressed 10 the eng
necr stated he doubtless expressed them the honor
able member who has relied much upon his opinions
in attempting 10 nure the reputation and
Standing Of those whom he had doubtless resolved 70 oP
pose previous 10 his examining into The matter.
Other statements made that the bridge compile
ted and The required At an expense Of cx
ira time and service TO raise the bridge that he
might lay the bcd-plates and that the accident 10 this
bridge has occurred from the fault Of the contractor
because the officer ought have provided for
laying the bea-aies but they NOT laid totally
unfounded In justice however the honorable member
who made the statements LET IL be understood that be
attempted correct them being informed Of be facts
and after reading statement made by Mr.. Rider his
own signature, Ia copy ~ which is herewith seut)
The facts these About the FIRST Of January last and
before the bridge put up the contractor was notified
that The foreman Of masonry had been instructed by The
engineer have the sbutrnent and piers ready to receive
the iron be-plaes on which The iron supcsucture
70 res, (see Mr. Coinss letter TO Captain Thon here
WITH These bed-plst constructed as 10 allow
each span 70 freely in contracting and expanding
from changes a temperature, and were sndsensaby
,arv for that purpose The time designated for placing
these plates in position the earliest practicable TWAS
deferred The request Of the contractor, TO suf bis better
oonvenencebe having made objections TO its being done
that time II obviously the engineers business and
duty 10 consult with The contractor and comply with has
request in this matter the contractor held himself 70
spoble for M execution, and had given assurance tnat