The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-01
LITTLE FALLS BRIDGE.

TO ne Editor ef he Union
SIN An article in your paper Of yesterday intended 10
exeupate Capt Thom OF the United States Typographical
corps nom alleged ncompeteney and bad IN
the construction Of the Little Falls bridge obviously
imposes upon the necessity Of reply that am con-
strained TO ask your indulgence for that purpose That
may misrepresent the writer quote so much OF his
article relates Immediately TO my statements in the
House Of Representatives;
HThe statements made that the castings were full az
flaws and defects having big holes filled up with and
painted conceal the defects from the the inspect
or; that the work upon the piers could not have
less than $40 per perch perhaps more and that half the
amount expended was ample for the purpose have
foundation in fact and truth As only that portion Of the
bridge which spanned the river had been painted and had
ever since the accident been under forty feet deep
is by no means probable that the honorable member found
il accessible for the examinations which he states he has
made since the accident and by which he discovered those
defects concealed with lead and paint Pieces Of iron
work which had been condemned and rejected by the
gineer well the contractor, were lying upon the
ground before and after the disaster so were pieces Of
lead used in securing the iron bolts in the masonry well
as the stone which the derrick guys secured
And these, by inference only, and in opposition to facts
furnished argument for attacking the honesty Of the
contractor and the competency ana vigilance OF the super
intending engineer
The attempt here to create the impression that the
terias of which the bridge had been constructed not
accessible nay examinations because span had fallen
into the river is shallow and mpotent and not less
is the nmation that my examinations were only
fned 10 deiecuVe ana rejected lying The
ground which had been used My visit TO the prem
Uses made Immediately after the fatal disaster, when
nearly the entire portion Of one span of the bridge was
lying Of ruins not in the river, but upon the
ground accessible and between the two stone piers on
which il had rested The broken castings examined in
presence of other gentlemen and only the "faws
and defects" filed with lead and The lead painted ooe ey
IDENTIFY for purposes Of deception but with my hands
wrenched from broken beam in the piece Of lead
weighing half pound This piece of lead with the paint
still upon it, together with specimens of the castings Of
which the bridge constructed, in my commit
teeroom at the Capitol and subject to inspection by
any gentleman having curiosity to examine them But
why let ask does Captain Thorn attempt to suppress
the important fact that both spans Of the bridgethe one
the river and the other upon the two piers upon
this side over dry landfc and broken piecs2
Certainly for other than to give effect to his in
timation that did examine the materials of which
the bridge had been constructed that had opportu-
nifty of doing and that my statements made ram
dom Truly it is erontery, under such circumstances
for him his authorized defender stigmatze nv state
mens as having been made without any foundation in
| fact and truth"
Irepeat then in view Of all the responsibilities Of nv
declaration that the construction of the Little Falls bridge
dscredabc to both the engineer and the contractor
and exhibited either gross incompetency bad manage
ment upon the part of each No competent or vigant
engineer having due regard for the interest Of the govern
men and his reputation, would have suffered such
work and such materials to pass his inspection and
faithful contractor would have made such bald attempts
| at deception.
In regard to the of the masonry have only say
that Mr. Rider informed that $4,000 had been expcnd
ed upon that part of the work and IT, the engineer ad
mts there only 2000 perches my estimate of $40 per
perch, instead of exceeding, really falls below the real
But while regard the expenditure upon this masonry
wasteful and extravaganza am not disposed to complain
of its quality.
Mr. Riders zeal in defence OF the engineer is in
strange contrast with his position short time since and
exhibits facility of turbulence not common to American
mechanics He said few days after the falling of the
bridge in my commteeroom and in the presence OF the
clerk and Others that the disaster alone attributable
to the engineer that if he had placed the bedpates under
the structure at the proper time there would have existed
necessity for raising it, and the work would have
fallen He also conveyed the impression that the
bedplates aerthought of the engineer and that
the idea of using Them to meet the effects of expansion and
contraction only occurred Capt Thorn after the bridge
built He also took occasion TO say that it was use
less for mechanics civilians, matter how we'll quail
fed to attempt TO advise military engineer as they would
be rebuked their advice treated with naughty disregard
have no desire TO comment upon the inconsistency Of
these statements with Mr. Riders certificate in the Union
further than to say that his declaration on the sub
ect of the bedplaes is the view the
ter which hardly be mpeachcd successfully by the
gnee any of his friends The cutting of the grooves
the stoncwork could bring inconvenience Mr. Rider
at time when he was not at work upon the piers while
the elevation of the bridge after il had been placed in lis
position was not only work Of great labor but hazardous
in the extreme II is therefore, reasonable to suppose
that without some sufficient reason than is given
Mr. Rider would have incurred this labor and hazard to
himself and imposed upon the sonecutter the difficulty of
working at much inconvenience under eighty weight
of ron and in space of twelve eighteen inches when
the grooves could have been time when there
nothing in the way obstruc the operation Of the work.
men.
do not know Capt Thorn personally, and therefore
have hostility towards him II is only far ms his
pcrintendence OF the bridge represents system Of policy,
the wretched evils Of which well exemp6ed In the
fatal disaster which destroyed H. that felt called upon
notice bis conneron with the work in my remarks In the
House If those remarks and this erposf shall work injury
TO his reputation competent and vgilant engineer
it may be ascrbed his misfortune in having been
assigned to position which he any other army officer
should have occupied than any maevolent intention Of
mine.
submit below statements from Mr. Cluskey and Mr.
Donnely who present when made the examination
of the wreck referred TO- and trust that future necessity
may arise for troubling You again.
Very respectfully,
r. II. STANTON
WASHINGTON d. Gu May 81, 1854
SIN am in receipt OF your calling my attention to
communication in the Union Of this day on the Of
the destruction Of the Little Falls bridge
In reply have TO say that was with you when you
took from the wreck of the span which fell on the Maryland
side several pieces Of detective filled