The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-25
WOOD VERSUS IRON.

A Curious state of Affairs In Jersey-The
Passaic and Bergen County FreehOlders at
LOggerheads-Thcy Quarrel Over a Bridge
While the People Walt TO Get Across the
Rivcr-Old FOgy Notions of the Bergen
County Dutch.
About TWO years ago an iron bridge of the Mosley
patent was erected over the Passac River, near
Passaic village, N. j. The bridge was In three
spans and answered Its purposes very well for a
while, until o, late 1t became quite shaky and two
or three weeks ago, just after heavy team had
crossed over, one span fell with great splash into
the river, heap Of broken timber ana bent iron.
1t is very important bridge, largely travelled over
aud its immediate repair Ia matter Of vital nteres,
to the people who ore obliged to cross It. the
jority of whom residents OF Bergen county. The
bridge crosses the river which Is the dividing line
between Passaic and Bergen counties, and accord
ingly has be built and kept In repair by the two
Boards Of FreehOlders, each county bearing the
On Friday the two Boards met in joint session. in
Passac village, to consider repairing the bridge.
cepting for pay, to the amount Of 81, 800 or he
would rebuilt the whole for $4,000. But the rassaic
men who asserted that a safe bridge could not be
built upon that plan at all 30 The Board decided to
sn GaS e TSes sh @ N the
opinion Of good judges, will last four hundred years,
and should they fan down through their own defect
reconstruct them at their own expense The i'm
mense bridges over the Passaic River. at the Falls
and at Straight street, Main street, Weasel and two
at Riverside IN Paterson; the great Harlem bridge
and the Erie bridge over The Snsquehanna all of
Freeholders naturally proud over the results OF
their fellow citizens Industry, and would decide
mended when the two Boards came together agan,
alter withdrawing to consider what they would re-
Not SO the Bergen county Freeholders They aad
plenty OF big trees in their county, but no iron
bridge builders: Their experience THE present In.
In, iron hrtAt a hat
their own accord. Their forefathers had gotten
along with wooden bridges and so could they. They
therefore came 10 and were unit in the recommen-
datOn that the bridge be rebuilt OF wood. This, Of
full attempts to come TO compromise the two
Boards again retired for elaboration.
Board resolved That they regretted the difference OF
opinion, but reiterated their former determination
The Passac county board regretted me decision of
the Bergen county Board, but were unanimous
upon their own recommendation, and vowed that
they would have iron bridge or none.
Then the Bergen county Board resolved that az
the bridge under consideration was Of iron and had
proven unsafe they would have nothing to do with
iron bridges Thereupon the Passaic County Board
resolved that as the bridge that had fallen was
more OF wood than iron IL was sufficient evidence
that wooden bridges were unsafe and for their part
they would not waste time with building wooden
The Passaic county Board then told the Bergen
county freehOders that II the latter had further
journ The Bergen County board returned the
same Information, and the two Boards adjourned
onsideraby further from the settlement OF the dr
nculty than when they met.
The prospects are that no bridge will be built at
all unless the Passaic county Board build their end
OF iron and the Bergen county Board their end OF
wood. In the meantime the people or the vicinity
are prumblng and cursing the authorities because
used by the Bergen county people, and the Oner OF
the Passaic county Board Is considered TO be very
liberal, while the Bergen county Board are blamed
for their persistent prejudice against the advance OF
the age OF iron. How the matter will terminate Is |
prOblem.