Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-06-22
The River Street Bridge.


tee together with the report of the con
mittee on the River Street Bridge:
ReS05ged, That in the opinion of tn
committee it is not advisable to procee
with the erection of the bridge upon th
abutments and pier as now constructed
and that said abutments and pier are nc
suitable and sufficient to receive th
bridge, and the pier is not in a prope
position for stability and safety.
Adopted unanimously by the CON
mittee. J. J. r. RANDALL,
| Chairman.
To Messrs. Billings, Cain and Gi7noor'
Se1ectme1 Of the Tot0n OF Rutland,
Gentlemen The vote of the town at
meeting held on the 9th inst, appointin,
a committee "to examine the abutment
and pier for the bridge across Otter Creel
near the mouth of East Greek, and advis
and counsel with the selectmen as t.
whether said abutments are suitable TO
the bridge contracted to be built there,
does not seem to require a report from
said committee to the town, but an ex
preston of opinion to the seleotmen
That opinion is given in the above resolu
ton, which, in the opinion of the com
mittee, covers all that said vote oontem
plated.
Bnt it is thegeneral opinion of the com
mittee that more detailed statement O
the subject matter, giving some of the
grounds on which said resolution is based
would not be uninterestinp, and perhaps
in some measure, useful to the citizens OF
the town, and it has been assigned to me
to make euch statement, which, in the
main, will embrace the sentiments of the
committee, as expressed during the ,inves.
tigation.
LOCATION OF ABUTNIENTs AND PIER.
The length of the bridge determines
the positions of the abutments with refer
ence to each other, and there seems to be
no objection to the location of the abut-
ment on the left bank west side of the
river; consequently the location of that
on the opposite side is determined.
But the location of the pier is objection
able, being placed not in range, longitude
nally, with the current of the river, but
nearly at a right angle to II, with its up
stream end pushed forward so that in
high water the current would strike it
almost a-broadside, and in all probability
overturn it or knock it to pieces. 1t is
difficult to understand why the pier was
placed where it is with reference to the
river, and it is the opinion of the commit
tee that its position should be changed
before the superstructure is placed upon
it.
OF ABUTAIENTs AND PIER.
The abutments stand on the ground,
which appears to be solid ground, but not
so solid as to withstand the action of the
river, as is apparent from the effect on the
banks IL the immediate vicinity, and it is
the opinion Of the committee that there is
danger of the undermining OF the abut-
ments, if left as they are now. All seemed
agreed that the abutment on the left
bank of the river might be remedied by
building q wing wall running obliquely
back from the upstream end of abutment
to the Kelly road. This wing could be
Quilt of cobble stones and boulders laid in
'riprap," at a small outlay.
The abutment for the east end of the
bridge could be remedied by building an
ce- breaker and suitable guards, either of
masonry, or of piles ''flled in" with broken
stones; providing the river does not wear
away the ground around it so as to I'M
lormine it. The only reliable remedy,
however, is to take down the abutment,
lrive piles for its foundat and rebuild
,hereon.
The pier is reputed to stand on tim
Der foundation. The contract provides
hat in case timber be used, it shall be
laid below low water" whatever that may
mean. 1t is the opinion of the committee
hat it should be laid a good deal below
ow water, but the committee had not the |
means of ascertaining how much below it
S aid,-large deposits of mud, sawdust
nd general debris having accumulated |
round the pier since it has been built.
t is the general opinion of the committee |
hat this pier should have a pile founda-
ion.
HIGHT OF ABUTMENTs AND PIER.
An examination of the hight showed |
bat the top of the masonry is about five
inches below high water mark. The COM
nittee thinks they should be above high |
water mark. Upon the question of clear
pace between high water and the bottom
f the bridge, all seem agreed that two
p feet (the amount stipulated in the con-
ract), is too little, in view of the fact,
bat in time of excessively high water
he floating ice and driftwood would be
likely to strike the bridge and carry it
way. Some members of the committee
hink that six (6) feet clear space is little
That hight would necessitate |
he building of the masonry about six and
half feet higher than it now is.
CHARACTER OF THE MASONRY.
Upon .the subject of the character, or
quality, of the masonry there was some
diversity of opinion among the members
f the commit.e-some maintaining that
zone of it was Suitable" and sufficient
err its purpose, while others thought that
hat of the abutments would answer, if
be abutments were guarded by ice.break-
re, wings. ETC., as hereinbefore suggested.
But all were agreed that the masonry of
he pier is insufficient and unsuitable, and
ONE maintained that no masonry could
tand where the pier is located. As a