Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-03-30

It wonld be needless 10 say that an engin-
eer would ~ aerelct in his duty who did
not provide in his construction Of bridge
against wind. snow, ice and the vibration
of rolling load. They are as much 70 be
anticipated and provided against as the
law Of gravity.
Your committee are of the opinion that
third or centre truss in bridges carrying
two tracks would greatly promote safety
snd security. The material Of the bridge
was good, and likewise the workmanship,
with the exceptions above stated.
There wss material enough in the bridge,
and different disposition Of it would have
secured five times the strength, and small,
and comparatively inexpensive additions in
the way of diagonals on the braces and up
per chords, and a securing of the braces to
the brace blocks, would have rendered 1t
secure.
1t has been suggested that applying the
air-brakes while on the bridge, Or applying
the air-brake by the second engine while
the first engine was using steam, produced
such strains upon the bridge as to destroy
If. Your committee are of the opinion that
in the second case the strain would be up
on the deck of the bridge, and would not
affect the bridge itself. In the first case,
while the tendency would be to push the
bridge to the west, vet the force would
chiefly affect the deck; that which would
roach the bridge structure would be small.
aud there was no evidence found at the
wreck tending to support such theory.
The Legislature has no power to punish;
If can only. if possible, provide laws which
shall render less frequent such frlghtful
calamities as that at Ashtabula, Ohio, and
others that might be enumerated. The les
son taught BY the failure Of a highway
bridge at Dixon, Illinois, resulting in the
loss of sixty lives, should not go unheeded
in Ohio. In this view of the subject, and
as instructed by the resolution, your COM
mittee has prepared bill to regulate the
construction and inspection Of bridges in
Ohio, hereto attached and made part of
this report.
The subject is new in legislation and new
to your committee, and we doubt not the
nil, though as perfect as we could make it.
has still many imperfections, and we invite
the scrutiny of the Legislature with view
to its improvement.
There are many serious difficulties in the
way of legislation on the subject. 1t is i'm
possible to construct a specification in
law that will meet all cases that may arise;
and then there are some worthy men who
expect to remedy the evil of improperly
constructed bridges by higher general ed
ucation and public sentiment, which shall
promulgate with sufficient force a correct
standard for bridges, rather than by COM
pulsion through legislative action.
There is a clashing of interest between
bridge companies, between the owners of
bridge patents, between engineers as to the
best kind and form of structure, and be-
tween those who desire to put up perma-
nent and durable work, and a class who
can make more money by the erection of
cheap and insufficient structures.
In the bill, your committee have tried
to avoid this clashing by providing only
for required results, leaving parties in in
terest to work that out by any design which
ingenuity might suggest. Interested par
ties will claim that tie legislation is in the
interest of engineers; but the object sought
being to save the lives and property of the
people,themselyes, it is believed this legis-
lation will be sustained by public opinion,
Notwithstanding the friction its enforce
meRt may produce. All the testimony tax
en- before the committee is herewith sub
mitted. In addition of what has been said
of other engineers in this report, we desire
to mention Albert K Rowland of Boston,
W. S. Williams of Canton, o., Col. Becker
of Pittsburgh, d. ". Caldwell and ]. E. |
Wright, Esq. of Columbus, as rendering
us efficient and valuable assistance and ad-
vice in this investigation.
All of which is respectfully submitted. |
A. NJ. BURNS, Chairm'n.
7. P. Brown,
L. A. BRUNNER,
W. P. WnTsER,
GEO. L. CONVERSE,
E. A. STONE,
]. w BARRETT