Connecticut western news., 1878-01-31

l
 ed iron, but I never saw an iron for bridge rods that was hammered. There is pos- sibility that in rolling iron that some of the rods may be rolled cold. Any defect caus. ed by insufficient heat in rolling could not be detected by ordinary inspection. A rod that was rolled cold, or with "cold shut" in the interior might appear perfectly sound on the outside. One man alone could not have tempered with the bridge, by loosen ing the nuts. think it would take four to six men to do that. It could not have been tempered with except by placing some ob- struction. A few years ago an engine was thrown from the track by very small piece of timber on tue Connecticut River road. l don't remember hearing Of an engine leav- ing the track without being able to state the cause. except on piece of new track on the Nv London railroad. A rail was found broken in seven pieces, but no cause for the 5reakage could be assigned. l don't think the iron would be any more apt to corrode in an uncovered bridge than in a covered one, as in the latter case, water would be thrown from the engine while passing over. If the engine did not leave the track, think it would have fallen on the river side of the per. In case the en- zine had left the track it would have gcne right down through. am of the opinion that the bridge gave way on the left-hand side. don't think that it gave way over the bolster. It seems as if the engine had
 passed beyond the abutment. When To- comotlve is 90 thoroughly demolished, it
 becomes impossible to tell just how it went over. haven't any Idea that the engine
 had passed on to the plling before it went
 over. It doesn't seem to me as if the coup
 Ing was strong enough to turn the enginr
 oyer Howe bridges with us, are inspected
 once year. After an iron bearing bridge
 is once settled together It shouldn't need
 screwing up once Tn year. The roads
 generally employ man who understands
 the construction of these bridges, and the
 inspection is commonly complete. I can-
 not imagine the cause of this accident. l
 do not think that the break was occasioned
 by the rotten timber, as where the d. caye d
 wood was found the strain was very slight,
 compared with that in the centre of the
 span. should have the rotten wood talk.
 en out, as rot makes more rot. should
 have supposed that thorough examination
 would have discovered the rotten spot.
 consider the timber strong enough to have
 sustained three tim tne weight placed up.
 "n it that night. All the roads with which
 have been connected, are in the habit oi
 unning two or more engines, and very
 heavy ones at that, but I do not consider
 that good policy, especially over bridges
 thirty years old, us bridges were not bull
 so heavy then as now. Ii the bridge hae
 been covered suppose that there would
 have been no rotten wood. I consider
 very dangerous to have an engine in tn, } rear of tralr. A bridge that isn't saf, with two engines isn't safe with one } Freight cars are often loaded so as to b, heavier than any engines that are ever pu = upon the bridges. l should rather have th, train run as one than to divide It, as tha ? would increase the risk of accidents by ,h,
 rear division running into the forward one 7 This bridge should have been as etrong al 5 when it was built. The timber IS southerr pine. have never used great deal ot P thls wood, because 1t has been higher ant , Is heavier, think the tapped trees cal = be told when the timber is new, but B would be difficult to pick them out now , Tapped trees will sink. being heavier thai 9 others; but don't think they are so strong D Water might have collected in the angl - blocks of the top chord, but there are tube D through these chords which keep off tn e crushing force. even if the blocks give wa
 by reason of decay.
 Witness explained at some length tn !, construction of the Howe truss. especial ', in regard to the formation of the to
 chords. In conclusion he stated that th !, timber from tapped trees was considere a more brittle than any other.
 if JAMES MoDERMoTT.
 I called: Am an engineer on this road. Wa acting as fireman on the second engine ths V night. Ifirst heard a cracking and the IT felt continual jar as if the engine had lei :, the trsck and was bounding along over th , ties. This continued for short time, an <, then down we went. The engine scene q to strike on her slde. l got out and locke t around for the englneer. found him fol ,- lowing nae. and asked him if he was a d right. He said his jaw was badly hurt. e thought he could carry himself, and SO B. went forward to look after MT. Hatch, tn = engineer on the forward engine. Owing l the blowing off of steam, l at drst couldn < see anybody, but presently the enginee e crawled out on his hands and knees. H = said he was scalded to death. I went { t procure Q tea.n, and when Ireturned, I fouu that Hatch had been carried to the station , The dumping which felt on the engi, !, was an up and down motion, l don o think that the motion would be felt in ,h , train owing to. the Miller platform, M ls opinion was that the forward en2in 4, was off the track. Sometimes locomo n i've leaves the track and the cause canns i'd ne ascertained. don't think that an ex if ra rail would be any practical advantage I thlnk guard rail is useful on s curve ( n, where there are frogs etc. The officers ( D, the road have not talked to me about tn DO matter. don't think it is common to hay