Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-03-26
AsHTARUI.A DIsAsTRR.
some IpSsFspmE f'9FG daRserhing
o. ~ sessd lshlagS.
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HW HAA y disysiAAdLeador.
The following correspondence between
Amasa Stone, Esq, and General Morton,
Of New Haven, with reference 10 The la
meniabe disaster at Ashtabula bridge in
December, 1875, contains some important
facts Of general interest, and throws addi.
tional light on the probable cause Of the
oalamity:
CLEVELAND, o., March 1S, 1880.
General Morton, Civil Engineer;
DEAR SIR; Being aware that you have
lately been in attendance nc court at AL
bany and Butfalo, at the trial OF cases
against the Lake Shore q Michigan South
ern Railway Company, OF persons who
were injured by the fall Of the Ashtabula
bridge, and this being the first oppormni-
/ ty that has been embraced for Substantial
| ing both sides Of the question under oath,
as relates to the character OF the bridge
structure, desire you to give me your
conclusions as 20 its merits derived from
the sworn evidence given by reliable per-
sons who we're well posted on the subject
matter upon which they testified. also
desire the substance Of your own evidence
given in the cases referred to.
Please also give me your own conolu-
sions in the premises as AN expert, but as a
disinterested person, who was present
when the bridge was first tested; also hav-
ing seen il in use at different times during
the nearly twelve years Of its existence.
wish this information to 90 before the
public as a vindication OF my action in the
erection Of the bridge that fully performed
its functions for nearly twelve years With
out sign Of weakness. atfH
That bridge was among the first iron
structures Of any material Importance
built in this country, and constructed
when iron bridge building was really in its
infancy, audi do not pretend il was OF
such character in some OF its "details as |
should plan at this time, butt do say that
/ the principle Of its construction has not
been excelled up TO this period, or will be
| eXcelled for long time in the future.
II has been demonstrated by forty years
experience that the Hove TTussv has ex-
celled all other forms Of bridge building
with wood aud iron IN the Quantity Of ma
/ teriai used for the strength given, and
when ite details are perfect, its strength
exces as much when iron is exclusively
used, az when a part Of it is Of iron and a
part OF wood. .,
Hoping that your time will permit you
to serve me in this matter | remain very
respectfully yourss ,rrrftsaf f.H
(Siened,5 A. STONE.
- HT-s -- .4 H'a
Nkw HAVEN, Conn, March 18, 1880.
Amasa Stone, Esq, Cleveland, o., .r
DEAR SiRi In reply to your favor Of
the 18th inst, in which you make reference
to the Ashtabula bridge, which fell late in
December, 1876, with such disastrous re-
suits, and ask from me an opinion, pre-
g 4 ID q a
Il data as may have relative 10 the eharao.
tef OF that bridge. ia safety manner al
construction. and reliability ofthe pattern.
| as well as the cause OF Its failure etc /
| will say thai 10 NOT know that / can add
much to INV statements ALREADY made and
published, both in the publication of INV
/ private eorrespondence and nv eyidenee
| before the Inyestigating Committee and
that given in the Supreme Conrt at Albany
and In Buffalo. NAV. perhaps. in This
| connection. refer TO some of the testimonv
OF engineers OF known ability. who have
been examined AS Witnesses upon suits
growing ont Of the fall Of that bridge. In
. trial recently before the Supreme Court
at Albany. N. ". In the case of Thomas S.
jackson against The Lake Shore & Mich.
gan Southern Railroad where the plaintiff
sued for damages resulting from Injuries
received in the Ashtabuia accident. the
following evidence was given under oath
by persons whose varacity cannot be dues.
toned.
/ Charles Hilton, who has acted as Ohiei
Engineer of the New York Central Rail.
road Company. and bns had large eyne-
rlence In the oonstrnetlon of frnn brilges
said that the factor of safety or strehgfh
Of the bridge was three times as great as
| tho Ioa,t' MN h a. tha t;,,o - r aoai-
laent." BIZ George M. Reed. Ohief IN.
Il spector OF bridges on the Il. q &M 8 r.
ri, said uthat he had had but twentylive
years experience as a bfidge,Buildsr and
inspectoT; thai he. inspected tho brides
twice a wear from 1872 10 1875. and never
found any part Of die bfidae out al order,
Ithad always shown an abundance of
4 strenRth; hnd often been On II when
ldbuble.headed freight trains met each
other and passed an tho. bridge. and that
the detection was less than the standard
1 allowed, The standard has been that the
DETECTION should not exceed l.I9OO mari
Of the longth OF the snan; that there was
no detection to that extent under his oh
seryation,"
h BY Andrew L. Rogers, "that he had
charge OF the repairs of bridges betwsen
Cleveland and Erie. under Cbsrles Collins,
ESQ, Chief Engineer. and George M. Repd
General Bridge Inspector and Superin.
tendent; that he Inspeoted the Ashtabnla
bridge for four wears previous TO me aeei.
dent four times year. more or less; that
the only thing he ever saw ont OF order
was one ave-elghths OF an inch nut of a
stirrhp Oft, that held IN place one Of the
fioor-6eams 20 the upper chord, that aid
nbt in the least weaken the bridge; have