Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1893-08-25
IT is EVIDENTLY NO SNAP.
NIGHT AND DAY DUTY AT THE
MARKET STREET DRAWBRlDeE.

w. Il. Crossley Got Tired OF Being
Night and Day Man, Engineer, Fire
man, and Keeper OF Two Sets Of
Safety Gates-But Little Time Allowed
for Recreation.
There has been much speculation in
local political circles AS to why w. B.
Crossley, tender of Market street bridge,
resigned his 81, 200 position, thereby al
lowing Peter H. Miller. Of No 925 West
Second street, TO succeed him He has
been singularly reticent as to the cause.
Yesterday afternoon an EVENING JOUR-
NAL reporter stopped at the bridge and
entered into conversation with Mr..
Crossley regarding the work done by the
tender. During the talk ne made the
following remarks;
II got tired Of it, 1t is true that the
salary is 81 200 a year and house rent
free. but it was hard work for the
money / was supposed to be on duty
twenty-four hours day. l slept in the
cabin there by the engine house, and had
to catch sleep when / could Striking the
average for the year round / Judge
turned the draw off sixteen times In
twenty four hours. That makes thirty.
two times TO start the engine. On busy
days / was compelled TO turn 10 of
twenty times and upwards
Il was provided with no ASST stants.
had TO watch FOR boats, keep up the 6res.
shut the gates at each end of the bridge,
II the boys we're not around to do II for
me, and then run the engine TO tuin the
draw. My boys attended the gates for
me most of the time, but the county does
not pay them anything"
"What is the smallest craft you have
to turn of the draw forY7
II am compelled TO turn of the draw
for anything afoat that cannot 90 under
it. II row beat has awning poles up
and the occupants do not see fit to take
them down / must, on request, turn of
this 500-ton mass Of iron
What kind Of craft gives you the
most work."
Tugs"
What is the signal for opening the
drawn
"Three long blows Of the whistle from
steam crafts and the same number of
blasts from a horn If a sailing vessel not
in tow wants to 60 through. In many
instances the horn is not used.
How many craft pass through here
IN Year,
i suppose at least $500. 1t takes
three minutes to turn the draw off and
on
You did not have relief man at
nightg7
mo. If You are appointed March q
your work continues until the same time
next year without intermission. You
are supposed to be here all the time, night
aud day, when needed. It gives a mar
but little time home with bis family
although the house is only a few feet
from the north end of the bridge"
How many teams cross here in 9
dayf'
about 5000 and from 4, 900 to 8. OOC
people / have been compelled to turn
the draw four times while trying to cal
my dinner"
I'm what condition is Market street
draw at present.
1t is one of the best working bridges
in the city"
What bridge tender has the mos
work."
"The Third street man. Nearl,
everything that comes in the river goe
through that draw From twenty {,
forty times a day he has TO open hi
draw for boats.
Is the dwelling house here comfort
ADLER
mo; it is all out of repairs-pape
of, porches rotting and window glas
broken. The Levy Court would no
even put in a pane of glass for me. ]
, will be repaired for Mr.. Miller, my sue
cessor.