Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1894-09-28

river has been rendered nnvigable for the
driving of logs ut great expense, and the
Systematically dam above named was
constructed for the purpose of accumu-
lating water for floating these logs. and
letting 1t ont to hold the waterfowl up
evenly to float them down the stream.
From the dam and sluicc way, through
which these logs are run over the falls
just above the Nulhegan bridge. they
plunge directly towards and against the
wing wall and the upper corner Of the
aLutment, as before stated, and at times
OF flood they are driven by violent cur
rent, sometimes endways, and sometimes
drop beneath the surface, against the
bottom of the abutment and its tounda-
ton, and, sometimes running higher are
dashed against the corner, or farther
back on the wing wall
The testimony tends to show that, at
the time Of the accident and the giving
away of tie east wing OF the Sherman
, Eddy dam during the previous night, no
considerable number of logs came down
past the bridge. although there is evil
dence that ft long and heavy sticks OF
! timber had Aoatcd down with some old
logs and rubbish in this frcshet.
To what extent. ii any. this floating of
lumber II years past, or the floating of
anything At the time OF the accident i'll
this ircshet, contributed to the settling
down or falling OF this abutment, does
not appear to the Board to Ike neces-
sary matter for it to determine definitely
III its investigation of the cause of this
accident. for. if 4 standing menace and
danger to the bridge has existed there for
years, by reason OF the lumber drives
against it, and such source OF danger
was removable by tbs action of the rail
way company, through legal proceed.
ings, by direct abatement or otherwise,
a question OF negligence would still be in
volved which would appear to rest prop.
erly within the determination of the
mission.
Section six Of the act creating n Boarl
of Railroad Commissioners provides,
that they shall investigate the causes
of any accident on a railroad resulting in
the loss OF life, and make public their
conclusions thereon"
II such investigation develops an i'm
mediate and direct cause of thc accident
The Board would hardly feel justified in
so extending the scope of its report as
to embrace findings which were predca-
ted on hypothetical or remote causes.
concerning which the railroad company
and the lumber company have direct in
tcrest. and in which the public are not
interested.
From the testimony heard and its ex-
animation of the premises and the vi
cnity where the accident occurred, the
Board finds, that said accident was di-
rectly caused by the settling of the up
river corner. under the bridge rest, and a
portion of the river front of the face
wall OF the easterly abutment OF said
bridge, and the falling in Of the same
towards the river, thereby causing the
bridge structure to twist and drop to
he bottom with its load OF engine and
cars. with the result above stated: and
The Board also finds. that the settling
and falling down of said abutment was
caused by the washing out, or pounding
out, Of portions Of the substructure Of
the flag stones and abutment of said
bridge, or from both of said causes.
By the Board.
ALFRED + W ATSDS Cierk