Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-08-16
HARD TO DECIDE.
Third Street Bridge Investigation
Last Monday.

tween ships, Tugs and skins Against
Trains and Pedestrians AS to who Will |
be Served First.
The committee OF the Levy Court |
comprising Mcssrs. Mealey, Gallagher |
aud White, who have charge OF bridges, |
met in the court chamber last Monday |
to investigate the charges made against |
Thomas r. Russell and James McHugh,
the bridge.tenders Of Third street bridge. |
The two bridge.tcnders were present
and also those making the charges, in
Guiding llarhor Master Edwin kershuw,
Charles w. Pussy of the Atlas Dredg-
ing 90.
a large number OF other persons were
present, AMONG them George w. TODD,
president Of the Diamond State Iron
Co., who testified, also Levy Court At
torney John IL. Rodney and also Com \
missioner Armstrong.
The charges against the bridge-tendeisI
are of dilaturlness and inuttention in re-
gard to opening the bridge.
Chairman Mlealcy Of tho committee,
stated the purposes of the meeting and,
adding that both sides would be heard, /
then requested the clerk to read thci
letters containing the charges. These
were the letters of llarbormaster Kerr
shaw OF the Atlas Dredging Co., the.
| Charles Warner Go. and also u general
complaint signed by representatives of
the steamer ulrica, of George W. Bush
~ Sons, and the engineers Of different
| tugOoats.
The chairman informed those inter-
ested that questions would be allowed
but no unnecessary Interruptions.
| Rid t.,nInr I2ucEnlI tbnn atatad m
did not think the yacht of tho Atlas
Dredging Co. had been kept waiting As
minutes. He added that the vessel is
not licensed and he thought the public
should have the preference sometimes
not be kept waiting.
President Pussy of the Atlas Dredg-
| ing Co., sRitl he knows that the boat in
question is not registered, but il has
mast, aud ii is necessary 10 open the
draw for the passage of the boat. The
b.idgc.tenler waited until tug came,
then closed the bridge 50 quickly that
the mast was almost torn out. But Mr..
| Pusey's contention was more definitely
in regard to the Christlana being nayi-
gable stream, and Of the general right of
all vessels to pass through.
BridgG-tender Russell asserted in
| reply ludt lnt DOdl "Gub luIOuBu lIG
bridge before the tug and it was not
struck.
Commissioner Gallagher to Mr.. Pusey
-"rhen you only know from the report
of your uperintGndentY
"lnat Is true. Bat the point, as | see
it is, taat the brldgc.tender seems to
think he should not open the bridge but
for registered vessels"
Chairman MeaIey-"We will inyesti-
gate that matter Mr.. Pusey."
The next charge called up was that
from the Charles Warner Co. No one
vas present from that firm.
Mr.. Pusey--"Mr Chairman | should
suppose his letter is sufficient"
Chairman Mealey-" Yes, but then we
want to hear more"
The general remonstrance signed by
tug captains, engineers, &c, was then
taken up. No one was present to speak
for them.
IIarbor Master Kershaw-"Well, |
think the Christiana is u free waterway
of the United States and everything
with masts should be allowed quick un-
impeded progress,
Commissioner GalIaghcr-"Do you
know anything specific yourself outside
of these general charges 2"
, "Only I've seen poats tied up waiting
for the bridge to be opened"
Bridge.tcnder llussell-"That's the
very thing, We don't open for skitfs.
For years it is understood to be the
; custom not to turn for them. Any OF
, the older harbor masters will tell you
; that One day last month the bridge
, was opened 1870 times in the week and
several hundred times ut night. This
does not allow much time for pedes.
TRANS and teams.
The harbor master-"It is question
: of free waterway or not. There should
not be unnecessary delay"
, The charman-"Are most of the
, complaints from the Jersey truck
, peOplG?
lhe harbor master-"They come
, from everyone, from Pusey d. Jones
/ Charles Warner d Co.
t MIR. TODD EXPLAINs.
, George W. Todd, president of the
J Diamond State Iron Co., was invited tc
speak.
80 far as the specific CHARGES jus
read" he said, Il have no persona
4 knowledge.
81 am asked by Mr.. Russell to make
general statements in regard to the
traffic over the bridge ut present.
at is u question of course for thi
i committee or for the United States gov
y eminent, as to what vessels, or shallops
K or small skilfs arc entitled TO pass.
1 think there is great deal of misundcr
i standing Of the whole matter.
e "F"r years past It has not been the
}. custom TO open the bridge for tho jersey
5 truck boats. The turning of the bridgl
i for such trivial calls is of serious I'm
!. portunce. 1t means many a dollar Il
d the firms doing business over the bridg
e in stopping their traffic. There are tn
1t Lobdells, the Glass Co. and numbers o
y people doing business across the bridg
r who are kept waiting. 1t is probabl,
Ii not to much to say that vehicles pas
IS over tho bridge every day. Pedestrian
rs cross it by the thousands.
N 1T is possible that some Of the com
10 plants Of vessel delays are Just ones
u But much can be SAID on the othe
y hand. some of these boats come at 6 a
"a M. and some ut q p m. just the tim
II when the workingncu are crossing Il
Us great numbers trying to get to wor
before the whistle blows.
81 have no doubt there is delay som
times. | think the hridrG.taudcr NIGH
al be more prompt, and when he is liz
e present he should see that there 10
~ thoroughly competent man in his place
o. 1t is opened sometimes for boats to &c
n through, and then the crowds Of pedes
III trlnus who are waiting are laughed nj.
NJ $50 far as these small boats are cor
y cerned think they should he huuche