The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-30

to severe cold weather was unable to
complete the pier. On recommendation OF
the engineer, work was suspended until
spring, when it will he completed and
the iron bridge put in place, the war
department having extended the tlme
in which to complete this work until
July 20, 1894.
The legislature authorized the county
treasurer to issue four per cent bonds 60
the amount of forty thousand dollars to
meet the liabilities incurred in carrying
out the order of the war department..
The bonds have been issued to fall
due as follows:- $4,000 in 1896; SlO,-
600 in 1897; $40, 900 in 1898; $4,000 in 1899.
Portland Bridge.
The Portland end OF this bridge has
been rebuilt the past season, the best of
Southern pine being used in the con-
struction. One-half of the Cape Eliza
beth end has also been rebuilt new oak
pilings being driven the entire length.
southern pine being used for the top
work. The fill on this end of the bridge
has been graveled. No expenditures Will
be necessary on this bridge the coming
season, except that required for the COM
pletion of the new draw and approaches
thereto.
Staples Point Bridge.
On June IL, 1898, the county bridge
over the Pres umpscot river in the town
of Falmouth known as Staples Point
bridge was set on fire by sparks from
locomotive on the Grand Trunk railway
and totally consumed. This bridge was
built in 1887, and consisted of two spans,
of lattice truss bridge each one hundred
feet long, covered, and one open span IAN OF
stringer bridge forty feet long, Mnen
burned, the bridge was In good repair
1t was built of the best of pine, and
perfectly sound. The heat also damaged
the stone piers and abutments. Inc
commissioners deemed it for the best
interest of the county to erect an iron
bridge. The old bridge was built lower
than it was thought safe to place an
to. raise the foundations and roadbed
six feet. The retaining walls and foun-
dations were examined by competent en-
gireers ana found to be insufficient IN
strength to sustain the iron bridge ana
raised roadway. This necessltated
the removing of all the old wall, abut-
ments and pierssand the building of new
abutments, piers and six hundred feet
of retaining wall at an average height
of twenty-five feet. This has all been
done in a substantial manner, nineteen
hundred yards of new stone being used
in the construction of the work. All
the labor on this bridge has been done
by contract. r. D. Shanahan was given
the contract to build the masonry and
Geo. S. Staples TO make the fill, they be-
ing the lowest bidders. Four bids were
received to furnish the iron bridge. That
of the Boston Bridge company, seven
thousand eight hundred and fifty dol
lard being the lowest, was accepted
They will erect a steel Pratt truss
dya "a
sustaining live weight of one hundred
pounds to the square foot, with fac
tor of safety of four. The estimated
cost of the bridge when completed is
twenty seven thousand dollars
The commissioners claim that the
Grand Trunk railway company is
liable: for damages N tbi Tor G brisass
The matter has been placed in the
hands of the County attorney through
whom claim OF six thousand i've hun
bred dollars damages has been preferred,
and if satisfactory settlement cannot be
made suit will be begun at an early
date.
Martins Point Bridge.
About twenty piles and spurtshores
carried away by the ice in the winter of
1898 have been replaced, new dolphin
driven and the fences on the fill at the
easterly end rebuilt. No other repairs
have been deemed necessary. The bridge
is now in excellent condition, and should
be of but little expense to the county for
several years
It will be observed that during the
year there has been a large increase OF
prisoners at the Jail, entailing consider
able expense for additional furniture,
bedding and clothing. Five quarters
board bills are included in this years
account instead OF four as usual, board
having been paid to the end of the cal
endar year. There is due from York coun-
ty for board of prisoners and clothing,
nine hundred dollars and twelve cents,
which reduced the expense to the
county for the year by that amount.
In the women's department., under the
CHARGE of the efficient matron, seven
hundred and sixty-two articles of cloth
ing and bedding have been made, in
Guiding one hundred twenty seven prison
suits sold to other counties, which, with
renairing done and heels pasted for the
Jail workshop, make the profits and saw
ings sufficient to offset the salary of the
matron, for the year.
Jail Workshop
An account of the earnings and running
expenses at the Jail workshop, includ-
ing renewals and repairs, has been kept
during the year, summary of which is
herewith submitted. In the early part
of the year there was ready market for
goods at advanced prices and we were
Unable to i'll all orders, but the sudden
and very general depression of business
which occurred in the summer resulted
in dull and falling market for heels
the balance of the year. In consequence,
all outside help in the FASTING depart
ment was dispensed with after June, and
at the close of the year, based on the
state of the market, all of the stock on
hand was appraised at nearly ten per
| cent discount from standard values. Az
a large part of the goods manufactured
| during the past six months remains I'M
| sold, the actual profit or loss Tor the year
can not be determined until this stock
| is disposed Of While it is liberal and
| humane policy for the county. ssand
| for the best interests of the prisoners
| both morally and physically, that work
shop be maintained in connection with
+ha ioil VET as financial enternrisa