The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-04
THE last RIvET
Mayor Coanell and City Engiaeer
Phillips Nield the Hammers.
THEIR AIN NOT rnB rRUEST
Bat After Hammering Everything Within
Arms Reach They Succeed Ia Getting
Inspector Hallstcad to Approve the
Job-A ColOred Mans Request.

On the extreme southwestern corner
Of Linden street bridge Is broad, nat
plate of steel. binding together the
inner and outer sides Of one or the
main trusses. 1t was a goodly piece OF
steel and looked we'll in its seal brown
coat of paint until about O'Clock yes
terday afternoon. when. sad to relate
1t came to grief.
In the center Of this goodly sheet OF
steel 1t was designed to drive the iast
rivet that would enter into the con-
struction Of the bridge. A copper rivet
was made, special new nickle plated
hammers were secured and the mayor
and city engineer were invited to drive
into place this rivet. which future gen
erations will point out as one or the IN
teresting sights Of the city, relating AT
the same time the interesting history
Of the bridge war.
AT 3 o'clock there was quite large
sized throng assembled to witness the
ceremony, among whom We're noted
Street Commissioner Kinsley, CHIEF OF
Police Simpson. Select Councilman Vic
tor Lauer. Common Councilman Luther
Keller, Bridge Patrolman Thomas
Lowry. Civil Engineer Marple. Bridge
Inspector Nathaniel Hallstead and all
the bridge employees.
Ii Was Not an EnSv l0Sk.
The copper rivet was heated and set
in the hole, and then the fun COM
menced. Driving rivet on a level
place Is hard enough. but when mex
perienced hands attempt to drive one
at an angle of i5 degrees, something Is
going to suffer. In this case 1t was the
goodly sheet of steel and Its nice seal
brown paint For a while the air was
H,Sn 80
copper and pieces Of coagulated paint.
but after the most desperate kind OF
perseverance the rivet was snugly
cltnched so that 1t did not rattle. In
spector Hallstead shook his head dubi-
ously and then smiled his approval.
The rivet went when the inspector
smiled and the thing was done.
MIR. Marple caught several snap shots
of the group and also of the mayor and
engineer in the act Of welding the
aledges. These nickel-plated hammers
were presented by Superintendent
Sheedy to the mayor and engineer as
mementos of the occasion.
No speeches Were made. but there
was no end of very appropriate and
witty comments and jibes and several
amusing incidents. Happening to no.
tice fancy plate surmounting the
front of the Sixth street span bearing
the date and the names of the mayor
and city engineer, Mayor Connell sug-
gested that 1t would make an elegant
target for the boys on the hill, and ad-
vised that it be moved 10 the center OF
the bridge. as he did not approve of
having his fair name assailed in that
way.
COlOrcd Mans Request.
On the way out the mayor, with his
hammer under his arm. was APP
preached by a colored asphalt maker
who wanted to borrow the sacred ham,
mer to knock in bung Of a keg of beer
which the foreman had "set up" for
some extra work which was done. The
look his honor gave the colored boy
| nearly melted him.
"Well, 'twouldnt hurt the hammer"
was all he could find breath to mutter
as he walked away.