Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-04-21

whether the iron or steel Is R0Ou or Oau,
nor whether the dimensions and propor-
tions|are such as to be safe or not. You
will know that you have paid your
montk away, but you will never know
whatfyou have got for It until some day
wher your bridge gets an extra heavy
load hpon It and breaks down, and you
have The damage to pay. This mode OF
huyilg 4 bridge Is very common.
Toibuy good bridge, first determine
precilely what you want; and II you
don'tlknow anything In regard to bridge
building yourself, employ an engineer
who hoes, to make specification, stat
ing exactly what you want, aud what
YOU rheau to have. Then advertise for
bridke builders to send In their propos-
ais. t.et the contractors understand that
all plhns and computations are to be
submitted TO your engineer; that all
mateiials and workmanship will be sub
mitch to your inspector; and that the
whole structure Is to be made subject 10
the Supervision of competent engineer,
and excepted by him for you. You Will
find II once that under such conditions
all :rlveling agents and builders OF cheap
bridges will avoid you az thief does
the iikht OF day. You will have genuine
propdsals from responsible companies,
and their bids should be submitted TO
your engineer.
whbn you have made your choice, let
the c,intract be written by your lawyer,
and hive the plans and specifications
attached. Employ competent engineer
to INSPECT the work "a II goes on, and
whenlit Is done you will have bridge
which Will be warranted absolutely safe
by thk best authority This mode of
buyink Z bridge Is very uncommon, In
the ,hse OF the ordinary highway
bridgks. The larger towns and cities
never|thlnk OF building bridge without
takint all possible steps to protect them
selye.| from any chance of being imposed
upon, and 10 secure absolute safety for
the p9blic.
Nof what wish to impress upon the
selecthen OF Paris Is that they should
proceed In exactly the same manner as
the civ OF Boston would in getting
bridgf. The city OF Boston would not
listen for one moment 10 any travelling
agentE, nor would they dare TO make
bargain without a complete set OF plans
and Specifications. The city government
knowI perfectly we'll that the public
safety Il not to be trifled with, and that
they viii be held accountable for the ex-
Of public money. Life Ia just
as valuable In Paris as 1t Ia In Boston.
We Should be just as careful In building
A small bridge as In building a large
one. or course difference should be
made kn he toad 10 be pr0rided for In a
bridg,l which has TO carry the heavy and
stead travel of large city. aud that
for n highway bridge upon country
road, where the travel is much lighter.
In thd case OF city bridge we would
make II able to carry load OF from 100
to l5d lbs. per square foot; while from
30 to Is lbs. would be ample for most
highpay bridges upon country roads.
The main point in all cases, to be
rigidlI insisted upon, should be the ab-
solutd safety OF the public under all con-
ditiout; and this Is only to be had by the
use oil precise and definite knowledge in
the pllce OF guesswork, both In regard to
the qbality OF the material employed,
and I'd the size and arrangement Of the
varioi|s parts OF the structure. In this
way dnly can the truest economy for the
town be secured. GEORGE l.. VosE.