The sun., 1897-12-14

AN IMPORTANT COUNTY ROAD.
Bridge At Fleming's Landing Has
Been Impassible for Months---
Many Farmers Lose
Money.
Special to THE Sun.
SMyRNA, Del, Dec. 13.-Negligence Of
the New Castle Levy Court in attend
ing to the important duty Of fixing q
county drawbridge has caused many per-
sons in this community to lose moneys
The farmers living in the vicinity Of
Fleming's Landing are loud in their de-
nunciation Of the New Castle Levy Court,
as that body has been unnecessarily
slow in having the drawbridge at that
point repaired.
It seems as though some Of the mem-
bers Of the court have paid little atten-
tion to the matter until recently, evil
IDENTIFY thinking the bridge was of little
importance.
A. G. McCousland, of Wilmington,
who furnishes. coal for dealers in Symrna
has the same transported to Smyrna
Landing hy barges, they being towed up
the river. Sometime ago the steam
barge Willie, with,a scow in tow, came
up the river and knocked the guards at
the bridge down. Nothing was ever
done in the matter and the coal boats
have been running in the same reckless
manner since. The scows being without
rudder and little attention being paid
by the boatmen for the safety Of the
bridge, the accident was no surprise, as
many persons living in that vicinity
have often commented on the reckless
manner in which these barge and scows
were towed through the draw.
Monday afternoon, October 25th, dur
ing severe storm, the Geo F. Brady,
plying between Smyrna and Philadel-
phia, was blown against the bridge, and
the stationary part Of the structure on
the New Castle County end was complete
ly turned over, falling in the water. Had
the Levy Court Of New Castle County,
under whose management the bridge is,
made any effort:to have::A. G. McCausland
repair the damage his boats had done, the
bridge would be safe today, or at least as.
much SO as it ever was, for in fact it was
not heavy enough at any time. The
wind was blowing gale from the north
east, and the tide running out, when the
Brady struck the bridge on the star
board side and rebounding struck the
port side.
The accident was unavoidable, as the
wind blew the steamer against the
bridge. On board the boat were twenty
five passengers, yet the shock was SO
small that only three persons aboard
knew there had been an accident, the
pilot, captain and one passenger. The
only damage to the Brady was about
four feet of guard rail broken. 1t was
plainly evident to every one who saw
the steamer afterward that she did not
strike the bridge with much force, yet
the stationary part toppled over. Many
have said the bridge was rotten, and
evidently was out Of place or
It would never have been upset as it
was.
Fleming's Landing drawbridge was
built in lS78,and by scheme worked by
New Castle County politicians, the man.
,gement Of the bridge was placed in the
lands of the New Castle County Levy
Court. Although Kent County has to pay
,alf Of all expenses Of the bridge;the Levy
Court Of Kent County has no voice in
he management Of it. The legislature
vas1 denounced for passing such law, I
md in the near future an attempt will
,e made to have it amended.
The New Castle Levy Court when it
aw fit held meeting and notified the
Brady Steam Boat Co. and A. G. Me-
Iausland that the damage would have
o be repaired and they settle the bill.
10 attention was paid by either OF them .
0 the letters and then came another
ong wait. Finally the Levy Court of ,
Jew Castle advertised for bids for re-
airing the bridge, and the contract was
warded to Robert r. Morrison, of New ,
'astle. His bid to repair TIE bridge ,
ew span and stone abutments, was
2,2CO. Alvan r. Morrison's bid was !,
5000 to repair bridge and put the piling I
nd guards in. As there was differ }
nee OF $1,000 in the bids, the Levy
'olrt decided that they had better ao.
apt the lower bid and put the piling in
as it could be done cheaper =
nan $1,000. All this time there were 7
lany complaints being made. The 7
rady Steamboat Company secured a \
ghter to carry their freight and the =,
myrna Transportation Company, also