Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-09-09
AN EXTRA BRIDGETENDER
Will be Employed at the Third Street
Draw Across the ChriStiana
SOME VESSELS DELAYED THERE
Complaint Made by Col. A. G.
McCauSland.
ACTION OF MEMBERS OF LEVY COURT

ACTION OF MEMBERS OF LEVY COURT |
The bridge committee Of Wilmington
hundred met 10 thu Levy Court room
al tho Court House Yesterday and,
after herring statements from Col, a.
q. McUauslanl of tho Wilmington IL
Northern railroad and Bridge tenders
Russell and james MGIIugh, concerning
Third atreut bridge, decided to employ
an extra bridgstender for the hours
from d. 80 a. NJ. until =. IN.
John j. Gallagher presided, and John
Meuley and Henry M. White OF the
committee wore prosent John Ii. Roll
ney, attorney for tho Levy Couct. was
Oh hand and suggested sumo points in
the inquiry. Col. A. &. MnCauRland
was tho only citizen present With COM
pIuints against tho bridge, his letter
which wins read to tho Levy Court yes.
tertlay having been responsible largely
for to. days investigation. Briefly MIR.
MoCauslanrl bad three occasions OF
com plaint, ono whom tho steamer ulrica
was delayed 35 minutes, another when
she was delayed Is minutes, and one
when the tug Laura Is. was delayed.
| The point of the complaints was not
| that tho bridge waa out of order but
| that the bridgetonder III charge was on
| those occBaion slow. In other words 1t
| was the fault OF the hridgetenJer and
not al tho bridge. Mr.. McCausland
| said that ii was dangerous whom a
steamer blows for the bridge expecting
4 to get through sor it TO BIZ delayed, for
sometimes when the tide ia with the
vessel ii is hard 10 keep il from running
into the bridge. All that is asked is
that when the vessel blows. the bridge
teuder shall make an effort to turn the
bridge. The Laura b., having tow,
had to round to the other day whilo
waiting for tho bridge. Tie understood
the bridge regulations of the War Do
partment to make thu bridgetender RS
spunsible for delay. lis had no coni'
plant TO make against any particular
bridgetender and took occasion to say
that the bridgetenders present. MosBrs.
McHugh ami RUSSELL had always
bundled tho bridge properly A atrangt
man was on the bridge when the delay
complained Of occurred.
In response TO question from Mr.
Rodney; Col. McCausland said tina
the vessel was delayed % minutes on
day the last week in July and tn
cantain blew his whistle until tn
wlaryes were full of people. lie sail
be could furnish the committee th
exact dates.
Bridgetender McIIugh next took TIL
fioor and said he would like Mr.. Nc
, Causland to produce his cuptaiu an
men. He declared that one day whe
, the Laura j. was DELAYED five or eigh
, minutes the bridge was turned OIL 4
minutes, and $50 teams we're held. II
did not believe any boat had been do
: ayed except on account OF some aoci
] dent to the bridge. The Laura Is. ha
been delayed on account Of trouble Wit
4 the bridge.
Bridgeteudcr Russell said be was q
Il few days in July and tho week be
4 fore last. The Laura b. was delayed o
! Saturday night when the machiner
/ would not turn.
! When the regular bridgetenders are o
n they employ substitutes. But just WI
q the strange man was who caused ~
!, trouble with the W. g. N. boats was NJ
a developed.
Mr.. McCausland said it was an in
:. proved service they were after, ana NJ
!. auy ones scalp, do favored the en-
4 ployment Of third man at tho hridl
!. and thought u hour turns Tor two me
n was to hard on Thorn. In case OF breal
II downs be suggested that the regulI
v vessel people he notified. Incidental
X he remarked that he wished the hrdl
u could have steam engines; Mark
street, which uses steam, mt havir
"a a complaint in five years. Russell d
10 clared that 1t had nothing like Il
| III .,I, IND OF hrin
i, which Col. McCaualand admitted.
AZ MIR. Gallagher said that the manag
, ment of laird street bridge has civ
~ the court more concern than any 9th
= bridge in the county. Complaints col
,a both from the people and the vesse
n In Chicago there are regulations und
nv which bridge il kept open Il certa
q time for tho usc Of vessels, hut Mr.. NJ
~ Causlapd held that the conditions q
\ different here.
~ Mr., Mealey annoupced that sew
he men arc on the bridge at day and SOY
IN at night. This has been the case
the past three weeks.
nm Mr., White thought it would DO 60
Ia idea to hire au engineer to look Mt !
bridge gear and see If it is stro
se enough.
iii When the bridge is in good cuuditi
No Mr.. McHugh announced that it can
al turned off and on again in four or ii
IN minutes. Mesars Gallagher and VIII
mt smoke Of the uncertainty of electric
as power just now the bridge ava
10 an armature, and may he operated
Ior electricity in few moro days. Mot
- while no action was taken in regard
- stegm, and it was decided to employ
,ot additional man for month.