Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-04-22
SPECIAL MEETINGS.
ALDERMEN ACCEPT NEW BRIDGE
FOR CITY.
But RESERVE RIGHT To CLAIM DAM
AGES FOR DELAY -ENGINEER SPOF-
FORD'S REPORT FAVORABLE.

special meetings during the past week.
On Thursday forenoon of last week. the
board met to receive the report OF Civil
Engineer Parker Spofford. of Bucksport,
on The new Main street bridge. Mayor
Davis and Aid. Stockbridse, Lord, VI Dore
and Maddocks were present at the meet
ing
Mr.. Spofford reported that he had made
two examinations of the bridge-one be-
fore the erection of the bridge was far
advanced, another after the roadway was
completed. He had found the sizes of
The parts OF the bridge according to the
specifications. The material in the bridge
had been well distributed to obtain the
greatest strength, by distributing the
strain equally.
AS regards to the clause in the specfi-
cations requiring that the bridge should
be as good as a certain bridge offered to
the city by the Berlin Bridge Works, Mr.
Spofford said it was hard matter to de-
eide, more so because he had before him
in one case simply a plan, in the other
the bridge itself. There was not so much
material in some portions OF the bridge
as in the Berlin bridge, but the distribu-
ton OF material is such as to make
amends for this. Mr.. Spofford said he
would not hesitate to say that he consid-
cred the bridge fully as good as the Ber-
lin bridge. The outer rail of the sidewalk
was not as ornamental as that OF the
81
as strong or stronger.
The lateral bracng of the bridge, Mr..
Spofford declared, was as good KS any he
had ever seen in a highway bridge. He
had no doubt the bridge was fully up to
the specifications, and would carry the
load guaranteed for it.
DAMAGES FOR DELAY.
Mayor Davis brought up the matter of
expense to the city caused by delay in
completion of the bridge. The contract
provided for the completion of the bridge
by Dee p. The piers We're to be ready
by Dec 10. The city fulfilled its Part of
the contract. The delay of the bridge
company had put the city to great in
convenience, and to actual expense.
The city had been paying % cents night
for Lighting the bridge with lanterns,
and so n month for storage of ium Der
for bridge. In all, the city had been put
to an extra expense of about 500. There
had been a few minor accidents, but no
action had been brought against The city;
the mayor considered ii remarkable that
there had been no serious accidents. Put
ting aside the matter of Inconvenience, he
did not believe the city should be com
PEELED 10 bear the extra expense to which
it had been put.
Mr.. Piper, the representative OF the
Boston Bridge Works, who sold the
bridge to the city, was present at he
meeting. He said that the delay had
been unavoidable. The burning of the
bridge works, and he failure of the firm
to " hich the completion Of the bridge
was entrusted, We're alike unavoidable,
and beyond the power of human know
ledge to foresee.
The board Of aldermen claimed that the
bridge company did not use every means
in its power to hasten the constructio ION
OF the bridge; that when it was found
that The bridge company to which the
contract was given after the fire did not
keep its promises, personal investiga-
ton should have been made. The mat
ter was argued at some length
Mr.. Piper said the bridge company had
fulfilled its contract to the letter, and he
saw no reason why it should bear any
part of the expense. The delay had been
as much or more of an expense to the
bridge company as it had TO the city, and
he believed the company even now would
lose money on the bridge.
a recess WAS taken until afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The board met in the afternoon for final
ion in regard to acceptance of the
bridge. 1t was finally voted to accept the
carriage way of the bridge, which Was
completed, and that the bridge be opened
for the passage of teams, but with the
express stipulstious THAT the city Of
EllsWorth does not release nor intend TO
release the Boston Bridge Works from its
obligation to fully complete said bridge
in all its parts, and the city of Ellsworth
also expressly reserves and saves here
under all rights and claims If any, for
damages, or in any other regard the city
of Ellsworth may have or be entitled to
against the Boston Bridge Works.
The board adjourned to meet Monday
evening.
MONDAY EVENING NETTING
At the Monday evening meeting the
full board was present. The street light
ing contract was taken up and discussed
at some length.
The board discussed the advisability of
replacing some of the arc lights by
number of series lamps, which it was
thought would give better satisfaction,
particularly where lights are located at a
great distance from the station. -Four
series lamps could be obtained for the
same cost as one arc light.