The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-10-13
Mayor Guernsey's Statement.

Mr.. Editor
notice in the last issue of your paper an
article referring to the new bridge at the foot
of Main street in this city which is quite posi-
tive in some of its statements, and which has a
tendency to lead the public to believe that some
mistake had been made that amounts to almost
a criminal neglect of public duty. As the de-
sign of the bridge was left to me, l have
thought best to try and allay the fears of any
who think the rumors have any foundation.
Having been relieved of the care of locating
the piers, concluded to devote few days to
my own business, having used my time for
several weeks for the city. On my return Sep
TENDER 30th, found all sorts of wild theories
filling the air about some mistake on the
bridge.
Now, Mr.. Editor, it is supposed that all
things have an origin, but after careful enquiry
l am unable to find the author of all the noise
that has been in circulation and therefore l
will have to appeal to you for some information
on the subject, as | know of no cause for SO
much mind and have been unable to get any
one to state any specific mistake or error l
would be pleased to be told whether the bridge
is too wide, too long, too short, or too high, or
too light or too heavy. All these points | am
responsible for, and until | hear some argu-
ment that the dimensions should be changed l
shall consider them right, Some people might
think that the entrance ends of the bridge
should be built on a skew, but prefer to have
the end square with the street so that both
wheels of a carriage shall strike the bridge
| floor at the same time and not give a side yank
which all may have observed when entering a
skew bridge. | am aware that one truss has to
extend about three and one-half feet onto the
| pier more than the other but consider the adj
vantage OF a square entrance to lar outweigh
this as the pier is sufficient to receive it, Some
| may think that the bridge should have been
longer, but this point considered and several
questions at once came to the front which had
| to be considered AS is well known locally the
| Cotton shops abut on public highway estab'
| lished about century ago and if the old abut'
ment should be wholly removed and the abut,
| ment set back any father than is now provided
for it would expose these shops to a great risk
of damage to their foundation and raise the
| question whether the city had any right to i'm
peril this property Consequently l adopted
| what considered safe course and arranged
to set back the abutment about seven feet and
| have the wing wall protect the Cotton shops.
| may not have adopted the best course
but having given the matter a careful
consideration before commencing, and review
ing it at this time | have no desire to make any
changes in the plans of the bridge. ! have
| been led to give this statement as some nigh
| think the bridge would be unsafe. 10 any
such | would say that this bridge is designed t
carry 1888 tons of live load and with this loat
| (which is more than will ever be on it, it il
strained to less than one-fourth of its strength
and is probably the strongest highway bridg'
| in the state.
As to certain reports invented by the fertil
brain of certain reporters for neighboring cite
regarding strained relations in the City Coun
ell, do not consider them as having any foun
dation, and | will not waste time and space il
replying to such reports, but will do as tn
darkey did when kicked by the mule, and con
slider the source from whence they came.
Thanking you in advance for such space a
| you may give to this communication, | remain
as ever, The peoples servant,
| G. II. GUERNSEY.