Evening journal., 1897-08-20
THE JONAH BRIDGE.
Third Street Hoodoo In a
Pitiable Plight.
SMASHED BY TWO PACKETS
TUG METEOR'S TOW ADDS TO THE
PECK OF TROUBLE, OF THIS
BURDEN TO THE TAXPAYERS
OF NEW CASTLE COUNTY.

come almost useless Durden 10 the
taxpayers OF New Castle county, pre-
sents a pTcaIble appearance to-day.
In addition to the troubles Ct It's
own ever since the trolley companies
began to carry crowds of people over
1t, its apparatus Is strained clear out of
keller lis main pier has sagged, it is
dragged of and on by half dozen men
walking around a pivot with the speed
Of a cross-cut saw going through a
knot.
And now, to-day to beat the bust
ness, her nose is smashed up and she
is all tiled up because the tug Meteor's
tow Of two packets could not clear the
and the first packet knocked off the
draw in passing in during the night,
nose of Jonah.
SOMEBODY is RESPONSIBLE.
AS usual, nobody seems responsible
for this fiasco. Hundreds of trolley
patrons are compelled to walk four
squares every day over ground that
they have paid to ride over.
Crowds of New Castle people coming
in to attend the Shellpot Park concerts
or other amusements are compelled toI
wait undl they are too late for every
thing.
Steamboat patrons en- route for Phil
adelphia have the pleasant experience
of being detained on the south side OF
the bridge just long enough to see their
beat pull out from Fourth street wharf.
New Jersey farmers bringing In
fresh produce to the Wilmington mar
kets are invariably kept waiting until
their patience is exhausted, and some
times they are Obliged to take down
sail and remove masts. They give the
regulation signal of three blasts on
their horns.
In fact, Third street bridge has be-
come a great big nuisance. and If any
taxpayer in New Castle county did not
form the same opinion six months
ago he has only to view the fiasco to-
day and take notes Of its battered con-
dition.
SOME BUSINESS MEN TALK.
Superintendent I. w. Miller. Of the
, New Castle trolley company, was al
most exasperated when interviewed by
? an Evening Journal reporter concern
? ing this mOuntebank convenience
Third street bridge.
J 1T is about Time" said Mr. Miller
2 "that this botch of administration OF
? the public works be investigated and
/ the responsibility be placed some
where. The railway companies are
= placed entirely at the mercy ONO
e body Here every few days the bridge
{ is thrown cut OF order and we are not
, given a moments notice. II IL were a
e railroad company's property III bet
e You that somebody would be respOn-
: sible."
WILL HAVE TO ABANDON 1T.
CAPTAIN Horace Wilson. OF the Will
mington Steamboat Company, said:
81 have about concluded that tho
! travelling public might just as wei,
! abandon that concern (nhird sbreei
bridge) altogether. My plan is to gel
a ferryboat or two and take people and
O cars over with as much dispatch as
! possible. This would be sure transit
4 and, in my opinion, would save this
county good money.
y COMPLAINTS TO THE SECRETARY
OF WAR.
y A well-knOwn sailbOat owner said.
, Il intend to write to the secretary o.
4 war and insist upon an investigation &
1 ascertain who is responsible for thii
; embroslio.
IF it is defective machinery. theI
" the peoples money will be saved b.
n getting new machinery at once II th'
a experiment of electricity is unsuccess
h full, then put in steam power ncw-to
4 mcrrOw-it means a vast saving, TO
n steam power is entirely successful a
l. Market street bridge
n "If It is carless handling, then it i
"a time for the people to come down ol
/ II tfo1 Il TfalI
N steps to place men in charge of il VIII
q understand their business. are not tire,
n out, and appreciate what public com
fort means. In my opinion, Thir
y street bridge is now the most import
i ant charge of the county commission
4 ers and they are proving themselve
= unworthy of the trust.
II Ut is not explanations the peopl
: want, it is accommOdation-the kim
Y for which they are paying, and prett
e. dearly, too"
J. ALWAYS HAVE TROUBLE THERE
= "A. D. Warner, Of the Charles Warne
y Company, whose packet collided wit
+ the bridge during the night in gOin
out with Philadelphia freight, says:
- 1--WE always have trouble at Thir
~ street bridge There seems to be n
end of delay and annoyance there. w
have time and time again cOmplaine
to the bridgdtender and even with tn
. Levy Court and can get no redress.
"Of course they handle the draw bel
Z. ~ ter for us for awhile, but ii soon wear
= off.
"All our tugboat captains are in
strudted to give ample notice and the
have much to contend with. In goin
10 down stream at low water in the nal
ne row channel any delay is dangerous.
:. is difficult TO have to wind the tow
ie and we~feel 1t a serious inconvenience
NO REPORT FROM BARGE ALICE
L. P. Bush, OF the Bush and Som
Company, says: THE barge Alice ,whic
e. crashed into the bridge, got away b'
as fore day, and we have no report az
a her damage. All her men proceode
d. ND with her to Marcus Hook and Phili
: delphia. We expect a written report. q
morrow and will not say anything. {
take any action until we have that.
SCATE MACHINERY REMOVED.