Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-02
A CLEAR WAITE ERWAY.
Petitioners Want the Causeway
Obstruction Removed.
HEARING ON LAKE BRIDGES.
Q. w. Norcross Explains His
Deck Plan and Its Cost.
Witnesses Prefer Delay to the Stone
Bridge, But Report That Public serti-
ment VII approve Additional
Appropriation.

nearing Tuesday evening was practical
ly unanimous against the stone bridge
already contracted for and in favor of
steel bridge with much larger wa
5erway. Some of the petitioners went
SO far as to say that if the city cannot
afford big bridge at this time, it would
be better to drop the whole subject for
few years and pay damages to the
Webb Granite and Construction Conn
pany for breaking the existing contract.
The hearing was held on the petition
of E. B. Crane and others that they
might present arguments in favor of an
other structure to replace the causeway
instead of the three-arch stone bridge
which the city council of '97 contracted
for. The hearing was held before the
special committee, consisting of the
committees on finance and streets, and
was attended by as many people as
could crowd into the aldermanic cham
ber Plans of the bridge favored by the
petitioners and the cantilever steel
bridge drawn by City Engineer Mcclure,
at the suggestion of Mayor Dodge, were
shown at the hearing and hung upon
the wall before the committee. Cuts of
these plans, with one of the stone
bridge, which the Webb Granite and
Construction Company has contracted to
build, will be found on another page
and will serve we'll for future refer
ence
The hearing was set for 7.30 o'clock,
and at that hour the aldermanic cham
Der was crowded so that late comers
could not get within hearing distance.
Fl. H. Bigelow had $50 half tones of the
proposed steel bridge from shore to
shore, from designs by o. w. Norcross
and these were distributed by j. P. r.
win. The supply was inadequate to the
demand, but Mr.. BigeloW has many
more copies at his office at the rink
grounds, which he will gladly give any
who choose to call for them.
President Potter of the board of al
dermen called the meeting to order
shortly after 7.30 O'Clock. Every menl-
ber of the committee was present, in
Guiding Aldermen Potter, O'Connell,
Thompson, Hildreth and Brannon, Coun-
cilmen Hall, Williamson, Inman, OCon-
nell, Wall, Powell and Ryan. The com
mittee Immediately got down to busi-
cess. The petitioners were represented
by Webster Thayer, Esq. Before Mr..
Thayer made his argument, Councilman
Hall moved the committee invite May
or Dodge to attend the hearing, and
Alderman O,Connell amended the mo-
of whom were in the mayors office. The
motion and amendment passed, and
Councilman Hall was appointed a COM
mittee to escort them to the chamber.
Mr.. Thayer then opened the case for
the petitioners, on whose behalf he
thanked the committee for its Kindness
and courtesy in extending hearing.
They had assembled to consider a ques-
tion of the greatest Importance, the sub
io1t fta. of which affects DOStPritV
as well as those now living. The ques-
ton of the construction of a bridge
which will connect the Worcester side
of Lake Quinsigamond with the Shrews-
bury shore, relates to one of the most
beautiful spots in New England, one
which Worcester people are privileged
to enjoy. When we decide to bridge
these shores, we should do it in such a
way as would be for the highest and
best interests of the city of Worcester,
In the discussion of the question he
realized at the outset that a contract for
a bridge had been made, and also real
lied that part of the work has already
been done. He believed, however. that
the contract should not be executed.
He believed there is a better plan and
one which, if adopted, will reflect credit
on the city of Worcester. The book
should not be closed until the story Is
well completed. After the contract for
the stone bridge was made, there was
a change in the administration and the
question was reopened, so to speak, by
the present mayor.
For that act, his courage and intelli-
gence in meeting the question, he will
receive the admiration and thanks of
the citizens The reopening of the
question came from him because he be-
lieves that the bridge as contracted
for should not be completed. The plans
drawn at the suggestion Of the mayor
are an Improvement over the stone
bridge. The mayor is as any other citi-
zen. He wants the best. That is what
he demands, and that is what he should
demand Another set of plans have
been suggested by another man. Orlando
W, Norcross, who has the respect and
confidence of all who know MIN, and The
is known in every state in the Union,
through the buildings he has erected.
Mr. NorcrosS was interested in the
bridge not through any mercenary rea-
sons, but by his deep-rooted love for the
city where he has made his home and
where he expects to live and be buried.
He has given of his valuable time and
abor and had prepared at his own eX-
pense a set of plans in order that what
is best may be enjoyed by the citizens
of Worcester. These plans have been
shown and wherever seen haye been
admired
There is no antagonism between
those who have originated any of the
different plans. If those Of Mr.. Nor
cross are better than those prepared at
the suggestion of the mayor, he de-
mards what is best. In behalf of Fl.
H. Bigelow, Mr. Thayer told the COM
mittee that if they decided to construct
a steel bridge according to the Norcross
plans from the Belmont island to the
s-t.,,- f1Na In a
in reasonably good condition, as the
city would of course do, he is willing to
release the city from all claims for any
damages. Some have said Mr.. Bigelow
did not wish a bridge, but, ON the con-
trary. he is anxious to have a bridge
hut he wants the best, as he has more
involved in the neighborhood than any
man in the city of Worcester. Mr..
Thayer then called o. w. Norcross.
Mr.. Norcross said iE substance: In
considering the question Of bridge,
wish to state at the outset that l dc
not care to, never did and do not ex-
pect to build a bridge over Lake Quin-
sigamond. Continuing, he said he en-
ioyed the lake and was much interest
ed in it, because Jas a citizen of Wor-
cester. he considered it his property tC
enjoy During the five months of the
wear the lake is frequented, he has
I,assed on an average four nights a
week on its shores. When the matter
of bridge was first brought up, he
thought it a sensible plan to get a good
waterway and good roadway. We now
have a good roadway. The bridge which
has been decided upon would be good
for a park, but the roadway provided
by this bridge was not practicable. That
hump sticking up Is feet was contrary
to his ideas of road building. AS pro-
posed. a man cannot seen another 300
feet away, but would be looking 75 feet
above his head In his opinion, the
1.,.idon s1,ol1ld he as near level grade as