The Worcester spy., 1899-10-04
AN UNSAFE BRIDGE.
Iron Said to Be Peel
ing to Alarming
Degree.
SPANS THE MAANExIT RIVER.
Steps Win Probably Be
Taken to Repair Struc-
ture at Once.

Webster, Oct. 3.-The iron Chase ave-
nue. bridge that spans the Maanexit
river, better known as the French river,
which divides the towns of Webster
and Dudley, is fast going to decay, and
the structure is now in a deplorable
condition. The attention of the bust
ness men has been called to the fact,
and they are making howl. For the
past few days the recently erected
structure has been the centre of criti-
cism by the citizens of both towns. The
iron that was used in the construction
of it was not of extra good quality, it
seems, as the iron is peeling off in long
strips to the depth of an eighth of an
inch. The bridge was repainted about
a year ago, and that then covered for
the time, being Of poor quality of iron
that was used in the structure. The
paint is now wearing off and with it
long and deep strips of the iron cover
ing.
This bridge was built only five years
ago by the r. f. Hawkins iron works
of Springfield. The selectmen in Of
flee at the time, and who had charge
of awarding the contract, were Maui
rice p. Glare, Andrew r. Snow and
Charles A. Woisard for the town of
Webster, and C. A. Babcock, Charles
Groh and Joseph w. Negus for Dudley.
1t was said at the time that a company
from East Berlin, CT, offered to build
this bridge for $500 less than the Spring
field company contracted to do it for,
but the selectmen allowed the Spring
field company to build it for them.
Webster and Dudley people who are
interested in the matter are wondering
why the bridge on Oxford avenue that
connects Pleasant street with Jericho
Village, is not decaying like the Chase
vile bridge, as it was built in 1892, two
years before the Chaseville bridge was
started. The only reason given is that
the material used was of much better
quality than that put into the bridge
on Chase avenue.
The Webster correspondent of The
Spy inspected both bridges today. He
found the Jericho bridge in a compara-
lively new condition, while that of the
avenue bridge needs, repairing at once.
The Jericho bridge was built by the
East Berlin Iron Bridge Company Of
East Berlin, CT. The Webster select
men then in office were John w. Dob
bic, Andrew r. Snow and Lyman r.
Eddy, while Moses Barnes, Hugh Craw-
ford and Henry j. Woddell represented
the town of Dudley. The matter of
repairing the bridge will probably come
up at the fall town meeting.
James Burke, aged 80 years, of Pine
vile, CT, who was arrested Saturday
evening for stealing a roll of cloth
from the New York store, did not have
that charge pressed against him in
court today. 1t was changed to that of
drunkenness. He pleaded guilty and
was placed on probation until Nov. T.
julius Zellner, 4S years old, of Web
ster. was fined $11 for drunkenness.
Christopher Mullen, aged 27 years,
for drunkenness, was ordered to leave
the town, which he very happily did
William Jayal, aged SS years of
Webster, was fined SO for being under
the influence of liquor when he was ar
rested.
Patrick Plunket, an old offender, who
has been in the court before the late
Judge Bartholomew and Judge Clarke
SO many Tins, that he is as familiar
as the figures on the wall paDer, was
given three months in the house of
correction for being vagrant. He
pleaded not guilty to the charge, but
the evidence was too conclusive to es-
cape.
Simon Diveau, local citizen, got
drunk the other night and created
disturbance at the house of his
brother-in-law. He was fined IS.
With happy and smiling counten-
ance, Marcus l.. Dillaber Of South
bridge, the new probation officer, who
has succeeded Elias B. Wakefield, came
to town today and took his seat of
honor in the local court for the first
time since he has been appointed.
When the court convened he pulled his
little pen from his pocket and jotted
down the the cases that came his way.
Mr.. Dillaber is employed in the spec
works in Southbridge, when not en-
gagged in court affairs. He manages to
get in about four and half days in the
shop, and the salary attached to his
new office will give him quite a COM
Portable salary month.
Maurice P. Clara's protest against the
delegates that were elected at the re-
cent republican caucus pledged to
Bates will not be necessary now, as
Col. Guild has withdrawn from the
fight, and in good faith pledged him
self to support his friendly and sue
cessful rival for the nomination of
lieutenant governor. Mr.. Gould's wish
is that Mr.. Bates nomination be made
unanimous at the convention.
John H. Conway was in Boston to-
day on business pertaining to the
house he represents.
The democratic representative con-
vention of the seventh district will be
held in the Merino town hall, Dudley,
tomorrow afternoon. The convention
will be called to order by the chairman
Of the body, James H. Dwyer. Joseph
p. Love Of Webster will probably be
renominated, but his running mate is
not known, but is thought to be an Ok
ford man. The meeting will convene
at 1S0 o'clock.
Fred w Whipple was tonight sum-
moned to appear before the superior
court in Worcester, Oct. II, on a divorce
libel brought by his wife. Mrs. Jennie
Whipple, on grounds of non-support.
George D. Morse, the salted peanut
ness.
Judge Henry j. Clarke visited in
worcester this afternoon.
Thomas Tomlinson of Worcester Wis
tied with Mr.. and Mrs. E. D. Clemans