The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-07-09
CHAPEL STREET BRIDGE MUD-
 DLE.
Cannot be Crossed by Traffic--Draw Remains Onan-A Suit Probable.

l Cannot be Crossed by Trafflc--Draw 1 Remains Open--A Suit Probable. A 12 o'clock noon Saturday the draw ! of the new Chapel street bridge was 1 opened and will remain open until some settlement is arrived at between the city and the Berlin Iron Bridge company. Owing to imperfections in the workings | of the bridge it has not been accepted by Director Troup for the city and the Berlin company refuses to make any more repairs or alterations to render the bridge usable until q bill for $5,000 for repairs already made since the com- pany announced the bridge ready for acceptance Is paid.
 The city officials having charge of the
 matter are of the opinion that it is the
 duty of the bridge company to place the
 bridge in a satisfactory condition be-
 fore it is accepted by the city and It
 has not yet been accepted.
 The bridge was according to the con-
 tract to have been completed by Sep
 tember 1, 1899, but for the convenience
 of the company the time was extended
 to January 1. 1900. It has not worked
 satisfactorily since 1t was announced by
 the company to be ready for operation.
 The company claim that the fault is in
 the specifications which it claims have
 been followed.
 Now the residents of East Chapel street and that section of the city will
 be obliged to suffer inconvenience until
 matters arc arranged A tender enl-
 ployed by the company has been in charge of the bridge until Saturday, when he was withdrawn by the con1- pany. Director Troup took counsel with Asst Corp Counsel Robinson and was informed that in the opinion of that or ficial the placing of a tender at the bridge in the employ of the city would constitute acceptance of the bridge by the city. Not wishing to saddle upon the city an unsatisfactory structure Mir Troup decided that it would not be ad- visabe to have city employe attempt to operate the bridge after the com panys tender was withdrawn. The United States regulations concerning navigable waters require that they shall not be obstructed and since he could not, without waiving the citys claims against the company, have city en1- ploye open the bridge for vessels, MT, Troup decided to have the company's employe open the bridge and leave 1t open when he left Saturday noon at the company's orders.
 The closing of the bridge to street traffic necessitated thereby Is great inconvenience to persons living in the Eleventh ward, many of whom have been accustomed to cross the bridge in going to and from employment Now, unless temporary footbridge is erected they will be obliged to go around by Grand avenue bridge. Two boys were operating row boat ferry at the bridge Saturday and yesterday other men and boys were running ferries there. The patrons of the Fair Haven and Vest vile roads East Chapel street line are also nconvenienced since no cars can cross the river while the bridge remains open. It is probable that some tempo rary footbridge will be built this week.
 The bridge building company will now probably sue the city for the bill for alterations and repair since the bridge was declared completed and the city will have counter claim for dam ages for failure to have the bridge in a condition suitable for use. The com pany has placed the matter in the hands of it's attorneys, Gross Hyde & Shirman of Hartford.