Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-30
SEVENTH STREET BRIDGE
The Famous Structure Was
Inspected Saturday by Mem
hers Of the Levy Court.
CONTRACTOR FAHEY WAS THERE
Part of the Approaches Had
Sunken, But He Said He
Would Fix That--Feat-
ure of the Bridge.

The members of the Levy Court
visited Seventh street bridge over the
Brandywine Saturday. Their visit
was solely for the purpose Of testing
the structure, and not to PASS upon the
question of settling for it with Patrick
Fahey, the contractor, Two cabs bore
the levy courtmen to the bridge, over
the crooked route afforded by Seventh
street. President Merritt N. Willis
and Commissioners lsaac s. Elliott,
John G. Armstrong and S. Frank
Ewart We're in one cab, and Commits
sioners Philemma Chandler, John j.
Mealey and Charles Megginson and
County Treasurer Horace q. Rettew
in the other.
At the bridge they were met by Mr..
Fahey and by A. M. Morrison, manager
of tho Edge Moor works OF the Ameri-
can Bridge Co., which built the super
structure. They found that the western
approach to the bridge had been filled
in, but had sunk somewhat and was
muddy. The contractor said he would
fill in the sunken parts, The bridge
has distinct rise from the present
bed of Seventh street, which some day
may he brought closer to the level of
the structure. More filling in is needed
also at the east approach to the bridge,
although it is now accessible to vehicles
at either end.
II was observed that Mr.. Fahey had
built the wing walls and inserted piling
at the west approach, which he had
declared was not required by his
contract, but which Commissioner
Chandler had declared to be in the
contract. The wing walls arc of
planking and look stout. The bridge
itself is what is called Pratt truss,
comprising one fixed span about 100 feet
long and draw span 135 feet long.
The draw is centre bearing, having a
solid drum, and ID operated by one
man with long lever. The bridge is
"a feet wide, and between the iron
work it is 90 feet. Mr. Fahey drew
the attention Of the court to the figures
for Eleventh street bridge, IS feet :;
Market street bridge over the Chris
tiana, Is feet 10 inches and Third
street bridge, 10 feet 5 inches, all of
them not so wide as Seventh street
bridge.
One of the first things done after the
levy courtmen arrived was to show the
operation of the draw. 1t was turned
easily, making the circuit in about
three minutes. Bridgetender R. w.
Currinder operated the lever. Levy
Courtman Elicit tried his stout muscle
on that work also. Mr.. Fsney asked
Levy Courtman Mcaley how many men
it took to turn Market street bridge.
He replied mine and ten. :"
Do you mean 1872" asked Commits
sioner Megginson.
Mr.. Mealey replied that he meant
nine or ten, and Commissioner Chandler
suggested to his associates that they
were not on school picnic.
Among the persons present while
the inspection was in progress was
Frederick Vansant, an employe of Mr.
Fahey's, who was witness in the
trial of John Lynn, and who has since
been arrested on the charge of perjury.
Mr.. Fahey said that the width of the
draw over the channel was SO feet,
whereas the government requires only
45 feet. The government, he said, had
approved of the plans for q 40-foot
bridge, but apparently it Is satisfied
with the reduced width of the structure
as the channel width is greater than
the required limit. He stated that
every stone that had been put in tho
bridge was inspected by inspectors for
INC levy cOuTli IltHFS W. Wuite anu
Robert Barnett, and that the govern
ment inspectors had also passed upon
the work.
The question of reaching some settle
ment for the bridge was preached, hut
the members of the court will take it
up later. So far Mr.. Fahey has received
$4,000 for the bridge, out of the con
tract price of S25, 600 The bridge is
still his and NOT the rounty;s and iS
not open to travel, except that persons
desiring to cross it may be accom-
moclated by the bridgetender Ordi
narily the draw is left on the pier
running up and down stream.
The members of the court we're
generally pleased with the appearance
/ 80 hn s,tr