The Somerset reporter., 1904-11-03
Longest Span In Maine.

mel Bridge, on which bids were made by
various bridge building companies and
masonry contractors, were compiled by
K. E. Greenwood, c. E., aud this gentle
man has been employed by the town
during the construction work, now near
Ing completion, as engineer and inspec.
tor. BY courtesy OF Mr.. Greenwood, we
are able to give to our readers, suthori-
tstively, the following facts with regard
to this bridge, which Is without doubt
the most important structural work ever
entered upon by this town.
The amount of masonry Ia 1854 cubic
yards In the north, and 7O8 in the south
abutment, making total of 1872 cubic
yards.
The bridge is the longest single spun
in the State, the length OF the a Dor being
$50 feet and the distance between abut-
ments 222 feet. The total height is AZ
feet, OF which 80 feet is above the floor.
The carriage way ia 80 feet and inches
wide aud the walk on each side Ia ak
feet In width.
The weight of the bridge consists of
1870 tons of steel and los tons OF wood,
the latter being for floor only, making a
total OF 295 tons. La addition to this
weight, the bridge is designed to carry
lis tons of snow and Ice and a moving
load consisting of street cars, loaded
teams, people, etc., of 300 tons, making
a grand total of no tons of bridge and
Its maximum load, and each piece is SO
designed that the bridge would carry
about four times the above load before
breaking down, or in other words each
piece can do its part in carrying the
maximum lo0d by using only one.fourth
Of Its ultimate strength. Experience
has shown that iron or steel, when not
strained beyond these limits, does not
deterororate In strength as long as 1t Is
kept well painted and protected from
rust.
The bridge rests upon excellent ma.
sonry, which has It's foundation upor
the solid ledge at the river bottom. Il
ia four and a half feet higher than tn,
old wooden structure and is, therefore
we'll out of danger from high water.
would seem that with proper care Skow
hogan will have good, safe bridge, o
sufficient capacity for all purposes TO
many generations to come.
On being asked II this single Ions
span is as strong and as permanent a
two shorter ones would have been, Mr.
Greenwood makes the following reply
1.-THE answer to this question is the sam
as would be given by any tailor II h
were asked II he could flt a suit to
large man as we'll as to a small one. Il
either case the structure or garment |
made to exactly fit the requirements o
certain conditions"
The South Channel bridge has beef
built because of the general satisfaction
resulting from the bridge constructed
across the North Channel; after tn
great improvement In appearance ant
the added convenience to traffic from tn
bridge building OF last season becam
understood, it was at once evident tina
the old structure across the South Chan
mel would not longer be tolerated.
The first definite step was taken at tn
last March meeting by the appoinmen
Of Chas. a. Marston, A. K. Butler ant
S. W. Philbrick, a committee to investi
gate the whole subject and to repor
with plans and estimates at a specia
town meeting to be called for the pur
pose. This committee made their repor
to a town meeting on June 81, and a
that needing they were made a perma
nent committee to make contracts 70
the construction of the bridge and Il
have entire charge of the matter unit
its completion. The town was excep
vices of these gentlemen In this impor
tant undertaking; they possessed tn
requisite ability to conduct such an en-
terprise and were very generous In de
voting the necessary time to it. Tie
should be accorded much credit for tn
faithful and able discharge of their duty
I Following the meeting of June 81 con
: tracts were at once made with Ellis I
Boswell OF Woburn for the masonry an
with the American Bridge Co. for tn
! iron work. The demolition of the oil
bridge was commenced, June 9th, b
Ellis & Boswell and this firm complete
its masonry contract, Oct. l4th. Tn
, American Bridge Co. have been occupie
In Its part of the work since Septembe
goth and will hardly be able to complet
1t before November 18th although tn
bridge is soon to be open for limited use
The total cost OF the masonry and gu
perstructure will not exceed $4,000
This also includes the removal of the oil
, structure and the cost Of the lemporar,
bridge.