Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-11-10
SEVERN BRIDGE PROPLEM.
COMMISSIONERS FACE VERY
SERIOUS QUESTION.
Find That New Portion of Bridge
Will Be Useless When
Completed.

There is every indication that many
months will pass before the Severn
River bridge can be used. The board
of county commissioners this after
noon held one OF the most stormy ses-
sions in its history, discussing the
problem which confronts it.
Just what way they will turn in an
effort TO give the taxpayers transpor-
tation across the river is not known.
1t was found, however, that condi-
tions are such as to dispel any hope of
a speedy solution of the probelm.
Without money with which to carry
on the work il has on hand, without
any sanction of the law TO proceed
with the most logical solution of the
matter, the county officials find them
selves in an undesirable situation.
They see before them the only alter
native of making bargain which they
might later have TO repudiate.
With contrary interests at stake and
with no ray of light penetrating the
horizon of their gloom, the decision
which they will have to reach within
few days is one which the supreme
Justice of the United States would not
care to decide. 1t is case of being
mathematical if they do one thing and
getting the same treatment if they do.
When the Severn river bridge was
blown away some months ago it was
thought possible that if the destroyed
section was replaced with new work
that portion remaining would be ser
viceable for light traffic or even care
for the regular traffic of the bridge.
Contracts were let for the erection
of the destroyed portion and work
was started some time since. An
effort was made to sell $500, 600 worth
of bonds for the purpose of paying for
the work as authorized by the Legis-
lature. Nothing better than bid of
slightly over par at 4 per cent. could
be secured, and it was decided to re-
advertise.
The second sale has not yet been at
tempted because the advertising time
limit has not expired. What the re.
suit will be remains TO be seen. To.
day, at the regular meeting of the
commissioners, the fact was noted and
discussed at some length that when
the destroyed portion of the bridge is
completed it will be entirely worth
less by reason of the fact that the old
portion is unsafe.
1t was suggested that warning
could be displayed to the effect thai
the bridge was unsafe and it could bG
used only at the risk of the travellers,
Mr.. James Bannon, as counsel for the
commissioners, said that while thai
would lessen the liability of the com
missioners and county, it would mo-
entirely absolve the county from
blame. He said that the only way ht
could see out of the tangle would b'
for the commissioners to permit thu
contractor to proceed with the balance
of the work at the same figure as they
are doing the work and carry the bill
until such time as the county could
| pay. He also intimated that the risl
| to the contractor would be great.
No decision could be reached witt
reference to the matter and as re
suit it will be many months before thu
people can use the bridge. In thu
meantime they will have to be ferrieC
across the river in all sorts of weathe
at the expense of the county.