The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-10-27
Further knowledge.

O1e year ago we took occasion to al
lude TO the opportunity eff red the ob-
serving people OF our town To gain
knowledge Of the art OF bridge building.
The opportunity of last season was util-
IL d by large numbers OF our citiz.ns,
old aud young, during the time the
concrete-steel bridge across the Wes-
serunsett, two miles from the post office
on the Canaan road, and the steel one
across the North chaDnel we're in the
hands of the builders.
Further opportunity to acquire useful
knowledge 10 this line was sff1rded this
season and it happens that the processes
of procedure were along en- irely difftr-
ent lines; thus making the object lessons
more valuble to the observers OF the two
years.
The fret problem to be worked out
this year WAS to provide a temporary
structure to accommodate the foot passen-
gers and teams during the four months
the bridge across the South channel was
under construction. This WAS built of
logs massed and firmly fastened together
floating upon the surface OF the water,
timbered, planked and rallied, much after
the plan OF pontoon bridges, veterans
of the war Of 1861 will remember, logs
being used instead of boats. IL was a
happy conception and admirably served
the purpose for which it was construct
ed at moderate expense to the town.
The stone work for the heavy abut-
ment Of the bridge on the North bank
proved more d ffieult Job than WIS ex-
pected, and here was where the first
really difficult and interesting problem
WAS projected. II WAS problem In
! hydraulics. In order to make the neces
sary excavations to carry the foundation
down TO the solid ledge 1t was necessary
to shut out water by use of Golfer dam.
A cotfar dam Of the usual style was put
In under the direction OF George +. Farm
ham, an expert in this line of work, but
it did not hold water. A second one was
built outside Of that, but the bottom Of
the river was uncertain, of a quicksand
formation, and still the water forced its
way through. Lastly a third dam OF
matched and grooved planks was put in
place inside the others and skill, exper.
fence, energy and long continued hard
work conquered; the water was shut out
and work Of laying the big blocks oil
granite In cement started from bed rock
foundation. No such difficulty WAS en-.
countered In placing the abutment or
the south bank.
The erection of a temporary structure
upon which to erect the heavy stee
frame work WAS the next piece of work
new TO Skowhegan assembly. Moth.
ing OF the kind was required in building
the North channel bridge as the old
wooden one served for that purpose
The spectators gave this operation the
attention 1t deserved, keeping full ranks
| whenever the weather was propitious
and were rewarded by seeing gooC
piece of work expeditiously performed
But the hight OF interest WAS reached
when the heavy steel pieces constituting
the framework of the structure vert
strung out on the temporary bridge anc
piece by piece were put in place. Thu
imposing structure rapidly grew int
symmetrical form until at last it resteC
upon the solid granite masonry at eithel
end, standing up in bold relief, thing Of
substantial beauty suggestive of grea
resistive power, sufficient to carry any
load that may be placed upon it during
the present century.
The execution of this work throughout
seemed TO meet the approval OF thu
citizen volunteers who watched its pro,
gress. The remark was frequently hearC
that "these men know their business.
They are evidently men Of long exper
fence In this line of work, hardy, muscu
lar, stalwart men, gentlemanly In wore
and act, a splendid crew of skilled work
men, who know how to build bridges an(
who attend strictly to the work 10 hand