West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-10-26
CRANE BEATS THE TRUST.
The American Bridge Company Runs
Against a Snag.

SN'N' H'-N ih hhS COutt mere IOr
some time was that of The American
Bridge Company against Orlando
c. Crane, cashier of the Terra Alta
Bank. The facts of the case are
about as follows. Mr.. Crane owns
a number Of building lots in the
suburbs of Terra Alta. In fact what
is called Cranes Addition lying east
of the b. & .. railroad and in the
southeast suburbs of the town. In
order TO make the lots convenient
and easy of access it was necessary
to build bridge over the railroad
and as the cut is deep at the loca-
ton of the bridge and the street, it
was thought no foundation would be
necessary as the bridge would be
high enough above the railroad to
build it level with the ground on
each side. Mr.. Crane contracted
with the bridge company to erect
the bridge for sr,a5o, they to fur
nish everything, foundation or piers
or whatever would be necessary for
FIRST class job and satisfactory TO
the b. & o. railroad. When the
bridge builders came on to work the
foreman or whoever was in charge
started to build stone. pillars, four
on each side, but found out the
bank was sandy and they would have
to go down so far TO get solid base,
that it would be cheaper and easier
10 build foundation at each end.
As this was matter entirely with
the company, Mr.. Crane raised no
objections as all he asked was
good job and one that would pass
inspection by the railroad people.
1t was soon apparent that the foun
dations were to be very cheap and
inferior affairs as small stones and
poor sand and the cheapest cement
was being used. so that they were
not complying with the contract
and the b. & o. inspector promptly
condemned it and refused to allow
the bridge put upon such structure.
The Company made all manner of
excuses when they found they were
stuck and wanted Mr.. Crane to pay
for the job anyhow, which he of
course refused to do. This was
about four years ago. They finally
brought suit for So, 500, in full for
the bridge and damages etc. In
the meantime Mr.. Crane tried for
two or three years to get them to
go ahead and build bridge accord
ing to contract and as they failed to
do so he contracted with the Canton
Bridge Co. Of Canton, Ohio, and
they promptly put up a bridge for
SI,I7S and Mr.. Crane furnished the
foundation himself. The suit was
tried during the present session of
court, the Bridge Company being
represented by Attorney F. O.
Blue of Philippi, while P. !. Crogan
and w. G. Conley appeared for
Crane. 1t looked cheeky for Crane
to buck the great American Bridge
Company Trust but he knew he was
right and had a good case which
was made strong and complete by
Cranes having kept copy of every
letter he had written them and also
every letter he had received from
them and the railroad etc. There
were about a hundred letters and
these were filed in the case, as we'll
as the contract. The evidence of
the b. & o. Inspector and the man
in charge of the work for the Bridge
company, even, was all in favor of
Crane and the jury promptly gave
him verdict leaving the Company
to pay the cost. The case was so
dead against them that it is hardly
likely they will try to appeal it..
There were two interesting points
brought out during the trial, first
that Mr.. Crane is very careful and
far-seeing business man and does
his work thoroughly as was shown
by the completeness of his case and
second, that the Bridge Companies
have been skinning the County on
bridge contracts and doing the same
Jobs much cheaper for private par
ties than they co for the public.
Here is moral that should bear
fruit in this county.
"
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