New-York tribune., 1907-09-05
QUEBEC BRIDGE FLAWS.
TESTTMONY 1T INQUEST.
Curvature az Chord of Vest Truss
II Plate Cracked.

Quebec, Sept 4-Tne coroner's jury to-day
continued It's inquiry into the cause Of the death
OF the victims os the Quebec Bridge disaster.
Mr.. Hoare. chief engineer Of the Quebec Bridge
Company, occupied TIE witness box for over
two hours being followed by Mr.. Mcclure, as
sistant e.ssinee-, who returned from PhcenlA-
vile a feG days ago. Mr. Eoarc stated thaL
he had helped to prepare the plans and spechl-
cations of the structure. FIe had also prepared
specifications fer the construction of 2 canti-
lever bridge which were approved b. the GOV
eminent before tenders were called
Mr.. Hoare said that on Tuesday, August "a
Mr. Mcclure reported TO him verbally and to
Nr Cooper in writing or by telegram that on
the ninth lower chord al the west truss silsll
curvature inward was noticed The rlolheh'
any Likely fault was discovered, 'mmedlate
steps were taken TO repair it They old not
consider il 4 serious thing, but witness Vlslte"
the bridge early next morning, and went over
the whole structure with Mcclure and hinloch
After their visit they discussed matters The
engineers on TIE bridge had also checked all
alignment posts and levels and tested the de-
fection, finding everything in perfect condl-
ton After ascerta.ring these facts ne sent
Moclure 70 New York TO describe the condI-
tion of that chord. as the telegraph ana 1ela-
-none service was too slow TO discuss the mat
ter In that way. Mr.. Mcclure left Quebec on
the morning of the 2St:,, saw Mr.. Cooper the
next morning and reached Phoenixvine the 1leHt
afternoon.
In replv tc tie coroner, witness said he i-eTsr
considered the condition OF that chord serious
enough TO cause accident to the bridge hut
considered it Of sufficient Importance 10 send
Mr Mcclure 70 New York.
He could rot speak definitely as 70 the cause
Of the accident and had no opinion TO give
y would take so:ne tine 10 investigate ana
reach = decision.
The pieces in No. Q chord had been n place
ro- over s. year. but he could not tell the exact
t.rae without referring TO the files. They had
no-,oed defect:ozs in other pieces Of steel. not
So pronounced this. but never considered
them cf any moment. they could always be
repaired
Each c< tie engineers iad taken levels on top
@; the piers he day after :i,e accident. and they
were found % be in The Same position Asked.
as an epElnee- sc ne found condition in thai
curvature tca+ should not ek;s'. witness replied
that be die he mad received two reports re-
;7ar5:rg the curvature IN the chord. but he had
Tot been able as Yet - form: q persona! opinion
He also said as an engineer that he did not
e.der that the curvature should be allowed to
remain as st was. All the pieces we're minutely
examined before going into the bridge. and no
record Of any defect had been reported
Norman Mcclure. engineer was the next wit
ness He said that on the evening Of August
q he had reported the curvature TO the chief
engineer He had not considered il dangerous.
but serious TO a certain extent on Mr. Hoare's
instructions ne went TO New York on August
.s 10 consult with MI Cooper. Mr. Cooper had
not made any recommendations or offered any
euerestsons TO him at ALL and did not tell him
that they should not put any more load on the
bridge.
Witness went to PhdniXville on Mr.. Hoare's
instructions and not on Mr. Cooper's. He ar
rived at Mr.. Deans Office at Ph9nixvie at 4:53
.. m and the latter had already received re-
s,orf from HIS own resident engineer by mail
NJ Dean expressed TO witness the opinion that
the chord had always been in the same condi-
aion They discussed the matter 10 a limited
extent but Mr.. Dean had not made any recon-
naendations as what should be done and did
not tell witness not TO put any more material
on the bridge.
Mr. kinloch, another engineer. said that he
had noticed something wrong August %
Alexander Ouimet, of the survivors, said
that in May. while cleaning around the outside
pier he had noticed crack in one Of the lateral
plates from which the chords ran Asked why
ne had not reported II, witness replied that he
was not Inspector and that probably either
Mcclure or Kinloch knew about it. The jury
then adjourned till tomorrow. The government
begin as investigation Tomorrow