Evening journal., 1907-07-13
DEMOLTSHING OLD
RAILROAD BRIDGE
P. R. R. Starts DiSmantliDg
the SuSquehanna
Structure
IN SERVICE HALF CENTURY

The Pennsylvania Railroad is demol-
ishing its old bridge across the sus-
auehanna river. between Havre lie
Grace and Perryville, and has already
removed the draw and one Of the spans
to the north of the same. as we'll as
two Of the piers. 1t may require six
months. and it may take eight, to re-
move the structure. Last year the
Pennsylvania placed over the river a
double-track steel bridge a hundred
feet or so away from the old one.
The work which has been done so
far on the old bridge was by the Penn
sylvania's own engineering depart
ment, but the cost was considerably
more than the company anticipated,
so that a decision has been reached TO
turn the superstructure, as well as
piers, over to contracting firm. The
company would give the contractors
the material, and it is possible that
it might have to pay something in ad-
dition for the work. 1t is understood
that the railroad has so far received
one bid of this kind, but as yet a con-
tract has not been let.
First Used in 1866.
Officials of the company say they
have no reliable data as to the guam
tity of steel in the old bridge. When
1t was built it was considered one Of
the most notable structures of its kind
in the world. but outlived its useful
ness. The first sounding for the bridge
was commenced in 1854. and on No
vember %, 1866, the first train crossed
the SusQuehanna on the bridge, which
was then a wooden structure, and
which in its early history was blown
down by heavy winds. The wooden
bridge was repaired, but was gradu-
ally replaced by the present old iron
bridge, one span being erected at a
time.
In the old days trains used to be fer
ried across the Susquehanna between
Havre de Grace and Perryville, and
sometimes in winter when the ice was
thick, tracks were laid on the ice and
cars drawn across by horses. At that
time the heaviest freight engines OF
the road weighed only II tons, white
now some of the big locomotives in use
weigh over $50 tons.
New Bridge Cost 100000.
The old bridge accommodated only
one track. and was not built for tho
heavy equipment in service to-day
When permission to bridge the river
was secured the Maryland Legislature
ordered the railroad to carry pas
sengers across free Of charge. and thii
law is in effect to-day. Nearly every
one who has used the Pennsylvania
railroad to any extent between VIII
mington and Baltimore will recall how
all trains stop at Havre de Grace anC
Perryvine and how people frequently
crowd into the cars and ride over tn
bridge The new structure, like III
old, is built for railroad traffic alone
and it would be extremely dangerou
to walk across it. After the new bridg
was finished an effort was made b!
the railroad to turn the old bridg
over to the two counties which it con
meets, but without success.
The new bridge was provided at
cost said to have exceeded S2,00000l
, and it required more than two year
to complete it. It was built on i'm
, proved lines. and is now considers
one of the finest steel structures of IN
: kind in the world. The plans on whlc
it was built necessitated the elevatio
I Of the Pennsylvania tracks in bot
Havre de Grace and Perryville, an
involved the building Of something lilS
FIVE miles of new line. two on tn
: Havre de Grace side and three on tn
. other