The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-09-03

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OF this bridge in 1886 there were three
ice gorges on record in the Susque-
hanna river. First, 1857, caused by
the collapse OF two spans of the Sus-
quehanna Bridge Company's bridge at
the northern limits OF Port Deposit
These two spars were broken down by
the passage of cattle and were swept
down by the spring freshets and lodged
in the mouth of the channel. east of
Battery Light. below Havre de Grace.
which was the main channel at that
time. and caused this channel to fill
and be abandoned.
The Government then built the pres
ent swash channel The streets and
wharves. were from three to five feet
lower than at present and there was no
railroad cmbankment in front OF the
town. This gorge was small affair
when compared with the ON OF 1886,
and subsequent years since this Balti-
more and Ohio bridge has been built
THE SECOND BIG GORGE.
The second gorge was in 1873, due
to damned ice breaking loose at Nc
N-i'i = VI dtitI titCNtIIIe pDHli ANtIpiiS
OF the boom piers at McCullough's
Bar and the old Philadelphia, Baltimore
aud Washington bridge piers. which
had been riprapped The wind blew
strongly from the northwes for two
for three days and made the Flats"
and distractions nearly bare. The
water and ice was little over the
wharves and streets in places.
Third, 1875, due to- the same cause
as that OF 1873. A fight was on at this
time for the removal of the boom piers
which had been put into the river by
the Hartford and Cecil County Boom
porated by the Maryland Legislature
Of 1867, and the piers and bar became
such a menace to the free use OF the
river that the Legislature of 1870 or
dcred the company to remove them.
These piers were a few hundred yards
above the present Baltimore and Ohio
bridge, and formed the greater part OF
the bar. The Government began the
removal Of these distractions abOui
$50. md It is stated that about $,..oon
W, G pcmGed in d,tdgiu2 the shoals.
resulting in temporary relief
Then came the completion Of the
the erection OF this bridge. it is con
put all commercial interests along the
river on a downward course Since
the erection of this fridge. it is con
tended it has caused islands and
marshes to disappear; the west side
above the bridge has deepened, where
there is no channel span in the bridge;
the east side. where the channel is. is
fast filing up. A canal. which has
stood for Is years without break, is
now destroyed,
In 1907 the new bridge was proposed,
and four extra piers were placed in
the river. Again the people OF Port
Deposit protested, and June g. 1907.
Colonel Hoxie, United States engi-
neer, decided adversely to the Railroad
company. October ", 1907, the Board
of Public Works gave permission for
the railroad company to go ahead with
the building OF the bridge, provided
the United States Government would
also give consent. In January, 1908. at
a second meeting before Colonel Hox-
'c, he again decided against the COM
>auy building additional piers.
THE STRING TO THE PERMIT.
April p. 1913, at a second meeting
before the Board of Public Works, a
vote resulted to N favor OF build
inG The bridge As proposed by the rail
road company. and July, 1908 Colonel
Lake Wright gave permission t. &C
ahead. with the following proviso: