Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-09-09
SPACLDING BROS. AGAIN SEND
LOADS OVER STEEL BRIDGE
FAIL TO ASK PERMISSION
To Cross or Not TO Cross-Mattcr
Is now up TO the County
Court.

During the last three months or
more the Spaulding Bros. have been
hauling lumber under difficulties.
II will be remembered that while the
traction engine with heavy load OF
lumber was crossing the steel
bridge at the foot o, Sixth street
one of the important G'ods which sup
ports the structure parted and In
consequence Of this damage the
county court asked the firm not to
carry loads over the structure until
the damage could be repaired and
accordingly lumber was hauled In
from Loves Station by the traction
engine and unloaded on the south
side OF the river, where 1t was re-
loaded on wagons and hauled across.
County Commissioner NJ. A. Wertz
notified the Columbia Bridge COM
pany and received word that they
would repair the damage without
cost, as the brace which had parted
had a defect and should not have
been used. Mr. Wertz put In a tenn
porary support and traffic was re-
sumed, except that the county court
agreed tnat IL would be best not to
permit the traction engine with It's
four loads of lumber containing
about 10000 feet In all TO cross un-
I'll the damage had been fully re-
paired. II so happened that the
bridge company could not spare n
competent man to come down and
take out the old brace and insert a
new one and so the matter has re-
mained until the present time. A
week ago, the Spauldings being tired
OF the delay, sent .he engine with
tull load OF lumber across and have
continued to do so. This raises the
question as to the rights OF those
using traction engines TO pass over
bridges, culverts. and In fact high
ways. At the time Of the accident 20
the bridge, Mr.. VI. O. Eldridge, OF
the public roads division Of the dc.
partment of agriculture. came 10
Grants Pass and Commissioner
Wertz applied to him for informa-
tion regarding ..e laws OF the sew
eral states as applied to the engines
in question. He said that ne would
have the matter looked up and would
furnish any information obtainable.
Some three weeks later the follow
ing letter was received from the act
Ing director Of the office OF public
roads.
M. 0. Eldridge, OF this office. has
Just returned from an extended tour
OF the state Of Oregon in the interest
OF improved highways, and has re.
quested that information be sent you
with reference TO laws In other
states covering the use Of traction
engines on highways There are
very few laws touching the use OF
traction engines on highways, ex-
cept with reference 10 their fright
ening horses and crossing bridges.
None OF the states have any laws
prohibiting the use OF such engines
on the highways, or even restricting
them, except in very minor way.
However. take pleasure In
giving you below such provisions as
are found touching this subject. The
states Of Illinois and Iowa have laws
providing substantially az follows:
Whenever any engine driven in
whole or In part by steam power In
being propelled upon public road.
or N upon the same, the whistle
must be blown. and II must be- stop
ped one hundred yards from any
nerson with horses or other stock
mon said road, and at greater dis
'ance n they exhibit fear on account
thereof until they have passed II:
and competent person must be-
kent ono hundred yards IN advance
NJ II N asslst in any emergency.
In crossing bridges or culyerts. tour
sound. strong planks. nj least
twelve feet lonR. ono foot wide and
two inches ,hks, must be used By