The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-25
SCOFIELD SAYS IT'S DANGEROUS To Dredge Near Abufments of East Wa hingtOn Avenue
 Bridge NEW STRUCTURE IF WE
 HAVE 18 FOOT CHANNEL Mayor Informs War Deprt. That Investigation Will be Made
 Before Dredging Starts

The building of new bridge over the Pequonnock river at East Wash 1ngton avenue is necessary in the minds. of city officials who have look ed over the situation. The War De- partment has let contract to dredge to a depth of IS ft, north of the bridge and the mayor and other city officials haves<been advised by former City Engineer Horace G. Scofe1d, un- der whose administration the present structure was built, that it would not be absolutely safe to dredge the river to a depth of IS feet in the vicinity of the bridge because it would be likely to undermine the structure and cause it's collapse.
 Mayor Buckingham said this morn ing, 'The city has asked the War De- partnlent to improve the harbOr north of the bridge. The present bridge is practically an obstruction to a deep CT waterway. I will have diver go down and make a thorough inves- tigation of the conditions at the foun- dations of the bridge and will send a message to the Board of Aldermen, relative to the matter, at the next meeting. If We have to build a new bridge it will be much wider than the present structure and will take care of the future. I am told that a suit bIe bridge can be placedf there for about S70,000. In my judgment it would be money better spent than in widening Congress street."
 The attention of the city officials was called to the matter a~few days ago by G. F. Verrill, civilian engineer employed by the War Department. He wanted to know if it was. going to be safe for the big dredger of the Coastwise Dredging Co. to begin pick ing up the mud from around the piers supporting the brideg.
 Mayor Buckingham called in former City Engineer Scofield who volunteer ed his services to explain the condi- tions ct the bridge.
 Mir. Scodeld went over the ground with Mayor Buckingham, President Rogers of the Permanent Pacing Com neer McKenna, and Director of Pub- lie Works M. A. Kenny.
 MT. Scodeid said that the west pier of the bridge rested upon piles that were only driven into the bed of the river about six feet. A bed O. hard gravel had been struck in driving the piles and they had to be cut off. The engineer was also of the opinion that the pil;ng under the east pier did not go down very far.
 When the bridge was built there was 8 Or feet of water in the chan mel. Since that time the cndnnel mas been dredged to about P, but it has filled in so that it is doubtful if there is over 8 feet of water in the channel at low tide. Large vessels with car goes for firms north of the bridge al- ways wait uAtil the tide has reached highwater mark before going through the East Washington avenue draw.
 Director Kenny of the Public Works department who has supervision of the bridges said this morning. 'The East Washington avenue bridge was built when street railroad cars were light. It was never intended to carry the big double truck cars now being op- eEated The draw has suffered under the strain of double service since the Congress street bridge has been clos ed. The railroad company, aware of the condition of the draw, is drawing plans to have the steel work rein- forced with an idea of submitting the proposition to the city on half and half cost sharing basis. This job would cost s15000 at 1east>and to build new piers would probably cost s25,000. Finished we would have only the old bridge after all. It looks to me as though it would be prudent to have. new bridge"
 If a new bridge is built the city will ask the railroad to share in the