The independent-reporter., 1910-09-22
The Malbon's Mills Bridge

receive from a subscriber the follow
ing letter:
Editor independence Reporter.
Dear Sir
Shouldn't you be Investigating the
time that crew is putting in on the
bridge at Malbon's Mills. They have
been at work more than three weeks
on one abutment which is not done
nor anywhere near it. Seems to me
that on a bridge travelled as much as
that one, there should be two crews,
one on either end.
1t is a great inconvenience to the
public of East Skowhegan, Harmony,
Hartland and Cornville, and we peo-
pie of these towns put it up to you
to help us out. | have talked with
people all over this section, and they
all voice the same sentiment. Trust
ing you are the one to investigate it,
we leave it in your hands"
AS mentioned above we were glad
to get this letter for two reasons.
First, because we like to see people
take an interest in all public affairs.
Second, because of the implied COM
pliment to the Independent-Repo
We proceeded to investigate and
found the facts substantially as stat
ed by our correspondent. The bridge
was torn up at the west end and a
gang of five men in charge of Horace
Reed was engaged in rebuilding the
ol nd xr,it,
To do this the west end of the
bridge had been blocked up, the old
masonry torn out, a Golfer dam built,
a concrete foundation lin some places
five feet thick had been put in to
level up the ledge, and the new ma
sonry something more than half built.
Upon talking with the people of
that vicinity we found them inclined
to criticize the work in three ways:
First, because it was being done on
but one end at a time; second, be-
cause the crew was so small; third,
because the men were not working
very hard.
When we put these criticisms up
to Street Commissioner Ford, he
made the following explanations:
Il did not put on crew at each
end for several reason First, that
bridge weighs twenty-eight tons, and
it would be risky to have it entirely
up on false work; second, there isn't
blocking enough in Skowhegan to do
the job that way 1--WE used all that
Mr.. Nutting had, for the west end;)
third, it would have made the job
cost at least $400 more. l doubt very
much if the people who now have to
make the extra distance of a mile and
a half in coming to Skowhegan, would
have cared to pay the extra to have
the time cut down."
"The steam derrick takes the place
of three men on that job, and more
advantage. AS for the rate at which
they are working, | can only say
this: The job was estimated to cost
$2500. We are doing it in first
class shape, and it will come under
the appropriation by good margin" ="
1--WE shall finish the west side and
put on the concrete bridge seat this
week. Then as soon as it hardens
sufficiently we can let the bridge
down, and start the other side. That
will go faster, because the ledge is
up higher, and it will not require any
cofferdam. We are swinging the west
end of the bridge four feet north so
it will line with the road better and
we are raising the whole bridge a
foot to improve the grades. When 1t
is done l feel sure that everybody
will feel pleased with it."
All things considered, we are in
clined to sustain Mr.. Ford's judgment.
In these days of high taxes and high
prices, we suspect that our friends
will be a good part of that $400 bet
ter off from going the extra distance
around. Whether the men are work.
ing at fair rate or not will show
when the bills are all in.