Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-12-01
IN A DILEMMA
Severn River Bridge Causes Some
Anxiety To The Board 0Y
County Commissioners.
SAID TO NEED REPAIRS.
Law Provides The State Shall Take
Over Structure As Part OF Boule-
yard-CommissiOners In A
Quandary. y

The county authorities are in some
thing of a dilemma over the dangerous
condition Of the Severn river bridge,
and the failure of the State Highway
Commission to take over the structure
as part of the State bouevard from
Baltimore to Annapolis which it is
alleged was authorized by an Act of
the last General Assembly.
At the meeting of the County Com
missioners on Tuesday, Engineer Hay
man submitted a report calling atten-
tion to the dangerous condition of the
bridge. He says that many Of the
piles. particularly at the southern end
Of the bridge, have been so badly dam
aged by the ravages of the destructive
teredo worm, as to render the bridge
dangerous to traffic. Engineer Hay
man recommends that the driving of
number of additional piles to rectify
the trouble, and that thorough exam
nation be made, employing diver to
assist in the work if necessary.
The Commissioner followed this re-
port up by adopting an order calling
on their counsel to prepare the neces-
the State Highway Commission to
compel the Commission to take over
the bridge as provided in the Act of
1910, as the condition of the structure
makes it dangerous to the lives and
property of citizens. The Commission
ers take the stand that they are not
required, nor authorized, to make re-
pairs to the bridge, and desire to have
their position made known to the pub
lie. and to feel that they are not re-
sponsible for any accidents or dam
ages that may arise as result. 1t is
stated that the Commissioners have,
from time to time, taken steps request
ing the State Highway Commission to
take over the bridge, but to date they
have been unable to get action in the
premises.
In line with existing conditions,
the Board passed an order directing
Engineer Hayman to have painted
two large signs, bearing the word
dangerous in bold letters, calling
attention to the dangerous condition
of the bridge, and stating that the
County will not be held responsible
for damages or injuries resulting
from the use of IT. A copy Of the
order will be forwarded to the State
Highway Commission.
Other business transacted by the
Board was as follows:
Maurice Hardesty, who was appoint
ed at the meeting Of November 81 as
keeper of the bridge over Tracey's
creek, having failed to acknowledge
acceptance of the position, or to take
charge of the work, the Board declared
the position vacant, and thereupon
William c. Catling, was appointed as
the bridge keeper at salary of $50
per year, said appointment to take
effect at once.
A committee composed of Messrs.
John II. Rodgers and H. c. Rodgers,
appointed by the Board, reported that
the construction of a county wharf at
Cedar Point is a public necessity.
The committee appointed to exam
me the wharf in Rock Greek found
that the present wharf is too small
to take care of the traffic, and recon-
mends that frontage of 20 feet addi-
tional be placed on the east side OF
said wharf. 1t is recommended that
the County Engineer be instructed to
prepare plans and specifications, and
to advertise for bids for the work.
The committee was composed of Engi-
neer Hayman and Commissioners
Pettebone and Brown.
The Engineer was authorized ito pre-
pare plans and specifications for the
construction of bridge over the Pa
tuxent river, at Priests Bridge, ac-
cording to the relocation, provided
the Prince Georges County Commits
sioners agree to pay half the cost OF
same.
Mr.. S. o. Tilghman, Clerk to the
Board, submitted his report of proper
tionate expenditures of the road
tax from July /, to October 80, as
follows: First district, z cents on
the 500; Second district,12 1-2 cents;
Third district, IL cents; Fourth dis
trict. II cents: Fifth district Is cents !;
Eighth district, Is cents; general
conty rate, IS cents.
A very large number of bills were
passed