Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-10

double track one. Inc tracks them
selves would b. three feet higher than
those on the old bridge, bat the space
below would be occupied by the beams
and tru3ses
This in his mind was the only feast
bic plan of building. This would give
an increase of overhead room. beneath
the bridge of only two inches He
stated that the engineers had taken
into consideration the needs of the
city, and could not and did not find a
way whereby it would be expedient
and along the lines of proper bridge
construction to build the bridge any
other way.
He admitted, however. that the low.
er giraer could be raised TIVE feet, Civ
ing the space asked for, by occupying
less space in the construction of tie
bed for the tracks. This, he said,
would necessitate the building Of nom
parallel tracks on the curve. some
thing unheard of in his mind. The
tephniealities of the engineering diff
eultiea of the project were discussed at
length by him and Mr.. Hill s'
50 :5=13.s Mr.. Hills Plan. =
f. Mr.. Till, the city engineer q Angus
"a, Asaftesed a plan whereby the neees-
sary clearance space could be had by
the building of non parallel tracks
across The bridge, thus solving the en-
gineering problem Offered. il the een-
stiuction space Of FIVE feet in the new
bridge vas shortened to three feet
His plan was to commence at a point
800 feet west of the bridge and change
the alignment of the inside track on
the center, the outside track remaining
the same, and lengthen the curve of
the track so at the widest point the
distance between the tive tracks Wenld
he three feet This involved the do
ing away with some engineering tech
nicality, that otherwise would be an
obstacle in the path of the construction
of the higher bridge.
Engineer Wheeler laughed at the
idea, saying it was one he had never
heard of, and scoffcd a a nan-parailel
track on bridge However, Mr.. Hill
was sure cf his ground and made an
approximate estimate Of the cost.
E. e Greenwood Proposes.
Engineer +. e. Greenwood. bridge
engineer of Skowhegan, stated tiat
he he'd had many years expert
rnce in the business, and thai lie
thought lie knew a little something
about bridge construction. His plan
did not involve the change in the
alignment of tho two traelzs and was
confined to the constructor Of the
bridge entirely. ~ mort -
He proposed to do away With the
occupying of the entire five feet for
construction purposes, as was the plan
of the railroad engineer Helbased his
plan on the same basis FOR live load
that the railroad did, namely + 81,
which will be understood by engineers.
he declared it was practicable to build
a bridge to obtain the II feet clearance.
He reduced the floor space between
the base of the bridge and the tracks,
from 5 feet inches To three feet, thus
giving the extra two feet clear way.
rhe construction evolved the doing
away with one girder, and making
the bridge only two. The increase of
the weight To be depe ndent on the on
tire space between the two girders,
which will bound the bridge necessi-
tatcs that a truss of increased Weisht
and strength he used This increase in
the strength of the steel would IN
ora.,ssa TIC ,.ast 5bout saeGe The Whole
80, i,,,.a,,.as .,ho,,t tbat Inference in
- ,.,,.t nd MIR Greenwood said
no ala moi SEQ how il would rndanger
tho ,ife ar strength of the bridge in
any Wv
-.
About Lowering inc otfeet e'eoe.
Mr. xyi,,iamson explained at some
,onotb ~ damage and Inconvenience
tbat ,vo,,la, no caused bv the city hay
inc. Ia lo,yssr The grade of Water street
t7ti,ie .afst rio stated that II pro-
,5a,tv ~ a. uoint would he prcatly
aa.,,e,ed 81 ,.'lue. and that great IN
5s..,,,,,zoionL MT 80 say damag e would
l...,I,,,,,,o &c thp f.dWardss Co.
s4rbe da,sssor rem -freshets and floot
,,r,s $3.50 III Nv Mr.. Williamson
/ shoyina mi tb8uld the street be low
! cred the water at a repetition of any
,i,,,es lii. ,sc. and 1891 might flow fol
a great way down Water street.
Al, Williamson called several wit
oe,.,os who testified to the danger ant
aooro,oino 1-.,Ilo Of the property a
| thot ,Iace shnuld the street be lowered
Elmer C. "e"o
,,,t ,,,oxt.r .f Auo1ls.