Evening journal., 1913-06-17
Peoples Column
THIRD STREET BRIDGE.


Editor of THE EVENING JOURNAL
Sir: Why did Third street bridge
cause so much trouble and cost? IL
was because there was not proper
foundation for the centre pier to
carry the bridge. Soon after the Levy
Court accepted the bridge 1t began to
sway about and give trouble, The
Levy Court, upon examining it, found
II necessary TO make repairs and re-
build as best il could. First, by put
ting strong, heavy iron hoops around
the piling and filling in and around the
piling with stone. costing the county
hundreds of dollars. That elbows that
II is necessary that the Levy Court or
the committee thereof that has charge
of any contract work or material to
see 10 il that it is done as per con-
tract and specification.
For bridges or for macadam roads
they should appoint a competent en-
eineer. or a person who is familiar
with the work, who is honest and has
force of character to see that the
work and material are strictly in ac-
cordance with the contract
The Third street bridge cost the
county hundreds of dollars on account
of the centre pier not having been
properly built I will give a short
account of the experience l had with
the bridge | was elected from the
Second district. Wilmington hundred,
a member of the Levy Court and took
my seat in January, 1901. As chair
man of the committee on bridges, l
noticed the bills coming in for re-
pairs of Third street bridge we're
heavy. l commenced to investigate,
\ inc 10
Court about $1,000 a year to meet bills
from machinists and electrict light
companies and others. ! Immediately
discharged those who had charge of
the work. except the new bridge-ten-
der. who was a gooG and faithful man.
II was a regular graft hole. The
bridge was in a terrible condition,
shifting about, breaking and smashing
cogs. The new bridgetender told me
he thought the trouble was at the
bearing centre of the bridge He told
the men who we're from the machine
ship, but said they would not crawl
under the bridge to see.
got an expert machinist and we
examined and found the saddle that
held the pivot was cracked clear
through and the pivot sliding about
when the bridge was moving II was
an old break one of the causes of so
much breakage and cost for years.
Immediately made inquiry to find out
where il was made. PhoeniXville, Pa
was the place. / ordered a new one
made as soon as possible, of the besl
material A few days after | ordered
the saddle the bridgetender had trou-
BILE with the bridge. Il was very neaI
falling in the river He could not gel
a. on again. and left IL on the tenders
I had to get a man from Phoenixville
vho was in that line of business, tc
raise the bridge so we could get room
10 put in the saddle when it came. anc
to lower the bridge down to its place
We have had very little trouble since
The cost of the saddle and raising
the drawbridge and lowering 1t agair
was $4,000.
We built steps and platform so as
TO carry foot passengers from shore tC
shore by boat, which was very sat
isfactory The bridge was out of ser
vice six weeks with all our hurry
The boat cost SIS per week.
In building the new bridge II the,
make the opening $50 feet wide II
place OF 120 feet. II will cost S2O,OO'
more. so have been told by an eXper
engineer on bridges. If the bridge il
off three months, that would b'
twelve weeks They certainly coulC
finish the bridge in that time. Aftel
they had built ahe abutments. Twelve
weeks at SIS per week for boat, $500
To put the steps and platform, 500
making a total of $1,000 Take tha
from $4,000, and it would leave
$1,000 Certainly that amount il
worth looking after.
Yours truly,
Philemma Chandler.
Wilmington. Del. June 16. 1913.