Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-01-13
Continuing THE
new BRIDGE FIGHT
Ninth Ward Residents Still
Think Washington Street
Structure Should be
Replaced
LEVY COURT
REFERS LETTER

NIL IlNO LII LIN
The Levy Court held a special meet
ng today and after President Hol-
ingsworth called the meeting to or
Ter a delegation Of the Ninth Ward
'ivic Association appeared Leon
Walker on behalf of the Association
presented the following communities
ion regarding the Washington street
lridge
To the President and Members OF
the Levy Court, New Castle
county, Wilmington, Del.
Gentlemen: The bridge COM
mittee of the Ninth Ward 9ivic
Association beg to acknowledge
receipt of the copy of Consulting
Engineer J. E. Greiner's report on
the condition of Washington
street bridge. which you for
warded to them. and to thank you
for the same
After careful consideration Of
this report. we have come 10 the
conclusion that we are fully iust-
fed IN again asking your honor
able body to recommend and urge
the present Legislature to author
lie a bond issue TO cover the cost
of the erection of a new bridge
over the Brandywine. az Wash
ington street, that will adequate
lv provide for the present and
future traffic Of the city.
We base our decision in the
matter upon the following facts
taken from MIR. Greiner's report
O) That while the actual ply
steal condition of the present
bridge has been considerably inn
proved during the past year by
reason of the work done on the
same. there still remain certain
important defects that materially
weaken the structure; and that
these defects have not been caus-
ed bv wear and tear on the bridge,
or by improper maintenance, but
are due solely to improper de-
sign;
(D That the various maximum
loads designated in the report as
being the loads which the bridge
al present will safely carry arc IN
themselves separate and distinct
maximum safe loads TO be on the
bridge AT any one time; in other
words. that load (a). described as
"The regularly operated single
truck trolley cars 30 feet long,
weighing rs tons when loaded
with 20 passengers. or double
truck trolley cars 80 feet inches
such as now used on Delaware
avenue. and which will weign'
about % tons when loaded viii
90 Messengers" or load OBJ mo
for trucks. drays. or road rollers
Weighing s tons on any part o
the roadway; or load tcl,
crowd of people or roadway traih
weighing IS pounds per squaI
foot of floor surface. and tnls y
equivalent to 5000 pounds pc
lineal foot of bridge are tn'
maximum loads for the bridge Il
carry but that safety will not per
nit of loads "(a). Oh and lcl :
ar anv two of them. 10 be on the
bridge AT one and the same time
and furthermore. there are now II
the city of Wilmington trolley
/ cars motor trucks, road rollers
and at times of parades-such az
old Home Week. or other puoh'
gatherings. or congested stree
traffic when the bridge whl ID
strained excessively under IN
1oade hevond its safe carrying
C3l That the loads which
threaten the structures satei!
are really light loads, when com
nared with loads which actual!
mass over the roads and cit!
streets in various parts OF TN
country. and that all importan
civ bridges for a number Of year,
mast have generally been design
e5 so as enable them TO satel!
carry loads and general traffic
which is in excess OF trol
e5 TO 95 per cent of the sal
carving capacity of Washington
Street Bridge. 81,
(D That this bridge was oull
q years ago. and proportional L
carry only the traffic which eN
listed at that time. and withou
making any provision for the III
ture developments and increase
which have now arrived; and ma
really not the capacity of cit
bridge. in accordance with tn
present-day standards; and tina
therefore. pubic safety demand
that the traffic over this bridg
should be restricted under polio
regulations to the defined max
mum loads.
60 That it is unwise TO spen
any large sum of money, such a
would be required to strengthe
the bridge to make it safe for cit
traffic without restrictions. as
would be perpetuating a crud
and unsightly structure in tn
most beautiful part of our cit,
/, where it is entirely out of han
mony with its surroundings.
In conclusion, we respectful
submit that in view. of the fact
sas made public in Mr.. Greiner
report in the event Of an accideI
J. occurring on the bridge. Ne
y Castle County would have no d,
u Tense in a damage suit al lay
and therefore, petition your bod
as follows
: (a) That traffic over tn
brige be restricted under poll
regulations TO the safe limits
defined by the report. by static
ing a guard at each end
the bridge from a. m. to II
m. daily.
Oh That the recommendatio
of Mr. Greiner as to repairs a
=. :. ... La ...arr, .nIa..I Nth l.