Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-11
COMPANY DENIES BRIDGE
IS IN UNSAFE CONDITION
Asks for Name of Engineer Who
Called First Street Viaduct
Death Trap"
REPAIRS ARE NOW UNDERWAY
Administrative Board Alert to See
That Requirements Arc Compiled
Misunderstanding Addresses Letter
tn Barton Heights Association.

Asserting that the First Street Via
duct has been kept constantly in re-
pair by the Brookland halfway and
Improvement Company. of which he has
for Il long time bccn president, Fritz
Sitterding. who is also vice president
Of the Virginia Railway and Power
Company. yesterday took issue with q
statement made in the meeting Of the
North Richmond CT liens ASsoCia ton
Tuesday night.
The statement. attributed To a Mr.
stevens was that the bridg. is "A
vcritablc death trap, and that an en- .
Iinecr who had made an examination
Of the bridge some time ago Rad told
him conhdcntially that it you'd not
last many months. and that he expected
Il terrible disaster If trainc continued
to use the bridge.
Mr. SittcrdinG'S reply To this charge
is conveyed in a formal letter to w. s.
Petit, president Of the North Rich
rrond Citizens Association. asking for
the name of Mr. Stevcns's informant.
lin order that we may ascertain If
she statement was correctly quoted by
Mr stevens and demand retra ction.
that Justice may be done"
The viaduct. after negotiations he
tween the railway company and the
Administrative BOARD Is now being
strengthened and repaired. and CITY
Engineer Boiling. under instructions
tho work to see that II corresponds
vi,n tho requirements laid down by
the board.
SITTEHDiNG PROTESTS
AGAINST YELLED ATTACK
Mr. Sitterdings letter TO Mr.. Petit
IS, in part, az follows:
Without commenting upon the &C
ton Of "a bridge examiner in making
confidential communications TO An out
IN inv lt-i ~ 70 ri n
death. IT is sufficient to say that this
bridge has been kept constantly in re-
pair by the Brookland Railway and
Improvement Company. OF which ] am,
and have been for a long time, presi-
dent.
"A year or two ago. before the heav-
Ter ears were operated over the bridge.
tn. company secured the services OF
Mr.. Grover formerly chief bridge en-
Eiu"cr Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway Company, and now one of the
leading bridge engineers for the United
states government. TO make a careful
ana thorough inspection OF the bridge
with view 10 the proposed Increased
load. The bridge was strengthened
and rc-enforced IN accordance with his
so as TO carry with
absolute safety ;hree-car train Of
cars, weighing 20. 600 pounds each and
fall of passengers.
Tho bridge has also been inspected
by order OF the State Corporation Com
whose expert at that time
was the lat" T.. W. Scarborough. and
every recommendation made by him
ccpt AS to the flooring, the condition Of
which Is not dangerous. pu, which
viii shortly he renewed
SAYS COMPANY MAKES
INSPECTION EVERY WEER
In addition to thcs. statements 7
Wish 20 call your attention To the fact
,hat on every bridge owned or con
,rolled by III" Virginia Railway and
Power Company. or any OF its allied
conpa MEG. a detailed weekly iuspec-
,ion Is made, the actual condition re-
ported 10 the proper official, ana nee
essay rcp2irI promptly made ] do
not hesitate 10 say that the bridges
operated by The Virginia Railway and
Power Company can he proven at any
time 20 b" absolutely safe.
The charges made at your meeting
""r- very serious, and did both com
pan!"s grave injustice. II seems to
N: that u ought 10 be self-evident
tn;t even most reckless company
"pE!r not fan to protect the travelling
gIb!lr ana ~ own treasury by Keeping
- hc!.-"a ana viaducts in an abYn-
!y'"ly sn'" condition.
n ~ nor Knnw Who the Mr.. stevens
!'!Ei!"G 20 iE. bui as tie statement
W. mao" ~ u public meeting of YOUR
a*sooi"'!rr. respectfully ana most
earnestly a"E mat you promptly advise
~" the name u! SIR. Stevcns's inform
:nt M condemned the bridge con
fH"i' ally - Yucn unnraH,Ircd terms
- "'prf that y" may ascertain If ;hc
.i*'"ir"f, mas correctly quoted by Mr.
S'.E''is "Ad Heuaud ii retfac.ion, that
justice nay ce done
~ yrL ~ any y! your citizens dc
si'e - INSPECT tn"ec reports or to 10
Hiri'""" - ~" @Ginllr IN connection
"i}n or bf!lH"s. ~" shall bc glad 10
o"pfH iI'a vac fI!Icrl facility for