Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-16

easht to undertake to anaoauee n
ma conclusion at this time. Our
reason for so believing Ii that the
Dliose' according to the report Of our
snsineer' can be safely used under
certain restrictions, a portion Of
"hcn restrictions apply to the
street railway over which we nave
40 control. and another portion to
n1sh"ay uses, over which we have no
CONTROL. Without knowing whether
VIC CITY OF Augusta will accept and
carry out the recommendation Of
our engineer and thus render the
orloge safe for use, provided the
idH"ay may also be restrained from
oVerioading the bridge, we cannot
iihaiiy determine whether the struc-
'uie needs repairs, renewals.
strengthening or perhaps rebuilding,
or whether in its present condition
IL viii be so used as not to subject
the travelling public to hazard and
danger.
Inc statute under which we receive
our authority and perform our duty
Is section II of Chapter So and re-
CURED us to determine what repairs.
renewals, Strengthening Of rarts or
REBUILDING is required to make a Civ
en- structure safe for the uses to
"hlch it is put. If the citv of Au-
susta is to continue to use the bridge
LOT highway purposes as 1t il now be-
ing used we Nigh. be forced to the
conclusion that even with -easonsh ,y
restricted railway use it would not
De safe and would have to be
strengthened or perhaps rebuilt. On
the other hand. il the city accepts our
recommendations and carries them
INTO eject we can then control the
operation OF tic electric road. and
"ould undoubtedly conclude that no
SUBSTANTIAL repairs are at present
necessary. We shall, therefore, hold
the case open for final order. at
present make certain recommends
.iohs, and govern our future action
ny the acceptance or rejection of
these recommendation, by the city.
The wires Of power company are
the telephone and telegraph wires are
an attached to poles affixed to this
pfloge. In an ice storm, such as fire.
quently occurs in this climate. the
weight and the wind stress is said TO
De equal, If not to exceed, the stress
paced upon this structure by the
passage of as heavy a load as the
electric railway has been known to
carry. We recommend that all wires
OF telephones, telegraphs and electric
hight and power companies now car
trusses upon this bridge be removed
ana carried by such other methods as
the cities and the companies involved
may advise. such methods to be sub
Ject to the approval of this commits
sion.
we recommend that the trottinp
OF horses upon the bridge be pro-
hIbited. We recommend that dur,ng
the winter months snow be not al
ioweo TO accumulate upon the side
walks nor upon the highway, except
IN amounts absolutely necessary to
maintain highway traffic. This
amount should never exceed five
inches of travelled packed snow upon
the highway portion.
II these recommendations are ac-
cepted and assurance given that tho
same VIII be carried out. we shall re-
qulre of the electric railway the fol-
lowing:
While the bridge is being used for
'raHlc the following classes of rail
way traffic may enter upon or cross
the bridge: First, any single car
which with load does not exceed Ak
tons in weight, equally distributed on
eight wheels. Second any train CON
slsting of one unloaded double truck
motor freight car, followed by one
unloaded truck trailer car.
men the bridge is not being used
by highway traffic the following
classes of railway traffic may enter
upon or cross the bridge: First. anv
car which with load does not exceed
90 tons in weight, equally distributed
upon eight wheels. Second, any
IRAN consisting of one motor freight
car which with load does not exceed
50 tons in weight, equally distributed
on eight wheels. followed by one
trailer which with load does not ex-
coed As tons in weight.
NO car which with load exceeds
eo tons in weight shall enter upon or
cross the bridge at any time.
NO car or train shall enter upon or
cross the bridge while another car is
upon it.
The speed of operation Of cars
acress the bridge shall never exceed
eight miles an hour.
A certified copy of these recommcn-
dations is to be sent to the mayor of
Augusta and the case held open for
further action.