Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-10
issuance was given by the Public

bridge across the hcnueDeC i''ei a.
Augusta would be made in the near
future. Chairman Cleaycs of the
commission stated that the commits
sion had for some time had In
mind the necessity OF the examina
ton as to the safety Of the bridges
used by the electric railroads OF the
state and OF some OF the steam rail-
roads, as well. and as the commission
was in the way OF securing railroad
bridge engineer. the matter would be
attended TO. He also informed both
the representatives OF the city Of Au-
susta and the Cumberland County
Power 4 Light Co, which operates
the Lewiston. Augusta & Waterville
street Railway. one of the heaviest
users OF the bridge. that they would
lie given ample notice of any recon-
rnendations made by the engineer, as
to changes. expense. etc.
Mayor Willis r.. Swift Of Augusta
an examination OF the bridge. as to
it's safety. Built nearly 80 years ago
to accommodate the traffic of that
period. he thought II wise that its
condition in relation to the much in
creased travel and enormously heav-
icr loads of today he determinedas
a matter Of precaution wholly. He
did not and the people did not say ii
is unsafe. bat they ALI felt that they
had the right 70 be assured. after
proper examination. that ii Is safe.
Alfred Sweeney. assistant TO the
general manager of the Cumberland
County Power e. Light Co. and Chief
Engineer 6. &. Estill OF the same
company, made statements as to cx-
aminations made by order of the
company within the past few year,
and gave as their opinions that the
bridge Is absolutely safe and able
without straining TO carry tho loads
imposed upon il.
Mr.. Sweeney stated this his COM
pany employed Prof. Swain. a con-
sulting engineer. professor of Massa-
Chusetts Technology. to investigate
certain bridges. including the Augusta
one. and he sent Prof Louis +. Moore
10 do the work. accompanied by Mr..
Sweeney. He was unable to find that
report. but in 1915 he wrote Prof.
Moore. asking If the bridge was good
for the load OF 50-ton motor car
and Acton trailer.
Professor Moore on Dec. 5. 1915. re-
h.t
Augusta should carry your cars
without trouble. provided you replace
The wooden trusses with lS-inch 80
pound | beams" We had already.
in 1914 replaced the wooden trusses
with iron beams. s'iffenlng angles,
new rails. the wooden paving. etc,
all OF which tended to strengthen the
bridge.
Mr.. Sweeney replied to Chairman
Cleaves' inquiry as the cause and eff
feet OF the rafting and vibration no.
ficeable I'm the bridge. that the
bridges construction was OF consid-
cradle fiexibility. more than would be
allowed in modern construction. but
that II did not in the least denote
any danger.
Chief Engineer G. c. Estill stated
that he had last week made an ex
animation OF the bridge and found il
in rst-class condition: in fact, he said
he did not know of n highway bridge
that had been so well cared for. He
specified the condition as he observed
each point and stated that It was
certainly good. in his opinion, for the
loads II is required to carry. pro-
Nided that all the parts worked to-
Eether as they We're now doing. The
rafting indicated nothing dangerous
The bridge is very flexible. A team
causes more vibration than an cleo
trio car. II is due largely to the I'M
usual heighth Of the trusses.
Mayor Swift here repeated that
neither he nor the city contcnded
that the bridge was unsafe II was n
precautionary measure they were
asking. The bridge is much lighter
than would now be built and the
citizens feel that its exact condition
OF the structure as TO the heavy loads
II Is carrying should be determined
and made known.
'''' ''""'h'N 'liohEut tHe apparent
ligh'ness OF the bridge was dcceptive
anu mat IT is much stronger than il
looks. Answering Chairman CIeaves
ne said that no heavier loads were
being carried over it since the ex-
animation by Prof. Moore. a 5O-top
car and 40 ton trailer.
MAYOR Swift DO understand
that Your Totnpnuv ohier,. g., - =,
Nestigation""
MI. Sweeney--"\o, indeed Pm, W..
have and do depend on the report ~
our expert and think the bridge nor
fec'ly safe FOR all II is called upon to
DO"
Chairman clcaVes than made his
announcement OF the proba BILE early
Investigation OF the condition of the
Augusta bridge. in common with
others. and said that the case would
simply be suspended. To await the
outcome OF the examination.
Other Hearings
The petition of the Mattawamkeag
Northern Hallway Co. for an ex-
tension OF it's charter Tor not less
IMAM three years. was presented bv
counsel Charles n. Carter OF Lewis
ton. who said the proposed line was -
miles long, an electric road from
Millinocket to East Millinocket and
Mattawamkeag. connection there with
the Maine Central line Considerable