Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1919-07-12
new BRIDGE
WAS OPENED
CONTINUED FROM PAGE y

(CONTINUE ED FROM PAGE -
which it is connecting link and said
good work by Senator Orlando Harri-
son. OF Worcester County. caused the
bridge 10 be built. and good work by
senator Collier. of Talbot County. was
responsible for the steamboat ferry
from Annapolis to Claiborne. The
last few days" the Governor added,
have demonstrated that the ferry
will be success. prcdict We will
soon have three trips Il day, or four
If necessary, and give people service
to the Eastern Shore.
The Governor also said that the con
tract for the pocomokc bridge con
Meeting Worcester and Somerset Coun-
ties would soon be let. and that the
state Roads Commission would live up
TO its promise.
Nh Mackall, the next speaker. said
the bridge was big undertaking for
which credit was due primarily TO tn
people of Maryland and Worcester
County. 1t was the last link in the
chain Of good roads from Ocean City
70 Western Maryland
senator j. II. c. Lcgg. of Queen
Annc'S County. said Harrington was
the greatest Governor, civil and war
that MARYLAND ever had. Praise from
Senate Harrison for his work in hay
ing III" bridge and good roads built
brought forth applause. IF all the
good road bills offered by senator
Harrison had been passed" he added.
you farmers would not have room to
plant grain of corn" Senator Harri-
son. the last speaker, emphasized the
need of good roads in the agricultural
districts. Good roads. he said would
do more than anything else to restore
normal prc-war conditions.
The new bridge is part of Mary
lands good roads system. which now
extends continuously from the noun
tainS to the scaShorc II is the tide
water termination of the excellent
highways for which the State is fam
Gus The bridge is over Sinepuxcnt
Bay and from shore line to shore line
is 800 feet long, part concrete and
part solid roadway. The concrete
structure is 220 feet long. covering
four waterways of 80 feet each and
supporting a draw span Of 10 feet.
CauScways 500 feet long are nj each
end of the draw. A heavy bank of
oyster shells and stone support the
causcways.
The bridge itself rests upon six
massive concrete piers supported by
piling. These piers were built in large
Golfer dams under great difficulty be-
cause of strong tides and ocean surf
washing into the bay. The draw is of
steel, Of the double-leaf lift type, and
is operated by electricity. II is Of the
most modern design and can be open
cd in less than a minute for the pas
sage of vessels. The roadway is 81
feet wide. admitting three automobiles
abreast. a steel and concrete opera
ton house, two stories high. is about
midway of the bridge. II is of the
latest design. with an attractive
pagoda appearance. The bridge was
constructed by the State Roads Com
mission and cost $l25,000 /; has
been in use since May 9Th last Wor-
cestcr County will he saved 500 Il
month which it paid for the use Of the
railroad bridge for general traffic.
John y. Mackall. of Baltimore, was
chief engineer in building the new
bridge. 7. +. Burroughs, now resi-
dent engineer for the State at Sails
bury, was superintendent Of construc-
ton and in direct charge of the work.
II is expected that the new bridge,
with the recently established ferry
from Annapolis to Claiborne, will add
greatly to the prosperity Of Ocean
City