The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-02-24
GRANITE BRIDGE
4GAN VOTED FOR
Continued from first page,)

especially horse drawn vehicles,
Northerly abutment in poor condition.
Detailed reports are given Engineer
Snyder gives Details on the various
vertical and inclined truss members,
specifying decay in places. Flooring
reported poor. Significant points of
weakness are shown in displacement of
Joints and splitting of members-prob
ably due to overlooking. Consider
bridge unsafe for modern traffic but its
life could be prolonged for several
years at expense of approximately 3d.
300, including a sidewalk for pedes-
TRANS. Does not recommend this course
as feels new bridge is needed-and
right here Mr.. Snyder touches the key
note of the entire situation when he
says:
1.-THE almost phenomenal increase in
the weight and volume of traffic during
the past 10 years is taxing to the ut
most the bridges built previous to that
period. This is especially true OF
bridges on main highways between the
larger towns. Motor trucks of total
weight including load, of 20 tons are
not at all uncommon. In addition, the
impact of swiftly moving vehicles sets
up stresses in the structure which were
never thought of nor considered in
bridges designed before the advent OF
the automobile In considering the
safety of any bridge, due weight must
be given to the probable increase in
traffic during the next few years. What
would be considered an extravagant
estimate this year may be conservative
next year and entirely too small the
following year.
S. d. Allen was in favor OF building
a cement bridge, as this was being used
most extensively throughout the coun
try and would be cheaper than a gran
lite bridge. Alex. Milne stood up to
saw that we were advertising Barre
granite and not cement. Alex. Duncan
thought that as long as the quarry
owners were willing to donate the
granite we needed little competition
to see if some interested party would
not donate the cement also.
Engineer Hayward's Report Given By
E. r. Davis,
F. r. Davis read a report by B. NJ.
HAYWARD of Montpelier, formerly con
struction engineer for the Montpelier q
Wells River road He said the bridge
now standing was not in as bad condi-
ton as might be expected from the
length of time it had stood and the
traffic handled He thought it could be
repaired so as to last several years yet,
The principal drawback to building an
arch bridge was the condition of the
river bed, which, Mr. Hayward sand,
was quicksand. He said that when the
Barre railroad was constructing the
bridge Just above plans were made for
such a structure but it was found that
the condition of the AUDITING land did
not make it advisable In adding to
this. Mr.. Davis said he was not against
building suitable structure for the
needs providing it was absolutely nee.
pssarv but he was strongly against an
increased tax rate which tended to keep
capital out Of the city and forced land
lords to let their property stand I'M
repaired.
As &, the expense figured roughly by
Mr.. Davis "a $4,000, Mr.. Duncan said
he understood there was a figure OF
s27 400 that would construct the bridge
completely, taking care of reinforced
abitments. etc, a. Fred /. Page said
that granite arch bridge must be Sc
curclv built on solid foundation. John
r. Tierney said he voted against the
granite bridge ut the previous meeting
hut since had found out the merits of
the same and thought that was the
bridge we should have. Cyrus han
brought relaxation when he said that
the railroad had at one time proposal
to tunnel through the solid rock Just
beyond and thought the city might go
in with the railroad and no bridge
would be needed unless a dry bridge.
The discussion ended here and a
standing vote was agreed upon.
Those in favor of postponing indefi-
nitely action on resembling, or in other
words. those who were in favor of a
granite arch bridge, were asked to stand
while the tellers counted. They were
in such majority that Chairman How
land asked them to be seated and asked
those who were not in favor of the mo-
ton to rise and the tellers, William
Barclay, S. d. Allen, +. l.. Page, Alex.
Duncan. Alex. Milne. c. r. Hall, +. X.
Davis. +. J. Batcheder, W. A. Drew
and J. A. Rowen were satisfied that
the majority stood for sustaining with
out making count
One important step, which was en-
dorsed unanimously, was that the mat
ter of erecting the bridge be left until
after March Is, so that the new admin
istration would have complete charge
of the building The meeting then ad-
journed.
The cost Of the bridge will be taken
care of by bonds amounting to $4,000.