The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-01-21
No NEW BRIDGE
UNTIL SUMMER
Correspondence Between
Selectmen and Contract
Ors Shows That
CLAIM OFFICIALS
KNEW CONDITIONS
Head of United Construction Co. Puts
Blame on Conditions Surrounding
Steel Market-Bridge CO. Head Also
Gees Into Details.


Correspondence showing the situation
with respect to the erection of steel
bridge across the Connecticut river be-
tween this village and Island Park Is
published herewith. having been received
yesterday by the Brattleboro selectmen.
The correspondence consists of a letter
from President James Il. Watt of the
United Construction CO. of Albany. con-
tractors with the towns of Brattleboro
and Hinsdale. y H.. to the Brattleboro
seIectmen. and a letter from the sub-con-
tractors, the American Bridge Co, to the
contractors.
Whatever may be the outcome of the
situation as To damages it Is fairly appar-
ent from the letters that in view OF the
destruction of the temporary bridge by
high water Dec. u the erection OF the new
bridge will not be begun until sometime IN
April. Following are the letters:
ALBANY, y. y. Jan. -, 1921.
Mr.. \. ID. Wyatt. Selectman,
Brattleboro, Vt.
Dear Sir -
We are i'm receipt of your communica-
tion of the 11th accompanying list of tim
herS and a memo of the amount OF plank
salvaged from the temporary bridge, but
You d8 not say whether or not there were
any piles salyaged. and that information
is also required We are also in receipt
of the cross section showing the bottom Of
the river.
Relative to the second clause of your
letter in which YOU state it Is the unanl-
nous desire of the board of seiectmen OF
BTattleboro that we complete our contract
for the erection of the new bridge and have
same completed ready for use by March
1st. 1921. would say that at the meeting
held in Brattleboro on December 3lSt / be-
Iieve it was fully explained to those pres
ent the condition surrounding the fabrica-
ton of the work. and from that informa-
ton submitted it was practically con
cluded bv the members of the board of
Selectmen from both the towns of Brat
tlebaro and Hinsdale that it would be
rather unsafe to attempt to erect the
bridge during the month Of March on ac-
count of the conditions of the river based
on past history.
We are enclosing herewith copy of a
letter this day received from the contract
ing department of the American Bridge
Company who are fabricating the work
and who will erect same. III which they
set forth their efforts to secure the mate
rias from the rolling mills. showing that
they have used every endeavor possible
to accomplish that purpose. and from the
best of their knowledge and belief at the
present time they will be unable TO deliver
the material until about March 10Th. 1t
seems 10 ne tlelE Jutislhtiil bdStd Oh tlt
report made by their Mr.. Starr. also from
their knowledge of the river. that should
they attempt to place false work in the
river after March 10Th that they will not
only run the danger of losing both the
false work and the steel supported on
same. but you would lose much more time
in securing the use of the bridge than if
the starting of the erection was delayed
until about the middle of April. We of
course, do not control the rolling mills, nor
do we control the bridge plant nor the
railroads, and we must depend entirely
upon these factors as all other companies
must do. and we have done everything pos
sible and we are satisfied that the bridge
company has done everything possible to
complete the contract 80 that we could
in turn deliver the bridge to you at as
early a date as possible.
After carefully considering this letter,
together with the copy of the letter above
referred to enclosed herewith. we would
like to hear from you further in the mat
ter.
Yours truly,
JAS. r. WATT.