Year: 1876

HIGHWAY BRIDGE AT PoRTcHEsTEB.


The village Of Portchester Is pleasantly located on
Long Island Sound and on the west side OF O small,
stream called tho Byram River IL contains about 900
Inhabitants Byram River is the boundary between
New York and Connecticut and at the point whero tho
bridge il is about 15o feet in width Ithad Ions
been spanned by awooden bridge which accommodated
heavy traffic between Ponchester and the nciehbor-
ing village Of Greenwich Conn This old bridge becou-
ing unserviceabe by Of age and rotenness it
was resolved 70 remove and substitute therefor an
iron structure, which would afford permanent and
sufficient accommodation for the increasing business
The half of the bridge being in the town Of
Greenwich the structure under the control Of two
committeesone OF Portcheser and the other Of Green
wich. The committee of Portchcster very wisely ap
pointed engineer to prepare plans and speccat
for the masonry Of the bridge their sdo Of the river
They subsequently appointed the same gentleman en-
gneer Of the superstructure which they had
control and in that capacity he drew up specification
upon which contracts to be let He was also
made engineer for masonry and substructure by the
committee in Greenwich; but his authority was never
extended by this committee to the iron work OF the
span which was under their Jurisdiction Previous
to the appointment OF this engineer specifications had
been submitted by bridge builder which seemed upon
face 70 promise great strength and fact there
was q clause warranting strength OF 500 pounds TO
the neal foot with ''factor OF safety" OF four


THE REcKLEssSEss WITH WHICH ARR MADE
Is we'll illustrated by the fact that the calculated
strength Of the work promised by these specifications
was not much than half great the strength
which was guaranteed by the buder; and when il is
understood that the calculated strength was based on
the assumption that the very best material and work
manshp would be furnished, and no allowance was
made Tor flaws or imperfections OF any kind II will
seem strange that manufacturer should consider il
good policy 70 make representations the falsty of
which 1t is so easy TO prove The secret lies the
''PAcroR OF sAFErY oP PouR.p


and upon this little clause very much stress Is laid by
builders Ia makng bargains Win men NOS tecnnicaiiy
educated in iron work The representation Is that the
bridge will bear four times much weight the work
ing load The fact is that the builder expects that II
the bridge is tested and stands once the working load
no will not be questioned any further. Experience has
shown him that IL is safe 10 rely upon the assertion OF
strength II his work falls far short oil what it is
represented TO be- The engineer having found that the
work specified in the proposal not strong as
the specifications called for, revised the plans and
creased the sizes OF the parts that they should
really be (supposng good material and work be fur
nished) as strong the specifications required Tho
builder thereupon Immediately raised his price and Sc
/ cured the work for the increased amount


DURING TIE CONSTRUCTION OF rHE WORK


the engineer complained 10 the committee Of non
compliance on the part Of the contractors with tho
specifications OF the contract His efforts 20 fulnl his
duty in enforcing these specifications received but ttlo
encouragement or support, and the structure
pleted without the alterations which he considered
! necessary having been made Amer the bridge
| had been completed the engineer was approached
| by a party claiming to act with the know-
! edge Of the authorities who assured him that If
he would make favorable report upon the work his





questioned would be settled ''wlthout trouble - and
| strong representations made that this was the
best course to pursue He, however refused accede
| TO these demands upon him, and reported that the
work was not according 70 CONTRACT giving all parcu
] lars


THE RECORDS VANISH


curious thing now happened. The records OF the
work, contracts and specifications, were taken from
the Office OF the Village Clerk and disappeared leaving
the village without direct official evidence OF tho re-
Qurements OF the specifications the conditions OF
the contract


| THE RRIpcr was xvvRp rpSrvn.


but the payments required by the contract
ordered made from time to time, and the whole
amount has now been pad. The bridge is IN public
and has been ever since its erection The devaons
from the specifications ofsuch character that they
could not have materially essened the work
TO the contractor but they do impair the efficiency Of
tho structure and render less stable and rela-
bic than absolute safety demands


AN ILLUSTRATION or SYSTEM.


In the case OF the bridge at Portchester the actual
damage occasionod by the axty and OF exactness
IN The discharge OF public trust probably not very
great, and would In itself perhaps be important
enough 70 deserve public attention were Illus
traton Of vicious system There be question
that al Portchester public money has been paid for
work which was not what had been agreed upon, that
this was done knowingly and in spite OF the protest
| OF the engineer whom the very parties pay
ing the money had appointed superntond the work.
and that the public records have been distracted from
the oihce Of the Village Clerk. No matter how gooo
the bridge may be these facts show say the very least
disposition 20 override and disregard The oohgatons
10 care and exactnoss which should govern pubic ON
GERS ia the discharge OF an important truse ~
cannot be too thoroughly understood or 100 keenly
appreciated BY the public that u Is unsafe 70 trust 70
lousy TO furnish nrst class work and N reality