No Date
INTO THE STREAM
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The New Concrete Bridge at Plum Creed Tumbles
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$10,000 Structure a Total Wreck. Not Yet Accepted
by the Commissioners.
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The new concrete bridge at Plum Creek, is a total wreck. Early
Tuesday morning it was discovered that the wing walls on the south
side of the structure and the south rail on the main arch had fallen
into the creek. Piece by piece the concrete since that time has
broken and crumbled off until the whole bridge is a ruin.
The damage was first discovered by some one hauling tobacco to
Markland and the first news that reached this city was telephoned in
by John Tiley, who lives near the bridge.
The bridge was built by the National Concrete Company, of
Indianapolis, and the bridge and fill cost more than $10,000. The
bridge was begun late last fall and was built altogether in freezing
weather. Some months ago cracks appeared in the wing walls and the
Commissioners refused to receive the bridge.
The fill, however, which was built at a cost of nearly $2,000, has
been received and paid for and $1000 has been advanced to the concern
building the bridge, on account.
Since the bridge has fallen down it is very apparent that the
interests of the tax payers were not safeguarded by the Commissioners
in the supervision of the work of building the structure. They had no
one in charge whose duty it was to approve the work as it was being
done. An examination at this time of the concrete used in building it
reveals the fact that the mixture did not have a sufficient amount of
cement in it and that what was in it did not seem to harden properly.
After the bridge was finished the contractor had 200 bags of cement
left which was sold and if this had been put in the work the result
might have been different.
The demolition of the structure will in all probability lead to a
law suit. The National Concrete Co. was notified by wire Tuesday but
it is not known what action they will take. The concern is rated in
Bradstreets at $10,000 to $20,000 credit first class.
While the county is out practically $3,000 and has nothing at this
time to show for it but the ruins and what dirt is left on the fill.
It is impossible to predict what the outcome will be.
The entire transaction is distinctively discreditable, not only to
the company building the bridge but to the commissioners who permitted
such a bungling job to be finished. There is nothing at fault in the
principle of concrete construction. It is used in thousands of pieces
of work of a more intricate character than this one and has given
satisfaction.
The old Plum Creek bridge is dangerous and has been so for several
years. It will be well into fall ob the present year before we see a
new structure take the place of the one which has just fallen down.
The new bridge has been in use since the fill was finished and
whether this act will constitute a virtual acceptance of the bridge
remains to be seen. The officials at the Court House say that the
bridge was used at the request of the contractor, made after the
Commissioners refused to receive it and that such use constitutes no
acceptance.
All in all it constitutes a bad state of affairs, greatly
inconveniencing a large nuber of people.
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