| From the Galveston Civilian & Gazette
Weekly |
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| April 30, 1861 |
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| Unsafe Railway Bridges |
| The well known American
Engineer, John D. Jervis, says, "The length of time timber will
last to a bridge is quite uncertain, and there is danger that it will
be trusted too long for safety. The first decay will be to joints of
framing and in the interior of scantling: this may be to a serious
extent, while all exposed to observation appears sound and safe. The
traveler on the railway cannot examine the bridges; he must depend on
the railway agent, under the proprietary interest in the question; an
agent may be satisfied with the exterior, or from other cause neglect
the proper examination until some train falls through, when it will be
sadly certain that it should not have been trusted so long. I have
seen the record of four serious disasters the past year from the
giving way of bridges, causing the loss of fifteen lives and injury to
forty-five persons. Others less serious to life have been attended
with great loss of property. The present year will not be less disastrous."
Mr. Jervis also speaks of the very insufficient width of embankments
often seen and of the inferior drainage of our roads, adding to danger
and to wear and tear. It is therefore, real economy for railway
managers to anticipate accidents by vigilant repairs. Mr. Jervis says:
"As a general thing our railway bridges are far short of the
stability necessary for safe economy. Many of our timbers have stood
as long as they should be trusted, and it is quite time they were
replaced by stone or iron. Such words from such a source are the
serious to be disregarded by a public who travels. |
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