32 THK FLOOD OP 1843. 



aud a half feet, and the depth of water upon it three feet six 

 inches, making 1827 cubic feet of water on the bridge, which 

 is equal to about fifty tons. It is not to be supposed that the 

 whole of this great weight was supported by the bridge, but 

 It is manifest that a great portion of it was, and this will be 

 a sufficient explanation of the extraordinary fact, that the 

 timbers did not float off, and why they firmly held that por- 

 tion of the abutments upon which they rested, in defiance of 

 the drifting trees and lumber, which by their momentum 

 acted against it like battering rams. Had not the bridge been 

 fastened together, it no doubt would have been removed piece 

 by piece. 



The bridge was originally built by private subscription, 

 and was so maintained for a long time before it became a 

 county bridge; it was one foot lower then than at present. 

 During the whole time the sleepers merely rested on the walls 

 without being secured with bolts or other fastening. 



The extraordinary preservation of the platform of the 

 bridge certainly goes to show, that bridges in certain situa- 

 tions may with safety be erected so low as to permit high 

 freshets to pass over them. Very large sized stones should be 

 used in the masonry, particularly for coping, and in the con- 

 struction of the exposed corners, and the timbers should be 

 firmly secured to the abutments. The walls should in no 

 l)lace exceed the height of the roadway ; and it would add to 

 the security of the briilge to have the up-stream side of the 

 platform lower than the down-stream side. 



All the woodwork of the bridge, near Ivdward Lewis' 

 mills was carried away, and the abutments considerably 

 injured. The valley of the creek at this place is very narrow. 

 .\Ir. Lewis' pajier mill stood in an exposed situation, and was, 

 together with its contents, wholly swept off. The saw mill 

 shared the same fate, although it was not so much exposed to 

 the current. His flour mill was nearly destroyed, aiul much 

 uf its contents washed out. Hetwecu his mills and ilwelliny 

 the flood passed with fearful velocity, and ])roduced an excav- 



