The Huron Signal, 1881-06-17, Page 44
THE HURON SIGN AL,..FRUUAY, JUNE i7, 1881.
THE HURON SIGNAL
FRIDAY, JUNZ 17, 1881.
(,COUNTY COUNCIL.
Cloiang Drays of the June Ses-
sion.
rte Iron tistye- of 45eAfssutees
Treasures s SWIM saseatleas,
is our educational appliances and results. 11 AHC= (UMM1TTa1{ s WOKT. ships of Morris and West Wwaarh,
Much has been done ; asok remains to Your committee recommend the pub- we recommend that uo action be taken,
be d,,ue hornets of the letter flout the County as • majority of the resident ratepayers
In eonelusun i bee to report tie ex- Treasurer, with statement show ng avail- t.. the petition es provided b7 clause 5
calked work done by our Medd Schools able cash balsas on hand, and ooiluuc- and 6 of the Mumeritrl Act, is not own -
sad Teachers Institutes tuns of non-rr}tdent taxes from Jane- plied with.
I have the honor W be gentilemen any to April 30th, 1881. We also re- On the report tit Mr. (iirviu, road
our ob t servant, aommen that: the warden and clerk be commissioner, ren rod we reend that the
I J. Roasitmoi, Mottos, amociated with the treasurer in invest- improvements suggested be made, and
I. P. X , West Huron. ing the sinking feud from tune to time, the report published.
The report of Mr. Dewar, P. S. l.. as nee, and that said sinking fund On the report of Mr. Hardy, road
was read and ordered to be printed. be tuvested according to ateme in first commissioner, we recommend that as the
The report was as follows: mortgages on farm property or deben- letting of the contract for building •
tures. bridge an the boundary between Me -
FOURTH DAY. ac•HOOL INarntTda oswAmis laroRT. We recommend. that the following so- Gillivray and Stephen was left in the
yb me wroners of the Council oef the ('curry
June 10th. offHeron.couuta be paid: Janis lis:, repairs sil- hands of the Middlesex Council, the
The Council met pursuant to adjourn- GzeotemSN, ---1 unclose a statement ver creek bridge, $12.50; Seaforth Ex- Clerk communicate with the Warden tit
of the receipts and paymenta by the poltur, prwtmng, $10; D. K. Strachan, Middlesex, and urge the necessity of
Court House repairs, $12.04; Gaul re- bringing t1�e matter to a satisfactory
(airs, 11.15, Rugtstry office repair, cone sten; end that the report be pub -
$2.75; Brussels Post, printing, $S 50; lisped in the minutes.
Goderioh SwwAL, $b.75: Howiek Enter- In the matter of Fisher's bridge, we
prim, $5.50; T. Gibson, repairing bridge recommend that it be assumed as a ()out).
between Hawick and Grey, $6.50; Mil- ty bridge.
ler & McQuarrie, lowering Court House On the supplementary report of Mr.
ceiling, $129.47; T. Tippling, iron work Gibson, we recommend that all thu re-
cur bridges, $5.55; Goderich Moe, $4.25 pain necessary be made, except the
Winghain Advance, $4.50; Exeter Re- putting of coal tar on the new bridges,
ffector, $3.50; John Walker, contract as it appears to be doubtful if coal tar
gaol repairs, $82.18; Huron Record, is really beneficial, and we only recent -
$4.50; Edward Sharman, kalsomining mended the coal tar bought by Mr.
andplastering Court House, $48; Clin- Menzies, and lying at Clinton, to be
ton New Era, $19.95, contract account, put on the Bayfield bridge, as it has al -
$55.33; Wingham Tinto*, printing, $3.50 ready been partially covered with coal
S. Hopkins, repairing Brussels bridge, tar.
$5; T. J. Moorhouse, stationery, $10.85; All of which is respectfully submitted.
Wm Turner, clearing flood timber from JOHN Mckrim-AN, Chairman.
Turner's bridge $7.50; R Knox'
plank The following special reports were also
Londesborough bridge. $101.81; W. C. presented
Charters, repairing Rodgerville bridge,
$1.50; A. L Gibson, expenses as road COUNTY TREASURER a REPORT.
commissioner, $47; L. Hardy, expenses Gatertauzx,--I beg to submit here -
as road comntiseiOner, $63.60; G. H. with statement of collection from non -
Parsons, hardware, =.17; John Brock- resident lands to 30th April. Also state-
enridge. gaol repairs, $22.30; Wm. ment of cash on hand and available to
Sheppard, road and bridge commislioner, meet current expenditure at this date.
$33; Wm. Lshaut, lumber, spikes, &c. I have not yet been able to purchase
$28.20; Charles Gin•in, road and bridge county or township debentures at any
commissioner, $14; A. Sands, attend- reasonable rates as an investment of our
ance at Goderich bridge for two months, sinking funds.
$60. On the account of Thos. English, During the last session of the Provin-
cial Parliament, the Municipal Act was
amended, as petitioned for you, and
power is now given to invest sinking
funds in first mortgages on farm lands.
If you desire such invests to be made, it
will be necessary to made such require.
batons as you may consider expedient in
relation thereto.
You will recollect that when the new
issue of debentures were sold in London,
Bosanquet, Salt & Co., would only con-
sent to continue our agents upon the
Gine terms as to commission as they
had received on the old issue, viz.: that
the interest should be placed in their
hands three months before due, and in
default of this tt1t } per cent commis-
sion should be charged by them for pay-
ing our coupons. In 1877 I endeavored
to get them to make this commission },
but they declined to consent thereto.
I have lately had further correspon-
dence with them on the subject, and under
intimation that perhaps a change might
be made in the agency unless acceded
to, they have now agreed to charge only
} per cent. I have therefore not remit-
ted the interest accruing, due on the 1st
August, three months before due as
formerly, but will remit with the } per
cent. in time to reach them before the
coupons fall dues. The non -remittance
of this is the reason why the balance of
cash on hand is so touch larger than in
the similar statement at this time last
year.
The following is a statement of cash
on hand and available to meet current
expenditure, June 7th, 1881:
Cash in Bank. 538.840 07 -
Amount due from municipalities for
County rates... ..... • ..... ........ 3.018 3.5
nient, the Warden in the chair. All the
members present except Messrs. Clegg
and Mason.
The minutes of yesterday were read
and approved.
Moved by Mr. Girvia, seconded by
Mr. Weir, that the roadway of the new
bridge over the river Maitland be eigh-
teen feet wide instead of sixteen, as
previously decided upon, and that the
agreement with the contractor be trade
accordingly --Carried.
Moved by Mr. Meyer, mounded by
Mr. Weir, that the Council petition the
Lieutenant -Governer -in -Council to with-
hold his sanction from any agreement
for the working of the Toronto, Grey
:end Bruce R►ilway, either by the North-
ern, or the Hamilton and Northwestern,
..r the Great Western railways, it being
the opinion of this Council that the in-
terests of that portion of this county
through which the Toronto, Grey and
Bruce railway runs would be best Derv -
trustees ..f rural sections, villages, and f
the town of Soefurth. The trustees of
Winghaut and Clinton having transmit-
ted their reports to Toronto, I am una-
ble to give their figures at present. I
shall, however, endeavor to get them,
in order to 611 up the two blanks in the
statement. You will observe that the
amount paid for building school houses
is small compared with what it has been
in the past.
The villages of Illyth and Brussels are
included in the townships of Morris and
Grey, and the village of Wroxeter, with
the township ..f Howick. The villages
are, however, given separately in the
general statement.
I have the honor to be, gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
AReH'D DEWAR.
A tabulated statement accompanied
Mr. Dewar's report dealing with the
balances from 1879; amount received
ed were the Toronto, Grey and Bruce from Government grant; amount receiv-
worked by the Grand Trunk Railway ed from County grant; from tax levied
Company -Carried. on each section; from Clergy Reserve
Report 1 the County Auditors wag Fund; total received from all sources;
read and ordered to be printed. The teachers salaries, cost of building sites
report was as follows- and interest, paid for maps, apparatus,
prize books, &c., rents repairs and fuel;
•eDITOEI+ REPORT. total amouet paid- out; balance still on
We, the undersigned auditors of your harnd,
county beg respectfully to report that we
have examined the books of the Treasur-
er, and after comparing the different
items with their respective vouchers we
A communication from Mr. Jameson,
manager or the Hamilton Bridge Com- for keeping Brussels lock-up, action was
patty, offering an iron bridge of 57 feet deferred, until account was properly cer-
$700 was tified; on the ex mass of Clinton High
MIL •HIPPAse'a t el%
I herewith subunit to yuu a report of
work dune under my supervision on
bridges and approaches in toy divuliou
sinew being appointed read commission-
er. The first of such work was to ammo
ine the bridge between Manchester and
Blyth, the oentrain for which was let by
Mr. Menzies, for covering (, with '1} mop
elm plank. 1 found, upon Maau►iation,
that the plank was vu�venly sawn,
t
and not • very setyjjob, and I
only paid for 2 inch plank. I examined
the Londesborough bridge with Mr.
and found the flouring comple-
tely nOtten and unsafe to drive un with
heavy loads. I have had it covered with
3 inch elm plank, the bill of which will
be in at this meeting of Council, frau
Mr. Knox of Hullett. I also had the
bridge tightened, and the north and
raised about 6 inches, and the bridge
otherwise repaired. W'uth reference 1'
London Road bridge at Clinton, Mr.
Hardy and Mr. Chidley examined it
with one, and recommended the piers to
be raised higher, and the embankment
filled in with earth, and the bridge
tightened and flooring repaired, which I
have had done Also 100 feet of the
gravel road repaired at the north end.
Tho bridge on the Bayfield river oppos-
ite the 2nd con., Stanley, was tightened.
This bridge is now in good repair. 011
the bridge on the Hayfield river, known
as Charlesworth's bridge; I had the floor-
ing repaired. This bridge is hardly
worth any further repairs, as it has been
built some seventeen or eighteen years,
and will have to be rebuilt shortly. I
have had the Bayfield bridge tightened,
and would recommend another coat of
coal tar on it. This is a good bridge,
and ought to be preserved. There are
four barrels of coal tar in Clinton be-
longing to the County, which Mr. Men-
zies purchased some time ago, and that
quantity would about do the Bayfield
bridge. The embankments to Bannock-
burn bridge are very high, and the old
stringers extending into the bank were
too short, and only rested on the old
timbers against the abutment, and they
have given way on both ends. I have
let the contract of those repairs and the
fences which were reeouunened by this
Council some time ago. The contract
was to have peen completed before now,
but I expect to here it done in a few
days as the contractor has the material
ready. Mr. John Sprung took the con-
tract for covering Bull's bridge last fall
from Mr. Menzies, and I examined the
bridge before the planks were laid. The
stringer, are all decayed on the top,
to a depth of from two to four inches,
and would not hold a spike. The new
plank was laid un and secured at the
end. Mr. Sprung made as good a job u
was possible to make under the circum-
stances. The stringers are pine, and
are from sixty to seventy feet in length,
and I consider the bridge unsafe for
heavy travel. Mr. Hardy notified me
to meet him at Dublin on the 20th of
May last, and in company with Mr.
Hays, we inspected the canal an the
boundary, between McKillop and Logan,
and recommended a 16 foot culvert to
be put in where the old bridge stood over
the original water course, where a tem-
porary bridge had been erected this
spring. I understand that the counties
of Huron and Perth previously kept
those bridges in repair. The canal doss
not appear to work 'satisfactory, es it
gets blocked up with drifts when the
freshets come in the spring. The con-
tract for building Summerhill bridge
was let to L J. Brae for $1410, to be
completed by the 1st of Aug, next, ac-
cording to the approved plan of the
commissioners. Mr. Brace has signed
span, l2 feet roauway, for ,
have to report them correct, showing a read and ordered to be printed in the School, Interme tate examination, that
balance on hand on the 31st Dec, 1880,' minutes. $6.09 be paid; Copp, Clark & Co., ab -
of $10,706.95. You will els-) find state- A communication from the manager streets and registers, that $136.50 be
'mints of the Gravel Read sinking fund of the Hamilton Iron Bridge Company, paid of the account for $151, as the
d
faccount,
co unty d f the
We have alsties o anassets
ted requesting an
extension to, finish they the Council is new streets; thatot liable the accountr the of John Ansley,
the Public and Goderich High School bridge, was read ' Wingham. for keepingelock-up, 120, is
accounts and have to, report them cor- Droved by Mr. Wilson, seconded by not due until December; that the ac-
rect. In conclusion we have much Mr. McMillan, that the nine for finish- count of John Proctor, $25, for pre -
pleasure in noticing that the Treasurer's ingthe new bridge access the Maitland paring plans for Sumntethill bridge, be
books are neatly and 'well kept. All of at Goderich be extended to the let of Paid when certified to by D. R. Menzies.
which is respectfully submitted. October next, but not later. Carried on The estimates for the current year,
W. N. WATsON, Auditors. a division. amounting to the sum of 155,718, ex -
ARCH. Dlc Rsofc, I elusive of equivalent to Legislative grant
A number of accounts were presented. q
Report of Mr. Miller, P. S. I. was read Moved by Mr. Whitely, seconded by to schools, require a rate of one mill and
and ordered to be printed. The report Mr. Elliott, that this Council do now three quarters of a mill on the dollar on
was as follows:- l adjourn. to meet tomorrow morning at the equalized assessment of the county
min 'clock Carried and we recommend that a by-law be
SCHOOL IN8PE.TOR MILLER'8 REPORT.
To the Warden awl members of the County
Council of Huron.
GSNTLEMEN,- I have the honor t» re-
port most favorably of the wort done in
the West Hunan Public Schools during
the year 1880. Aa a full report was sub-
mitted a year ago, and as a mere repeti-
tion is not desirable, I propose referring
to only a few points :
The total receipts during 1880
were P1,768 18
The total receipts during 1879
were 52,499 89
Decrease in favor of 1880$ 731 71
• The total expenditure during
1880 was $45,243 25
The total expenditure during
1879 was . 47,690 _7 5;
Decrease in favor of 1880$ 2,447 49;
Balance on hand in 1879'
was $ 4,8(If► 144 high, relatively to the higher class of
kla]aLce on hand in 1880
property, thus theowingan undue bur -
was 6,524 93 denpof taxation on - te lower class of
Increase in favor of 1880....1. 1,715 784 Properties. \\ a have endeavored to
The amount of debt in 1879 was $1,- from
at a correct basis as far f rpalible over the Maitland were received. When
from the very imperfect infunnatiun
494,51 ; fur 1880 ne debt was reported. within our reach. \`'e deemed it right opened it was found that the tender of
The average salary of male teachers in to lower the equalized value of Gode- the Hamilton Bridge Company was the
1879 was $443.52 ; for 1880 it was $459.- rich and Grev townships by One dollar lowest. Your committee recommend that
per acre on the real estate, and have ac- a Howe truss wooden bridge be built
th �tAitland instead of an iron
eu
FIFTH DAV. passed imposing the above rate, also a
June llth. by-law to raise a sum equal to the Legis -
The Council met pursuant to adjourns, Ltive school grant.
ment, the Warden in the chair. All the The County Treasurers securities were
members were present except Mears. laid before your committee, and found
Clegg and Mason. satisfactory.
The minutes of last meeting were read All of which is respectfully submitted.
and approved.D. D. W uaoy, chairman.
The report of the Equalization con- • Moved in amendment to the report, by
mittee was read, when the Council went Mr. -Hays. seconded by Mr. Joluiston,
into committee of the whole. Mr. that J. T. Garrow, Esq., barrister, be
Hutchison in the chair. appointed t.. examine the titles of the
The following is the
REPORT OF EQUALIZATION-couMJTTEE.
Your committee beg to report as
follows: They - have found the usual
lands of those applicants who may apply
for loans from the sinking fund of the
Council. the cost in all cases to be paid
by the borrower. Carried on a division
difficulties existing in the rolls, viz, the i'by1alntas amended, was again
"115.
very varying and irregular assessmentsThe report,
in neighboring municipalities o1 proper i submitted to the Council and adopted.
ties that are considered to be something The report of the Road and Bridge
like equal in value, as well as that committee was read.
the poorer properties inlj same of
the municipalities are assessed touch too REPORT OF ROAD AND BRIMS o 0MMITTEE.
Your committee beg leave to report
as follows: We recommend that the re-
port of the Commissioners on iron
bridges be published in the minutes.
Tenders for building an iron bridge
81. The average salary of female teach-
ers in 1879 was $229.27 ; in 1880 it was
n41.11.
('r rt iyie itrs of Tempers.
1879 1880
First class. 1 1
Second clam. 36 50
Third clans 85 66
Old County Board... 2 1
Members who had attended
¶Nnrnal School 24 34
The schools were pen 216 days. one
half day better than during 1879. The
total number wof children entered on
school register was, in 1879.. 9,416; in
1880, 9,187: beim a decrease ..f 229.
The average attendance was .somewhat
better tha.l that of, 18719. The cost of
•education throughout the district during
1879 was $4.80 per pupil enrolled ; the
cost during 1880 was $4.75 ; or, deduct-
ing the grant from Legislature, $4.331 as
compared with $4.39!1 in 1879. Upon a
+imilar basis the cost throughout the Pro-
vince in 1879 was $5.06.
From the foregoing'statistice it will be
seen that our schools are being economi-
cally managed, that the number of train-
ed teachers is somewhat increased, and
that finances are very satisfactory. It
will be noticed also that the school popu-
lation is on the decrease. This must be
the case so long as no many families leave
us annually to make for themselves homes
ee the Far West. These changes have
.lone much to give us the required room
in some el the sections, and at the sante necessary repairs recommended by your
time enabled us to dispense with the ser- 1 committee in January last have been
vises of assistants. The work f the year , carried out; that Messrs. Miller & Mc -
has been most pleasant. The changes Quame have carred out their contract,
made by the Hon. Minister of Education and lowered the ceiling in the Court
in many canes have done much to pope- house, which appears to be satisfactory.
'arum our system of education, as well as We would recommend that new matt -
to itapnove it. Year by year difficulties ing be procured for the court room, and
are being removed, and the machinery w that the judge's stand be lowered, and
made to rut with pee friction. The two the clerk's desk be taken away, that
great hindrances to a successful working desks be procured for the clerk, sheriff
of any school system still exults. rig : (11 and crier. and such improrements he
Irregularity of attendance on the part of • made under the supervision of the war -
the pippits; (2) The very frequent change den, clerk, and chairman of this conn -
of tesehers in the great srajonty of sec- mittee. That tenders be asked for the
Urine. Pragrees is being male in both. • whitewashing or kalsomining of the
but it is slow. 'walls of the Court House That matey,
cordingly done so. We have not seen it across e .
to be necessary to make any other change, one•
and although all parties may not be en- On the communcatien from Mr.
tirely satisfied. we believe we have ar- - Bu Trotherh, assistant engineer, Grand
rived at a tolerably comet basis for tax, Trunk R R., to the County Clerk, re-
ation. as between the different munici-. ejecting the unsafe state of the Maitland
Wales in the county. I bridge, we would recommend that the
We regret we could not have our re- ' Road Commissioners have temporary
port ready at an earlier date to lay be- 1 upe structureoa recommended, placed
render it safe
fore you, but as there was a goad deal of , for public travel, as they are necessary
d' f the t wnsl ides 1
discussion upon some
oo to a i
occupying considerable time, we faun it for the removal of the old bridge; and
that they ask for tenders for furnishing
joists and flooring, and also erect a tem-
porary foot -bridge. We would further
recommend that as soon as they Road
Comuiissieners are notified that the Com-
pany are ready to test the iron that Messrs.
Gibson and Harry go to Hamilton; and
gee the iron tested, provided they be
not kept longer than two days, and that
all the iron be tested during one trip to
Hamilton.
(1n the communication from A. Sands,
respecting a right of way for a tempo-
rary roadway during the time the Mait-
land bridge is being built, we would re-
commend that the Warden and Clerk
communicate with the authorities of the
Grand Trunk Railway, asking permis-
sion to make a read through their pro-
perty, and that the Road Commissioners
take necessary steps to haves road ready
before the old bndge is removed; that
the communication respecting a poor
impossible t.. have it ready before now.
All of which we respectfully submit.
Atex. L Giesee, Chairman.
Moved by Mr. Wehster,reeconded hf
Mr. Griffin, that the report of the
Equalization committee be amended by
reducing the townships of Ashfield one
dollar per acre. Lost on a division, by
a majority of fifteen.
The \Vanlen resumed the chair.
The report of the Gaol and Court
House committee was read and adopted.
REPORT OF (:AOL AND .',.CRT HOU8E (OM-
MITTE e.
Your committee beg leave to report as
follows:
That they hare visited and inspected
the Gaol, and found it clean and well
kept. There are at present eight persons
therein, six males and two females, un-
dergoing sentence, but all for minor
offences.
We find that the tio.,ring and other
Howiok, es well Ms good sway practical
men and cvontriu tors. It is very h►rd to
estimate the cost, tiering to the urtoertaiu
and unsewu nature of the butt+ru► of the
gully, but it weld be itivated at a cer-
taiu figure per yard, measuring the place \
the material is taken from. I put in
with this report • resolution of the Coun-
cil of Bruce County about the matter,
and it would be well for this C until to
meet them in a similar spirit.
My attention was called by the War-
den to a bridge on the buundarybetween
Howiok and Wallace, and I visited it on
the 20th of April in eompwuy with hint,
and report as follows : - The bridge is
over a scall stream, y t it is 100 feet
long. I inspected it v1rry closely and
found that the stringers were very much
decoyed and rotten in spots, though they
ammo. sound on the outside. The bridge
will be quite sufficient if built 45 ft. clear,
and placer in a proper position for the
e of all tate water. I wrote to the
ve of Wallace township, directing his
attention to the unsafe condition of the
bridgge, and received a letter in reply
which I place before you.
On the 14th of May I received a letter
in reference to Fisher's bridge at Wing -
ham, which I visited next day, and have
to report that the bridge is not in very
good condition, and is giving unmistake-
able indications of giving way. Mr.
Currie and Mr. Bell were with use, and
we let a contrect for $60 to put a bent
under the centre of the main span, and
as there were other repairs that could
not be contracted for, I ordered them to
be executed, and Messrs Currie and
Bell agreed to superiutend their proper
execution. I may say that this bridge
csnuvt be considered safe for many
years.
My attention was called to the condi-
tion of the bridge on the boundary be-
tween Grey and Hawick. I visited it
next day, and found some very small
repairs necessary, the account for which,
amounting to $43.50, is laid before you.
I may say that this bridge, though not
very much decayed, is not in a good con-
dition, because it has sunk se much in
the centre that I believe it is very much
weakened as a superstructure.
The culvert at the Momsbank bridge
is not in a good condition, and requires
to be either repaired or filled up with
earthwork. I would recommend that it
should be tilled up.
The bridge at Bluevale requires to
have some repairs made to the rail,
which should be done immediately.
The bridges that were built last year
might be coal -tarred, if this Council
deems it advisable. As there are some
doubts put forth by parties, who ay
that the tarring does not do any good,
I would wish to have the advice of the
Council on the subject.
With regard to the Zetland bridge,
some repairs will be necessary, and I
would recommend that they be executed
accordingly.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
ALEX. L GtrwoN, Road Com.
Due to municipalities non
resident taxes collect-
ed . $ 2692 94
Due to G. It. debenture
sinking fund. 16.558 &:)
Due to N.7.1. A. debenture
sinking fund 4.99 26
141.858 42
$21,348 89
118.509 53
The following is the statement of col-
lections from• non-resident lands from
let January to 30th April, 1881: -Ash-
field, $78.18; Colborne, $109.49; Gode-
rich township, $161.75; Grey, $19.44;
Hay, $1,322.50; Howick, $14.86; Hul-
lett, $139.87; McKillop, 1286.16; Mor-
ris, 1181.99; Stanley, $10L59; Stephen,
$1,520.26; Tuckeramith, 811.83; Turn -
berry, $L24; West \\'awanosh, $62,12;
East Wawanoah, $29.94; Bayfield, 54c;
Exeter, $79.50; Brussels, $8.23; Wrox-
eter, $34.40. --Total, $4,183.89.
I am, gentlemen,
Your obd't servant,
A. M. Rosa, Co. Treas.
MR. HARDY.N REPORT.
I have to report that I have had new
floors laid on the bridge at Stanlake's
Lake road, between Stephen and Hay;
aleo the Collingwood bridge over the
stream on the sante boundary. The new
floors are rock elm, 21 inches thick, at
an expense of $96 for the two bridges,
being at the rate of 110 per thousand,
including labor and spikes, The ice in
the winter time last year displaced one
bent in the Collingwood bridge, and I
had to get the ice removed, in order to
get the beet into its proper place, which
cost $5. There is a small bridge on the
Crediton road that will need a new floor
which should be dune st once. I regret
to have to report with regard to the
bridge between McGillivray and Ste-
phen, that after considerable correspond-
ence, in one way and another, with the
Clerk of Middlesex, who has been very
careful and anxious to get the contract
house site be laid over. executed and the work done, the con -
The following action was taken on the tract was let by the Middlesex Council
report of Mr. Gibson, road commies . in Jan. last, and was awarded to Mr.
er: (1) Respecting boundary line of How- Brace, who has not yet entered into
ick and Carrick, we recommend that Mr. bonds for the proper fulfilment of the
Gibson's recommendation be carred contract. in the meantime, the old
'out, Respecting the boundary line be- bridge to stili standing and is not quite
tweet' Howiek and Wallace, we recom- safe, consequently I have had some re-
tsend that the bridge be built, provided pairs done. It would be well, aa the
the county of Perth bear half the ex- matter was left in the bands of the
pose: and that the Clerk notify the t Middies*: Coursed to urge upon them,
Warden of Perth ..f the unsafe condi- through our Clerk, to have (,Ise mutter
tie► of the t bridge, and that the brought too s satisfactory onnclusion at
ur
county id n is prepared to meet ones. There was a contrast for a small
them; and that the neeessary repairs he bridge between ('sborne and Hibbert
given to the BALM bridge. We also last winter. I find that the contractor
recommend that the report be published has all the timber delivered, end when 1
went to see him abort the matter last
week he had nese of the stone delivered.
He, promised to have .I11 delivered and
the work flniabed wallet further delay.
L may say that L ass stiff all present aware
of any other serious asNMp to connec- the beat method to make a gond road is
tion with bridge. wroept Mat there will to fill it up with earthwork, which can he
be some email repairs on souse of the had so conveniently to the place, and
approaches. All of which is respeet- this is the opinion of all the persons who
fully submitted.
L HARDY. Road ('ommiseroner
in the minutes.
I have found a verygenersl compliasee al for two doses pillow -slips be procured on the report Of Mr. Sheppard, mad
with requirements on the part of true- j for the Gee of the gaoL I e,,mnuaioner, we would recommend that
tees- more so than daring former years. We recommend that the tender of G the coal ter •,n }sed he used on Hay-
`- field bridge, and that a culvert, as te-
coonnended, be built on the McKillop
and Logan boundary. provided Perth
pay ion. -half the Dost, and that the re-
port be published.
On the petition od Wes. Geddes and a
number of other ratepayers of the town -
With few exceptions our echo.] houses, N. Davis for tinaiag cupola for $39,
play ggrr++noonds and other premises are in accepted, mid that the repairs be done
ezeellent condition. seder the supervision of Mr. Hardy.
i hare now almost wompleted tea years
in your service. During that time many
changes have taken place throughout the
district A great change has been made
All of which is respeeflully submitted.
Fun. W. Joww,ro , chairman.
The report of the Finance committee
was read.
the contract and given the necessary
bonds for the fulfilment of the contract.
I find that the material is almost all on
the ground, and I am informed that Mr.
Brace is going to commence the building
of the bridge this week. All of which
is respectfully submitted.
W. SHEPPARD, Road Commissioner.
MR. (IIRv1N•S REPORT.
I have to report that the floor of the bridge, and floored on the same plan.
Manchester bridge will need to be re- Neither of these bridges areas high above'
the water as the Maitland bridge, and we
believe they are rather low for complete
safety in a freshet. These were both
built by the County of Middlesex alone,
and so well satisfied do they appear to
be that they joined the city of London in
building the Victoria bridge over the
south branch of the Thames, where it
forms the boundary between the two
municipalities. It is a bridge of two
spans, built by the Canton Company on
the same principle as the two bridges al-
ready mentioned, but as the rad cruses
the stream at an acute angle, the bridge
is built on the "skew." The contract is
now let to the Turontu Company tobuild
the Westminster bridge at the joint ex-
pel,-^ of the city and county. The span
is to be 150 feet, and the cost about $46
per foot. It is to have a sidewalk six
I feet wide on one side, completed and fin-
ea
reapoxtfully submitted. iahed for travel, and a roadway 18 feet
CHAELE.Y GIRYIN, Road Commissioner. wide with provision at the other aide for
MR. ti1RaoN',t REPORT. a sidewalk. but the sidewalk not to be
finished in this contract.
The next day we visited the Hamilton
Bridge Company's works, and found thein
very busy at work on contracts for the
same class of work, for which they have
a very large contract for the Welland
Canal, but quite open for a contract from
the Council of thisCounty, as their works
have a large capacity. We asked them
to furnish a circular, to state particu-
lars as toatyle of bridge, the load it can
sustain with safety, and the amount of
load it will require on any part to break
down the hridge, which they agreed to
do, and which is now in the hands o1
the Clerk. We were shown the tools
and machine* in use, to ensure, as near-
ly as possible. perfect accunq of work-
manship, on which, owing to the plan of
the bridge, so much absolutely depend-
ed. We also were shown the method of
testing the amount of .train each poem
the sinking roadway, and hes been part- II of iron will sustain before it will be
ly scraped down into the gully. 1t wosld I palled apart, . or break by a sodden blow
be very uncertain if a good foundation for i while under strain.
a bridge coni.' be found. to as to make a After leaving Hamilton, we visited
span leas than 225 feet, and the other the Toronto Company's works, and foetid
p.rtion of the distanceecoukl be filled them quite as lir .y as the other eons -
with earth work. There is no stream at parry. They were also at work for the
all at the place ; it is more of the nature Welland Canal. They have abridge
of a quagmire. and it is quite difficult to to shipfor the Pembina railway,
tall what is test to make a gond, secure several other bridges all read7 for ship
roadway over the place. i believe that meth As the report of our emit to the
Harniltrm Company's works applies,prat- k
ty ranch to the Toronto Company's
works it is unnecessary to repeat it. We
may say that we believe from what we
were there ---that is, the whole Council saw and heard about theset-tun
of Carrick. and par( of the Council of bridges. that in s short Have will
REPORT ON THE IRON BRII1os.
As instructed by the Warden's com-
mittee, we visited London un the 19th of
May, calling upon Mr. McKenzie, the
Clerk for the County of Middlesex, who
kindly gave us all the information he
could regarding the cost of wrought iron
bridges in Middlesex and city of London
as well. We visited a bridge on the 8th
and 9th concession road, township of
London. The span is 180 ft. and 16 ft.
roadway in the clear. It was built by
the Toronto Iron Bridge Company in
1879, and cost $24 per foot in the length
of the bridge, and is a very firm and sub-
stantial structure of wrought iron entire-
ly, with a floor of 3 -inch oak plank laid
on Oak joists 12x3 inches. We visited
another bridge over the saute stream
about 11 miles down the river. It has
two spans of 116 feet each, with 16 feet
roadway in the clear. It was built by
the Hamilton Co in 1878, and cost 117.-
50
17.-
50 per lineal foot of bridge. It is a sub-
stantial and firm structure. built an the
sante principle as the first mentioned
newed, and would recommend that it be
laid with cedar plank, laid on rock elm
stringers 3x5, placed at a proper distance
apart. Graham's bridge on the Lake
Shore road in Ashfield is steadily sinking
and is now about 12 inches lower than
the approach at each end. I would Ne_
commend that cedar stringers be placed
on top of the old bridge, and a floor put
on them. Young's bridge on con 8,
Colborne, required seine slight repairs
on the approaches, which I had done at
an expense of $6., and I believe that it
is now safe and good for some years.
The bridges on the Northern Gravel
Riad are in good condition at present.
The corbels on the wing of the south
approach of the Manchester bridge are
split open, end reiuire to be attended
to at once. I have at present no further
necessary re airs to report. All of which
I have to report that, according to in-
structions at the January meeting of the
Council, i visited and inspected the
boundary line of Howick and Carrick,
where the read has sunk two or three
times. I found the place to be a very
deep moss or bog hole. The portion of
it that has swallowed up the road is about
81 rods long, with acontinuation ofabout
5 rods more ..1 very soft Lad or bog. At
the place where the sinking occurs we
tried to find a bottom. We got a pole
25 feet long, and we pushed it down
about 16 or 18 feet, and we drove it down
all the length with an axe, with very
little difficulty; and then we believed we
were not down e. • hard bottom, or how
touch further we would hive to penetrate
before we came to a hard b otton we had
no mean. 4 knowing accurately. It is
situated between two high, very abrupt
hills. One of these hills is quite el ss to
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