CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10] — Page 275

21.

brkmanship in all the bridges and culverts were good and,

response to a written enquiry as to whether he had "been

ahle in any case to discover any defective materials or

.", the Chief Resident Engineer replied

workmanship

R

1

that "the settlement is in no way due to defective material

We may here state that, as

in the bridges .............

the result of our inspection, we agree with the Chief

Resident Engineer and we now subait the following report

n the several bridges and culverts.

4. This is one of the main bridges, crossing an impor-1 ant public road at a considerable angle with a skew-span

or 72-1/2 feet and two side openings of 10 feet span. The

foundations were started in September 1907 and the plers

and abutments are now about 12 feet above ground level.

From records furnished by the Chief Resident Engineer,

e find that settlement, has occured in the south abutment

p to which the enbankzent extends, to the extent of from

1-1/2" to 3" and we also find that there has been a backward

tilting movement of about 1-3/4". Cracks have developed ia

this abutment. The other abutment and the two piers have

bettled to a less extent but movement is still taking plaće

and is likely to be considerably increased when the bank

beaches the north side of the bridge.

The materials and workmanship are good and we are of

opinion that no blame for the existing state of affairs

Can be attached to the Contractors, Messrs Leigh & Orange,

ho have carried out the whole of the work. The settlement

al cracks are due to the inadequacy of the foundations,

aving regard to the nature of the underlying foundation,,

hion, to a considerable depth, consists of fine alluvial

deposit interspersed with layers of sand and charged with

271%