Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 204, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1914 — Two Bridges in Newton Collapsed During Past Week. [ARTICLE]

Two Bridges in Newton Collapsed During Past Week.

Morocco Courier. During the past week two county bridges have partly collapsed, one while an engine was ~ passing over and the other while a team was being driven across. The engine was not badly damaged as it did not go through the bridge, but one of the horses had a hind leg practically severed. They, were cement bridges and superintendent of highways, J. D. Law, attributes both accidents to faulty construction, particularly that the steel beams were not strong enough or were not sufficiently braced. A question naturally arises, “Is the county liable for the damage?” Unless there is a law to the contrary it certainly is liable for damage.