HomeMy WebLinkAbout2126 Report of the Massachusetts Senate concerning a petition that the Cambridge Bridge be converted to a drawbridge, February 13, 1837 Y�Gj•�if2/-/ r �/���iJ'.G-���%������" �'iy �/�el��!'/c—�i l' � ' � � /
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To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the Common-
wealth of liiassachusetts, in General Court assembled:
THE Subscribers, inhabitants of the Town of , in the County of
Middlesex, respectfully represent—That the waters of Charles River are tide-waters and navi-
gable to the Town of Watertown—That schooners and other vessels, loaded with coal, lumber,
lime and other merchandise, can navigate said river as high up as'the United States Arsenal in
Watertown—and boats, rafts and other craft to the Town of Watertown—That the villages and
settlements on said river, at and below Watertown, have of late greatly increased—That by
means of steam, vessels and rafts of all the aforesaid descriptions might be towed up and down
said river with great facility and at small expense, and much business and trade might thereby
be carried on—That the only obstruction to the navigation and trade in and upon said river, is
the want of a Draw in the Cambridge Bridge, so called, across said river, on the old road lead-
ing from Cambridge to Brighton—That all the other bridges across said river, below the Town
of Watertown, are already provided with draws, or are compellable by law to provide them.
Your petitioners understand that formerly a draw was provided and maintained in the said
Cambridge Bridge--but how or by what means the said draw was removed and taken away, and
said bridge rebuilt without a draw, your petitioners are not informed—but the public interest
and convenience requires, that a draw should be provided in said bridge, and the navigation of
said river opened to the public.
Your petitioners therefore pray that the corporation or corporations,by law chargeable with
the building and maintenance of said bridge, may be required to provide a suitable draw in the
same, or that such other provision for a draw therein may be made, as to your honorable body
may seem fit and proper, and as in duty bound will ever pray.
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