Augusta Maine July 17, 1889.
My dear Theo. Cooper - 
The commander of the U.S. Arsenal at this place tells me that you would like 
soem facts in regard to the old highway bridge over the Kennebec River in this
city.  I can send you a drawing of the work, if you care for it, which gives a 
good idea of the structure/  It is on a scale or 4 ft per inch and is  there
rather large/  The bridge has nothing peculiar about it that I know if, except
its age (62 years).  I was a first rate piece of carpentry, the two spans were
188 feet each, clear and some years ago it was severely tested by a R.R. bridge
above it which was carried away and passed under the highway bridge cutting off
the arches (It was Burr's plan) and damaging seriously the trusses.  I am about
replacing it with iron as it is in rather shakey condition.
I have also if you care for it a drawing of a marvelous exploit of Pratt's at 
Conway N.H.

2
being what we might call a double traingular trim of 3x12 plank put
together with wooden piers the stair using I think 240 feet, and 
intended for RR work at that.  The bridge was not a success, and soon gave out, being on of the vagaries of a very ingenious man.
You ought to find somewhere drawings of the old RR bridge over the Delaware at Newton.  Jos. Wilson, who replaced it would perhaps have them.  There are some good photos of the great old trap at Schenectady over the Mohawk, anfter the intermediate piers were put in.
The Cascade arch and the p;d Portage trestle on the Erie R I guess cane be found somewhere.  It seems to me too that Mc Collin's bridge out to find a place in your paper.  There was a good specimen at Binghampton at one time, Let me know if
you care for the two bridges of which I have the drawings and I will send 'em
to you as soon as I can put my hands on 'em.
Very truly yours,
Geo. L. Vose.
My address is Salem, Mass.