Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-05-31

RELIEF FOR HARD TIMEs.-lt should
not only be the duty. but the pleasure Of eve
~ individual during the present doll season
to sdre every penny possible. This can
easily be done by learning the prices Of ell
kinds Of dry goods at Z. 4 X. II. Tyners'
No. 8 LIE Clair Row, befors buying slss-
where. Call and see
REPORT OF THE GovERNMENT
BBIDGE CONFERENCE.-The REPORT UH-
FAvokABLY TO THE BaIDcE-Early yesterday
morning We heard it rumored about the
city that that Board of Commissioners ap.
pointed by the United States Government
70 examine the Railroad Bridge At this
peint, with reference to its being IN obstruc
tion to navigation. had made report, and
that it was unfsvorable to the bridge. Late
in the day We were furnished with . copy
of the Lslander and argus, Axtra, containing
. portion Of said Report. which We lay be-
fore our readers. Their decision in this
matter is, to as, not at all surprising it is
nothing more or less than we had strong
reasons to expect it would be. before the
Commissioners lef. our city The bridge
has been voted . nuisspce. What then p
Will it be removed 7 No, We rather think
not, if the Company does what it ought to
have done long since. and that is. repair and
reconstruct it in certain places. This 10
due to the River men. They demand it.
and have perfect right to insist upon their
demand. This bridge has its rights and
they should be respected the river men
have their rights. also, and they should not
be disregarded. Let full, complete, and
equal justice be meted out to both parties.
If the bridge as constructed in an impro-
per manner, surely river navigators ought
not to suffer for it. 1t was no fault of theirs.
therefore give them justice. Let 1t be re-
msdeled then, and put in such condition
that it will not be Of serious disadvan-
tage to the river trade.
The following report was made by men
of science, by men Of acknowledged skill %
Engineers and Architects. 1t is the same
in effect that has been given by other per-
sons. Read it.:
Ertract from tie Report ofthe Ua,ted Stat es
Comnaissioners, Sent to Eramine the Rail
road Bridge at Rock Island
lst. The board is Of the opinion that the
railroad bridge which crosses the Mississip-
riv hat Pooly -1
pert, 10 not constructed according to correct
principles. reference being had to the inter-
ests Of navigation,
2nd. The piers Of the said bridge are not
Of the best form, and there was no difficulty
in constructing them of the proper FORM
With the exception of the turn table pier,
the board is of opinion that the defective
form of the piers is a matter of no material
Importance. The turn table pier will be
more par ticularly referred to in answer to
the next question.
3rd The only pier that is larger than is
necessary is the turn table pier. This pier,
In the opinion of the board, should have
been constructed no longer or broader than
was necessary to sustain the truss, when the
draw is open, and protect it from injury by
passing boats. 1t might have been cen
structed with length of 295 feet. affording
ample support and protection, and being
actually 355 feet in length. the difference,
60 feet, Is unnecessary, and in the Judge |
ment of the board, psrnicious. The effect
Of making it larger than was absolutely re.
quired, is to contract the water way, in.
crease the velocity, narrow the draw pas
sage and present more surface for boats to
strike against; thus increasing the difficult
ty Of their passages through the draw, In
pier Of this size the form of the starting is
of Importance, and the upper faces Of the
pier should have been curved surfaces.
4th. The piers are not parallel with the |
current, but at angles varying from 26 de- |
grees to IA Ia degrees. The effect Of this
obliquity is to treble the obstruction |
to the flow of the water, and conse-
quently to affect the increase of velocity |
in the same ratio. Another conse- |
quence 10, that the passages of steam
boats and RATS through the draw and be. |
tween the piers, are rendered much more
difficult and hazardous. Furthermore, the |
draw on the Iowa side is rendered useless
by the formation therein OF an eddy.
5th. The velocities in the different parts |
Of the river in the vicinity of the bridge. |
have alre ady been stated, and will be found
tabulated in appendix (C.)
9th. The eddy on the Iowa side of the !
turn table pier, - nearly as could be esti-
mated. Is about one hundred feet wide at
the foot Of the pier, and the turbulence in the
boiling of the water, extends about 500 |
feetbelow. This eddy, however, is coustan-
tly varying in its position and dimensions
lts effect on the passage of boats ascend |
ing and descending, is undoubtedly to rem
der them more difficult, on account of the |
care required to avoid getting one part of
the boat into it, while another part is in |
the current Of the draw. 1t has been pre-
viously stated that the effect Of this eddy in |
the Iowa draw is to render it useless.
Z. The surface of the water ct the Up
stream end of the turn-table- pier, 10 Is |
inches above the surface of the water at the |
down stream end. The extent of the back
water or remows - nearly - could be esti-
mated, 10 about 16O feet.
8. The Bridge 10 badly located, and in
consequence of this bad location 10 greater
obstruction to. the passege Of steamboats
than wonld have been necessary. had the
location been good. Any site in the vicini-
ty below Rock Island. oat Of the rapid cur
rent, would have been beetter.
"The Board considers it proper to recs-
pitulate some Of the we'll known principles
Of Bridge building. to show how far they
have been conformed to. or departed from,
with the Rock Island Bridge.
These principles ars:-
lst. That ct given place in locating .
Bridge over any stream, the site where
the velocity of the current ID = minimum
should be selected.
I'd. That in deaigning y bridge, the piers
should have the minimum cross section con.
sistent With the support Of the superstruct-
ure. thus Offering the least obstruction to