The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1873-06-21

worthless; but the posts, judging
from what is visible of them above
the water line, are for the most
part, sound, and can be made
available for reconstruction pur-
poses. We, your committee, would
therefore recommend the rebuild
ing of these bridges, upon the fol-
lowing specifications:
The bridge over Red Chute, to
be thoroughly repaired, by using
the upright posts proving sound
and serviceable, and substituting
others ia place of those found, on
close inspection, to be decayed and
worthless.
The sinking of new "bent,n in
the center of main body of the
bridge 1.-THE span being now forty
feet, from bent to bent, a distance
entirely too great said bent to
have mudsill attached, the plant
ing of this bent under each span
equi-distant, one from the other.
The bent to be Of the same dimen-
sions as the others now standing
in the main structure, mgdsiu in
Guided; the whole to be firmly
morticed and pinned together,
with braces on each side of posts,
connecting with cap plates. All
lumber used for posts and braces,
in making beuts, to be of heart
cypress. The cap-plstes are to be
entirely renewed; the timber used
IN constructing same to be of heart
cypress l2x12 inches square; but,
lion none minute examination,
the teRents of upright posts prove
TO be unsound, thereby necessitat-
ing said tenants to be cut down,
and new ones substituted, thus
causing a lowering of the bridge
from 4 tot inches, then the said
caps shall be of the following di.
mansions, viz: l2x16 inches, so as
to restore the surface of the bridge
to its original height.
The cap plates of bents to be OF
same length as those now found
in use, the caps to be morticed to
posts, well braced and pinned on
each side, throughout.
The sleepers of main body Of the
bridge are to be entirely renewed,
hewed out twenty-four GA feet
long, and Sx16 inches in width
and depth; they are to be laid on
the plates, so that each end shall
overlap the caps one foot, leaving
twenty feet clear between each
span. These sleepers are to be
put down five abreast throughout
the whole structure of the bridge,
aprons included, and are to be
constructed of the very best heart
cypress. Each outside sleeper IL
TO be bolted and keyed to cap
plates, using the old irons now in
rogue, so far as practicable, and
should additional bolts be required
Che same to be procured, as occa
sion may demand.
1t is only Intended to kew the
'sleepers of the aprons, and not ,ht
main bridge.
Slcepers are TO eighteen (1S)
feet long, and OKLA inches il
width and depth; the overlapping
the cap-plates, one feot, leaving
fifteen feet clear between eacf
span, as nearly as possible. TIL,
posts, mudsills, caps and braces
to be of same size as those USED
liz the main body Of the bridge
The old material now in aprons tt
be entirely removed, and new tim
bers substituted in every particu
.laI; the whole frame work OF
aprons to be tenanted, morticeG
and pinned, and braced securely
on each end, in a substantial and
workmanlike manner. The out
side sleepers of aprons to be bolt
ed and keyed; same as sleepers il
main body of the bridge. Lumber
used to be of heart cypress.
The sleepers of aprons, sitter
striking ground on both banks
are to be sunk in the earth s feet,
and the extreme ends of said
sieepers, covered by a cross tie
.SxS inches square, of heart oak
the same to be piled in the ground,
by four piles, four feet long, and
Sx2 inches square; SAID cross tie
to be firmly secured to the sleep,
srs by o / inch drift bolt, driven
through both pieces of timber at
each end; the whole underground
work to be covered with dirt TO a
level with the bank end of apron
flooring. We deem it advisable
to place one post on each side of
bridge, five feet in the ground, and
the cross piece SxS inches, mortic-