The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1876-03-11
Thibodaux Bridge Company
BY UNCLE SILAS.

original minnie book of the com
pany and have to trust to such
other information as can be found
concerning tue business of the
company up to the re-organisa
ton after the war.
About the first of June 1856
the Directors named in the Char
ter held meeting at which P.
H. Gary was chosen President of
the Thibodaur Bridge Company.
The Minerra Of June 10th, says
that
The proposals for erecting the supers-
tructure we're opened on Monday last,
and the contract awarded to our fellow
townsmen, Mcssrs. Springer e. Evans
for the sum of $19,5CO
1t seems, however, that the Di-
rectors changed the plan of the
structure and news bids were re-
ceived. and the contract awarded
to E. 7. Burnham at or about
$22, 800.
The 4Minerra of August 3Oth,
says:
Mr. E. T. Burnhan, contractor of the
Thibodaux Bridge, commenccd opera
tions on Monday last. He has already
constructed shop for his workmen. and
will commence the foundations Of the
pillars ut an early day
Water permitting, the Bridge will be
completed by March next.
At a meeting ofthe Town coun
Gil held August 4th. 1856, on mo.
ton of Mr.. Boudreaux it was
Reso1red. that the Mayor be and is
hereby authorised by All ulfanilfons sotc
Of the Board, to vote for the location of
the Bridge ut the head of Jackson street
The youthful reader has per
harps no ide;. how the stanch, sol
id pier upon which the Bridge
now turns, is constructed.
Piles of abont one foot square
we're driven into the ground by
an immense steam pile driver.
with the edges touching SD that
when the piles were driven they
occupied one half Of the space.
These were forced down many
feet below the bottom of the
Bayou. The spaces were then HI
led with shells and concrete,
upon the top 1T this We're laid
two or more layers of massive
planks upon which the blics
work was erected.
The corner stone Of the princi-
pal Pier of the bridge was laid on
November II 1856, under which
many things that were supposed
likely to open the eyes of that fin
ture generation who will demol
ish the structure some four OF
five thousand years hence, bottles
of brandy, gold aud silver coins
etc.
The work progressed during
the winter under the direction Ot
the contractor E. T. Burnham,
brt in the Spring for some cause
he abandoned the contract, when
Summer Townsend, his security
finished the job, and the bridge
was completed during the Sum.
mer. ....
1t was an entire wooden struct
ure and turned up the Bayou in
place of dovn as it now does.
The President of the company
superintended the collection OF
the tolls up to October 1852. Mr.,
G. w. Bonner, having for the
most of the time, if not, all the
time been in charge of the Bridge
working under stated salary.
On May II 1857 the Town
Council appointed j. w. De'le
rick, NJ. Springer, and Leo Hy.
mel "a committee to council
with the Board of Thibodaul
Bridge Company III reference tC
the Tolls tor crossing the Bridge
and Oh June l the Council agreed
to the Toll list which is thought
to have remained without charge
! to the present time.
The dividends were declared
Selni-annuaIly but were not sc
large as they are at the present
period.
In the Financial year of the
corporation ending April 3Otl
1860. dividends amounting Il
S5OO.OO were paid 10 the Town
being five per cent OH the amount
paid in. 1t will be remembered
that the contraction of the Bridge
cost several hundred dollar
more than the stock paid in, Il
which must be added S5OO.O'
paid for the Patent on the Turl
table, all of which had to be pal,
before any dividends could be d.
clared.
The dividends for the tw'
years following amounted t
925OO.O0 being 123 per cent pc
annum.
These were doubtless the las
dividends declared AS the wal
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