The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-09-01


There has been q great deal Of fuss over the
bridge question during the last couple Of weeks,
but for the first time the subject is in tangible
shape. Mr. Lynch took hold Of the subject, and
bringing Mr.. Bruce Of MarscilcS to the city,
caused surveys and estimates TO be made for the
cost Of a new bridge rs the only way to get at the
expense of the project and the value Of the pres
ent bridge to the towns of Ottawa and South OF
tawa. The estimate thus made is as follows
To the Supervisors IF Up IOTn IF OtHrc
We the undersigned, have examined and sur
vcycd for an estimate Of bridge across the Hi
nOis river, from the south end Of Shabbona street
in East Ottawa, and have made an estimate for
bridge on the following plan tO-wit: Length Of
bridge, $40 feet two abutments and three piers =.
The abutmcnts are extra heavy, as well As the
piers. The abutmcnts will be u feet from should
cr to shoulder, with wings - feet long on the
face. Bridge seat 3 feet and wings feet d
inches, at top at bottom the seat is feet, and
the wings average : feet Piers are - feet cX-
IRENE length and feet at bridge seat, and cut
work Q feet inches at bottom, and 30 feet cx-
IRENE length This Is at least 20 per cent hcay'
Ter, and more than - per cent better, than the
piers in the old bridge on La Sale street We al
ways estimate for an iron bridge, and cmbank.
mcnts for approaches, all first class, crtro
The total cost will be $4,000. The above Is cs-
timatcd on basis superior in quality Of work
IHHSilD ana UluttTlI ~ any DTIuIt Oh lc Illi
nos river, ALIEN BRUCE,
EBg. BARBER,
ROBERT WILSON.
Upon this estimate Mr. Lynch makes the fol-
loving speech, prepared for the newspapers ofthcI
city, which seems to be the solution Of the ques-
ton for if the III. r. b. Co. will not sell the
present bridge at its actual value 10 the towns as
shown by the subjoincd statement, it will be no
difficult SIX to build new one.
Mg. LIS STATEMENT.
To tie Edi'oiy qfNe FREE TRADER
| hand you herewith the estimated cost Of a
new bridge acros, the Illinois river. The est
mate is made bythree gentlemen who are known
to be competent builders and engineers, who
stand ready tn give satisfactory security to erect
the bridge at the cost named. II will be seen
that the total cost Of Il new bridge, OF stone and
iron, made so strong and solid as to be almost
everlasting, can be constructed at point equally
convenient with the present toll bridge, forI
$4,000
The time has come when we must have free
bridge across tho Illinois river at Ottawa. The
only question to be determined is whether we
shall purchase the old toll bridge and make it
free or build anew onc-a question which should
be settled at once
To me ii is clear that the interests Of Ottawa
and South Ottawa would be better served by
building new bridge than to pay Sl3 80 for the
Olu one. INC new DTlu1t NDulu ne much more
substantial and durable, and would cost the
towns no more ; for in ease n new bridge was
built, the county must pay Onc-half of the total
cost-and one half (sl3, 1JD) would be a very tri-
tiing sum for the county to pay for the consider
alton of free bridge at this central point, to be
kept up for all time by the towns.
presume the Illinois River Bridge Co will not
feel pleased over the position in which the above
state Of facts places them towards the towns, but
they must remember that their bridge is not un-
like an old cow which has been nearly MIXED to
death. The hide in the one case, and the piers
in the other, Is all the critters are worth
When the county appropriation is taken into
consideration, the old bridge would not be worth
over -, 600 to the towns, for the reason that it
would soon require an expenditure OF not less
added 10 the $4,000 purchase money, would make
Sl3, $50, or the amount which the towns would
have to pay towards building new bridge.
Laying all other considerations aside, Sl3, 10
would fully cover the intrinsic value Of the old
bridge Competent and responsible engineers
stand ready to testify that the piers can be re-
placed for $4,000, and the old supcrstructurc i,
not worth over 81, 100.
am decidedly in favor of the new bridge, feel
Ing confident that the county board will not hes
italc to make the legal appropriation.
A. LYNCH.
| From the facts and ilgurcs given, we do not sec
how greater price can be paid for the old bridge
than what would be the comparative cost OF 9
new one. So far as the interest Of Ottawa and
taxpayers generally are involved, the bridge
would answer the purpose rs well at the pro
posed location Of the new one rs where the old
one stands, and when the safety from the FoN
river Ice l. considered the new location is 10y ta
the most desirable, In the expenditure Of mon
cy the public interest should be held paramount
4. t,,...
be obtained by purchasing the old bridge at 1
price other than that which would, to the tax
payer, be equal TO building new bridge at th
point indicated, taking the county appropriation
| into considerations