Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-13
THE BRIDGE OF SIZE.

4 Catechised Observation-Disclosures from
Senator Mcmillan and Representative
Stewart-Ta1king Over the Engineer.
An adjourned meeting of the Fort Smell
ling bridge commission was held yesterday
morning in the office of the county auditor.
A. full board was present, Aid. Dawson pre-
siding.
Engineer sewall's dimension line plan
and profles, referred to and described in
yesterdays GLOBE, having been unrolled
upon the table, the secretary read the minutes
of the previous meeting of the board, which
were approved.
The secretary then read letter from En-
gineer Sewall, which accompanied his draw
ings. Omitting the parts Of the communi
cation directly referring to, and technically
descriptive of the plans, the report is as
follows:
ssThe location should be at the narrowest
place that the officers in charge of the fort
will approve.
s'The shortest line would be at the ferry,
and run through the fort It has not been
surveyed, but would be 100 feet shorter than
any of the lines shown (upon the plans).
= = The width of the valley increases
oil tu0 Way W Lie 1,cOO leu ll1ults
"The cost of the bridge will be in proper
ton to its length. The foundation is coarse
gravel, which we could not penetrate with an
iron rod more than sixteen feet; nearly the
| same as at st. Paul.
| Letters were read from Senator Mcmillan
and Representative Stewart saying that they
had called upon the secretary of war in refer
ence to securing aid from the government
for the bridge. They found that the matter
had been referred to Quartermaster General
Meigs, and Chief Of Engineers Humphreys,
| and that they had in turn referred it Gen.
Sheridan, and he, had laid the whole matter
before Gen. Terry, and upon Gen. Terry's
report would depend the question of gov
eminent aid. DR.. Stewart thinks it will be
easier to obtain money appropriation than
any part of the reservation.
The secretary said he communicated on
Tuesday last, by letter with Gen. Terry, the
departmental military commander, respect
ing the points in which the military were in
terested as to the right of way, &c. A reply
had not been received from the general, who
is sick, and, independent of his indisposi-
ton, the secretary presumed Gen. Terry was
awaiting advices from Washington in refer
ence to the whole matter.
Mr.. Sewall, in explanation Of his line
plan, said, Nos. 1, 2 and would strike the
fort. The lowest line, the one at the ferry,
called "No. ~ being the shortest, would be
by far the the cheapest probably saving
$4,000 in the total expenditure for the
bridge, if it could be secured as a location.
The whole question of location hinged upon
the fact as to how near the fort the military
authorities would permit the fort end of the
bridge to come.
The Chair-We cannot decide until the
determination of the military authorities has
been ascertained.
i The Secretary cannot imagine that they
will permit the road to the bridge to 60 be-
tween the officers quarters or through the
drill ground.
Mr.. Sewall--The road which would lead to
the lines Nos. l, 2 and 8 would be entirely
outside of the fort wall I thought you were
familiar with the ground, and SO did not
, draw the location of the fort wall upon the
plan, as it would have occupied so much
} time in surveying, These buildings (point-
, ing to their location as marked upon the
, plan) are outside the fort. One of them is
used, believe as guard house. None q
} them are officers quarters. The road to the
, bridge would run outside the fort wall. L
: the military authorities are not willing the
bridge should end there, the site will bt
driven up to the cemetery.
The Secretary-Ah! well, that makes a con
siderable difference.
5 The Chair-Would it be safe to advertis,
2 for bids for proposals for any part of the
r bridge work before the line of the bridge il
t located?
3 Mr.. Sit would be safe as far as the ma
) sonry part is concerned. It would take tn
masonry contractor at least two months tc
get his preparations ready, and, in matter
) of this kind, it is always the preparations TO
the masonry that occasion the delay. The. be-
Y of the river is hard ground, like that fount
4 in building the piers of the Wabashaw stree
bridge. The foundations for the piers vii
= have to be piled.
$ The Chair-How far down would you driv
$ the piles?
: Mr.. S.--Twenty feet or so.
The Chair-How deep were the pile
driven for the Wabashaw street bridge?
MIR. 81 think about sixteen feet.
The Chair-What quantity of masonry d.
. you suppose there will be in the piers?
MIR. S.-About 1000 cubic yards in til
larger ones. The largest one would prob
ably measure 1900. Iron piers would NO
: be as cheap as stone piers. When you com
r pare weight for weight, iron piers are tn
!. more expensive. My idea of the bridge is tt
|. have the whole iron superstructure abov
+ The piers, and, if iron piers were construct
v ed, the foundations would have to be 8
k much wider, and there would be very little
/ if any, saving in masonry.
J. The Chair-What would the masonry Q
k the piers cost?
q MI. S.-The masonry of the Wabasha1
e street bridge cost $11 per yard. The COS
/ of masonry varies with the situation as t
), stone, &C., and ranges from $s to SIG pc
e yard.
a Mr.. Lindeke-Did you not once make a.
/ estimate for bridge at Fort Smelling?
v Mr.. S.-Yes; but that was for a woode
r. bridge. I would much rather not make a
; estimate for this bridge.
A The Secretary estimate that six pier
h will be required, which would cost $3.50 900.
e Mr.. S.-We might economic on that.
J. should expect to get two piers on sand roc
s foundations, one at the edge of each bluff
} These, of course, would require no piline
q and thus we should economize. There woul
d be two, at least, that would require pilins
u No dependence can be placed upon the islam
s as foundation, as it is only bar.
q The Chair-About how much would th
d piling cost? 1t is part of the expense d
not understand.
ID Mr.. S.-From $4,000 to SIS, 900 for til
o most expensive pier, I should suppose.
F. The Chair-What about the height of th
IS bridge?
e Mr.. 81 suppose we should be compelle
If to give as much height under the bridge 6
J. is afforded by the Wabasha street bridge
IS which is 68 feet above high water mari
le There will be plenty of room for that di.
" lance under the truss of the new bridge.
10 do not have much faith in the Importance