Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-11
The Bridge Commission.

The building Of the bridge was committed to
4 commission, named in the act of the legisla-
ture authorizing its construction. These com.
missioners, Messrs. W m. Dawson VIM. Lindeke,
Rudolph Knapheide, Joseph Thornton and
Thomas Cochran Jr.. held their first meeting
on Tuesday, March 49, 1878. At the meeting,
Hon. VIM. Dawson was elected chairman and
Thomas Cochran, Jr. was elected secretary OF
the commission.
the public have been kept advised. The vex
alton attending their work, and
| the censure the commission has had tc
bear, has been of no ordinary character. In a
great measure this has arisen from unfortunate
selection of some of their servants or in the un.
lucky award of contracts. Be that as it may,
now seeing an end, or the projection of the
| ture, they can almost assume the air of "well
done, thou good and faithful servant"
But to be chronologically correct in detail,
the commission inaugurated its work by order.
ing preliminary survey to select site for the
bridge. On April 4th, 1875 Mr.. j. s. Sewall
was elected engineer to make the survey. At a
| subsequent meeting of the commission, on
April 18th, Mr.. Sewall was selected engineer ia
assume entire charge of the construction of the
bridge, under the supervision of al officer des-
lgnated by the secretary of war.
Capt. Charles J. Allen, United States corps
VI cuSluecIS, was ULc OlllCcE ueSlSudIeO. he
has been untiring in his attention, aud to him
the solidity, massiveness and security of the
BRIDGE as completed, almost, is in no little
measure due.
Having for its duties entire control Of all
pertaining to the bridge, the award of con-
tracts, ETC., some attention to the details OF
their proceedings is necessary to make this
history complete.
THE STONE CONTRACT.
In due tine, site having been selected TO,
the bridge and right Of way having been OBJ
tanned, Gen. Terry offering no opposition, the
next thing in order was to begin work. tt
this end, on August 9Th, 1878, the commission
opened bids for the stone work on the piers
ETC., following which the award was made.
The bids were six in number, and were for
limestone or sandstone, the proposals Offering
to complete the work either in December or
June following. It was determined to make
the award to the lowest bidder for December,
and accordingly J. l. T. R. Bentley, of Mil.
waukee were declared the successful bidders
at the figures, S53, 663.
Subsequently, j. and T. Il. Bentley failing
to qualify IS contractors, on the 10th of August
the commission resolved to give the contract tc
the next lowest bidder. --
Thus Michael O. Brien's troubles began to the
tune of $54, $50, the amount at which he pro
posed to put up the piers, etc. s.
On the 9th of August, Aid. Thomas Grace
was appointed to superintend or supervise the
masonry work of the piers and abutments.
Much trouble ensued about this time, owing
to Engineer Sewalrs permitting the contractor
to depart from the plans and specifications.
Capt. Allen, of the army, having governmental
supervision, objected to these alterations and
was sustained by the commission. $50
Owing to the difficulty arising from the fore.
going and other reasons, on October 22d the
time of the contract was extended to June.
This reduced the expense IF construction to
$4s, 26O.
Once again the commission found its soul,
or five souls, vexed by the inability of the
contractor to do the work. So on
October 2Gth the work was transferred
to Mcintyre & Steele, under whom it was sat-
isfactorily finished.
The character of the stone work, as we'll as
the specifications and plans, after which the
piers and abutments were built. will be under
stood from the description of the bridge, which
follows. . ST.. "t'..~
THE SUPERSTRUCTURE. Sea-
Having provided for place or places over
and on which to swing the bridge, it was next
! in order to make arrangements for the super.
structure, or bridge proper. To this end pro
posals were asked, and on December 9Th, 1878
Fl. E. Horton Co., of Rochester, Minnesota
were given the contract, or virtually SO, though
it was confirmed later, at the figures $44, 325
The superstructure, truss, cords,