Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-05

COl. hODeTtSOu, OOV. AldIsudii, duO oehoio
obtained city vote on issuing bonds to
build bridge there, but the majority was
then against an issue of bonds. The project
was, thereafter, often discussed and its early
friends stood By it. In 1876, James Smith,
Jr., and Fred. Richter worked bill through
the legislature creating commission to re-
ceive subscriptions and donations for build
ing the bridge. Another bill was defeated
in 1877. In 1873, a bill was passed enlarg-
ing the commission and authorizing 1t to
locate the bridge, AMI a supplementary
bill was also passed, which
authorized the county OF
Ramsey to issue 100000 in bonds for build
ing the bridge, and providing for making the
approaches and opening roads to it. About
this time j. w. McClung proposed that the
national government should aid in building
the bridge, because of its advantages for the
military post. The chamber of comm cree
adopted tie proposition. Gen. Terry and
Chief Quartermaster Tompkins seconded it.
Congressman Stewart took charge of me-
mortal for Congressional aid, and in June.
1873, Congress voted $4,000 toward build
ing the bridge. In March, preceding, the
people of Ramsey county had voted, 2.5O2 to
G2O, to issue the 100000 of bonds. The
bridge commission, consisting of Hon. VIM.
Dawson, chairman, Thos. Cochran, Jr., Sec
rotary, and VIM. Lindeke, Rudolph Krap-
heide and Joseph Thornton, was ready to
begin its work.
THE BUILDERS.
City Engineer j. S. Sswall was appointed
construction engineer. Capt. Chas. j. Allen,
of the corps of engineers, was supervising
engineer for the government. Aid. Thomas
Grace was appointed to superintend the ma
sorry. The contractors, after delay and
changes, were Mcintyre & Steele for the
piers and their foundations. The contractors
for tho iron superstructure were II. E. Hor-
ton Il Co. of Rochester, MINI.
THE BRIDGE
Is finely pictured in the GLOBE engraving
except that the broad view does not at first
gla .ce give full conception of the height
of the bridge above the water. 1t is l 1885,
feet between the abutments. The three
river spans are 1876 feet, 270 feet
and 181 feet long. The road
bed, on top of the trusses,
is 9S13 feet above high water, or about 120
feet above the river at its present stage. The
lower chords of the bridge are GO feet above
high water. The Ramsey county end of the
bridge for 432 feet, up the bluff, is carried
on iron trestles surmounted on sixteen stone
piers. The river piers are founded upon
granite and built to high water level with
Red Wing and Hastings stone. Above that
the stone is from quarry opened on the
Minnesota bottom near Fort Smelling. The
roadway and footway rest upon the top
chords of the iron trusses, which is of tho
Pratt pattern. The roadway is eighteen feet
wide and the footway five feet wide. The
bridge is being tested to dead weight of
1900 pounds per linear foot, and is
to be- stiffened against swaying by
guy wires. The whole cost of the
work Is at present estimated at
$4,000 to $4,000, which will leave $45,-
co to $4,000 to the county from its appro
pciation of 100000.
THE USES OF THE BRIDGE.
1t has already helped to make Fort Smell
ing permanent military post, the headquar-
tiers for the Northwest and camp of in
struction. The old fort is being demolished.
In its place is being built a military city,
with ample quarters and storage, and
grounds where an army division might be
maneuvred and trained. 1t adds great at
traction to the suburban scenery of st. Paul.
II gives our citizens and visitors short and
pleasant drive to the post and Minnehaha.
1t facilitates intercourse between the post and
the city, and it enables the farmers of
the country beyond the military reservation
to come to st. Paul with their products. In
its uses and advantages, the bridge will add
to the evidences of the wisdom of the enter
prising old settlers who early planned this,
and many other expensive improvements
they have lived to see made. 1t is for this
aud future generations to profit by pioneer
project realized in solid stone and tenacious
iron-graceful but strong, beautiful but
durable.