Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-11-02


crossed suf1c iently to warrant this action,
bids for the supe:structure were adver-
tised for. They were opened September
80, 1878, and were thirty-two in number,
varying IN amount. from. $39 ,444 to $50 600
Nearly all the prominent bridge builders
in the country were represented by bids,
all of which were required to be accom-
panied by plans, many of which were for
several different kinds of superstructure
suitable for the purpose. After thor
ough examination of all these plans Mr..
Sewall decided that the one submitted by
Messrs. Horace E. Horton 81 Co., of
Rochester, Mimi, for $44, 1913, was
the cheapest, aid in written
report on file, gave reasons for
its adoption. These plans after their re.
vision, according to suggestions made by
the commissions engineer, were on the
18th day of January submitted to Major
Allen for examination and transmission
to Washington, and telegraphic notice of
their approval by the War Department
was received February oath thereafter.
The contract for the iron work be-
tween Messrs. Horton & Co. and
the commission was signed March
18th, 1879, and was completed and the
work accepted in little over year from
that date, March 18th, $780, I'm mediate
ly following its completion and opening
for travel il was upon the 30th day of
March, as the records of your 0 yn body
will show, formally turned oyer to you as
the representatives of Ramsey county
and forever dedicated as free bridge to
the people of the United States. The
long delay which occurred in the compile
ton of the superstructure were equally
vexatious to all concerned. Reviewing
all the circumstances, however, at this
distance of time, the commissioners record
their opinion that it was unavoidable and
chiefly owing, as the contractors claimed,
to the unprecedented rise in iron which
took place Immediately after the signing
of the contract and caused every iron
manufacturing concern IN the country to
fall grievously behind in the completion
of its contracts. 1t is matter of congra-
tulation, lat any rate that the contract was
let before this rise in the raw material of
which the superstructure was construct
ed, and that SO competent corporation
as the Keystone Bridge company was
employed by Messrs. Ell. E. Horton s. Co.
to furnish the manufactured iron. For
the completed superstructure, there was
paid $45, 99707, the cost above the con-
tract price of S44,37S being made up of
the cost of testing the iron before it left
the foundry at Pittsburgh under the care
of the United States Government In
spector; of anchoring the bridge to the
piers as matter of extraordinary eau
ton and of testing the strength of the
different spans to the satisfaction Of Maj
Allen, of the United States Engineers
supervising the work for the Govern
ment at this point.
Another department of the Bridge
Commissions duty under the statutes
constituting it was to determine upon and
lay out roads and approaches. This was
found to be much more important than
at first supposed After giving due at
tention to the rendering of the bridge it
self easy of access from existing roads the
widening of Fort street to 100 feet
from the city limits to the river received
the most earnest and thoughtful consid-
Grafton. 1t was found that the law was
insufficient in respect to its authority for
this improvement and it was reluctantly
abandoned. 1t is the opinion of the
Commission that much of the advantage
of the bridge to the city is lost because of
the wretched condition of this thorough
fare and that both its widening and mac
adaming would amply repay the neces-
sary expenditure therefor.
The roads through the United States
reservation necessary to connect the
bridge with the Bloomington and Rich
field turnpike have been carefully and
we'll made under the direct supervision Of
the commission and its engineer, Mr..
Moritz Schmidt having been constantly
employed as foreman on these works to
the satisfaction of all concerned. The
importance of this portion of the improve
ment to the trade of our city will be ap-
preciated, when it is remembered that the
Bloomington road is the thoroughfare for
that portion of Hennepin county which
it traverses, and the adjoining county of
Scott beyond, and that the Richfield con-
nection furnishes communication for an
equally rich farming region. In the
prosecution of these highway improve
ments may be found the justification for
the continued existence of the commission
after the main structure of the bridge was
finished The retention of its organiza-
ton until this date the commission
deemed necessary in order that these
roads should form channels of trade by
the aid of the bridge itself for the city of
St. Paul; especially as no expense was
incurred thereby beyond that actually
needful, the commission ceasine to hold
regular sessions with the completion of
it's main work, and being called together
thereafter only at such times as the con-
dition of the work in hand called for off
cial attention. The consent of the gov
eminent for the road from the edge of
the reservation where the Richfield turn
pike ends, to the main Bloom
ington road was only OBJ
famed through the assistance
of Gen. Terry in February of the current
year. Work upon it was not commenced
until sum mer because of the very wet
weather in spring, and the last estimate
was only paid upon it in the third week
of August. Since that date other duties
have prevented the commission from pre-
pairing this final report, which, howeve
their minutes will testify was ordered at
the date last named. The cost of these
roads is an added testimony to their inn
portance, and was naturally greatly in
creased by the purchase of land for the
Bloomington road to al amount exceed
ing $1,000. The total outlay for all roads
and approaches reaches the respectable
sum of nearly $4,000.
In concluding this final report the COM