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

mission submitted their final report, as fol-
lows:
ST. PAUL, Nov. l, 1881.
GENTLEMEN: Our labors, as members
of the Fort Smelling Bridge Commission.
under the acts of the legislature of
Minnesota, authorizing the building of
that structure and the issuance of bonds
by the county to pay for the same, hav-
ing been finally concluded, we resign into
your hands the balance of the funds of
which we have been disbursers, and sub
nit at the same time the following brief
resume of the work accomplished and an
itemlzed statement of its total cost.
1t is unnecessary for us to rehearse the
public discussion and agitation growing
out of the necessity of St. Paul for this
means of communication with the farm
ing communities lying on the west bank
of the Mississippi river, which, after
many years led to the building of the
present bridge. Suffice it to say, that the
subject. received attention about twenty
five years ago; that it came to vote of
the people in 1866, but was defeated, and
that the movement which finally culmi-
mated in success, took formal shape in a
special law passed in 1876. This law, as
amended in 1878, gave the present Bridge
Commission it's existence, and was made
effective by another, providing for the is
suing of county bonds to the amount of
100000, If such issue was approved by
vote of the people. This vote being
taken and being in favor of the measure,
the undersigned, at once thereafter Or
ganized, under the statutes referred to,
on the Goth day of March, 1878. After
taking the oath of Office, William Daw-
son was elected chairman and Thomas
Cochran, Jr., secretary of the Board.
At the very first meeting action was
taken looking to contribution by the
United States government to the cost of
the bridge, as had been elsewhere sug-
gested by those in favor of its being
built. Correspondence was at once had
with. the representatives of the State in
the national legislature, who immediately
engaged in earnest efforts to the end in
view. These were most efficiently Sec
onded by Hon. Alexander Ramsey, whom
the Commission was fortunate enough to
secure as Its special representative before
suited in an appropriation of $65, 000 the
amount, it is now interesting to note, be-
ing based on half the estimated cost of the
improvement by the United States ergi-
neers. The direct benefit to Ramsey
county was of course this division of the
cost Of the bridge and approaches, but
an almost equal advantage accrued in the
superior quality of the work OBJ
toiy nod ha nd
close supervision which every part re
| ceived from the United States Engineers
and Inspectors. The conditions upon
which the appropriation was made were
simple and unembarrassing, namely: that
the plans should be approved by the Sec
| rotary of War.
On the 4th day of April, 1878, Mr.. Jo-
seph S. Sewall, then Engineer of the City
of St. Paul, and having national repu-
| tatlon as a competent bridge engineer,
was chosen to make the preliminary sur
vey for the exact location of the bridge,
and upon April IA, was elected the per-
| manent engineer in charge of the work.
acc ompanying this paper, for descrip-
| ton of the improvement, as far as its
| technical construction is concerned. Dur
| best location of the structure, which was
limited by law to within mile of the
ferry, it was suggested to the commits
sioners to make at once railroad and a
| wagon bridge. This suggestion, howev-
er, was proven impracticable, by. the cost
| being ascertained to be upwards of $780,
| 600.
Upon the 9Th of July, 1878, the general
y,1o nd hou dbl
| prepared by the Engineer, the secretary
Of the commission was sent with them to
Washington, to obtain speedy approval
suited in the immediate appointment of a
report upon their merits, in the persons
Of Gen. Alfred Fl: Terry, who was at the
time member of the Fltz John Porter
Court of Inqui" sitting at West Point,
N. Y, and q ". K. Warren. These OFF,
GERS ac' With great promptitude, evinc
| I'M. ~ snce their confidence in Mr.. Sewal1's
ability and skill as bridge engineer, and
| their earnest desire to further the com
plction of the work by every means in
| their power. Their favorable report for
the acceptance of the plans and specif-
cations, carried with it the approval of
1AO OCClOeoly VI w al Ill 400.
Bids for the stone work, having been
| duly advertised for and received, were
opened at the meeting of the commission
August 5, 1878. They were ten in num-
Der, and comprised bids for furnishing
the piers and abutments on December l,
1878, or June l, 1879, as well as giving
the different costs of using limestone, or
more expensive and durable sandstone,
as the material. The amount of these
bids ranged from al $50 to s94,56O The
contract for this portion of the work was
let to Michael O'Brien, of ST. Paul, on
August 9, 1878, as the lowest responsible
bidder conforming to the conditions of
the Commission. 1t was decided, at the
same time. that the material for facing
the piers above high water mark should
be limestone, and that the time for finish
ing the stone work should be December
l, 1878. As the work progressed the ne
cessity for deepening the foundation of
the pier on the Fort Smelling bank of the
river, and of using the more durable ma
terial of Mendoza sandstone, in order in
both points to conform to the require
ments of the Supervising Engineer of
the United States government, Major
Chas. ]. Allen, caused change in the
time set for the completion of the piers,
to June l, 1879, and added nearly SIS, 600