The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-30

under consideration We find that the
grades which must be actually worked
that is, made-before any travel, light
Or heavy, can pass over the proposed
road, to be three in number, and aggre-
gate |, $50 feet in length. To stop with
this statement would, however, convey
no adequate idea of the labor and ex-
pense to be incurred. For the chief Of
these grades, 900 feet in length must be
constructed along the almost perpen
dicular and constantly falling banks OF
Belt creek, where no ordinary mode of
grade making will render it safe and
permanent.
We find it generally admitted that
the bridge may be effectively repaired
by either of two plans:
1st. By rebuilding the middle pier,
placing the sa me upon solid founda-
ton. Those who saw it stand without
culver during the last freshet, when
half undermined and emptied Of its
contents, will have no fear for it when
properly constructed.
End. By splicing the bed timbers and
building a single truss high enough to
support both spans without building
any middle pier.
One Of these two things has to be done
in any case, and the necessity for it can
not be avoided by removing the bridge
to another place.
The assertion that the timber in the
present bridge will suffice for all the
bridges required over the proposed route
We do not find quite correct. On the
proposed site the bridge must span the
width, and the trestle approaches IS feet
Or more on each side. There is coulee
to be spanned, which will require more
than 100 feet Of bridge and trestle work,
making a total for creek and coulee Of
305 feet OF bridge and trestle work. The
total length of the present bridge and
trestle work is 29O feet, leaving def
cheney of Is feet, which deficiency we
think will be doubled or trebled when
full plans are submitted.
\ STABILITY OF BRIDGE.
On this point even the statements of
engineers must be more or
less the statement of opinion. We note
some points, however, bearing on the
question. The stream at the proposed
site is not materially if any wider than
at the present location. and therefore
the depth of water will not be less The
force Of the stream is unbroken by any
sharp bends for more than quarter Of
a mile above the proposed site, while
there are two sharp bends but little
above the present location. At the pro-
posed site all the water must be concen-
trated into one main channel, while at
the present location there is, in addition
to the main channel, another channel
so feet wide, dry at ordinary stages of
water, but carrying large stream in
time of freshet. and materially lessening
the volume Of water in the main chan
mel.
But whatever may be said in favor of
either site, we maintain that the bridge
should be located with reference to the
best route, and not uice uersu. The road
is the chief consideration-the bridge a
minor one.
To guide in forming an approximate
estimate Of the cost, we submit a state
ment of the work required over each
route, and also of the work that is not
absolutely required, but is desirable.
Required for proposed route: Taking
down present bridge; removing same
10 proposed site; building three piers
TWO piers at crossing of coulee; timber
FOR extra trestlc work reframing and
putting bridge together, POS feet; bridge
over coulee, 100 feet; construction of
shree grades. aggregating 1850 feet in
ength.
Required for present route: Rebuild |
ng one pier.
Desirable for proposed route: I'M
of two natural grades on hill
north of Belt creek trestle work over
me wide coulee near head of Arnoux
lew grade south of HighWood creek.
Desirable for present route Improve
nent of two grades now passable on hill
outh of bridge; trestle work over one
coulee on plain south of bridge;
restle work across two narrow coulees
n hill north of bridge.
SUMMARY.
By way of summary we conclude:
That the proposed change involves