St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-16

Aid. johnson said the travel over the Waba-
shaw street bridge was far too great, and a
bridge was needed at Robert.
Mr.. johnson read communication from
the city engineer showing that
for 5000, 900, $3.50, 900 and $500, 900, the
same substructure to be used in each case.
1t was developed that the substructure could
be erected aud then if the legislature would
not appropriate the necessary $4,000 or
5000, 600 this winter, the bridge could be fin
ished for $780, 900, although this amount
would not suffice to make bridge that would
do credit to the city.
Aid. Dowlan moved that the committee on
streets recommend TO the common council
that the city clerk be directed TO advertise for
bids for the substructure of bridge running
from Robert street TO Ducas street and Fill
more avenue. The motion was carried by
the following vote: Ayes-Ald. Johnson,
Dowlan and ST. Peter. Nays-Ald. Otis and
Van Slyke.
The communication of City Engineer
Somers is as follows:
CITY ENGINEER's OFFICE,
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Nov. Is, 1884.
Aid. Gates A. johnson, Chairman Commit
tee on Streets.
Dear Sir:-ln answer TO YOUR questions in
regard to the proposed Robert street bridge,
as to the cost if built in accordance with tie
plans submitted to the common council and
now before the committee on streets, aud
the character of the work that can he done
within the limits of cost as prescribed by the
act of the legislature authorizing the issue of
city bonds for the purpose:
The question of bridging the river now
having been before the public some time
and it being question of very great i'm
portance, involving not only the expenditure
OF large sums in the construction of the
bridge, but the perhaps more important ques-
ton of building such a structure as will do
the least damage to navigation of the river,
and of sufficient capacity TO accom- modate
the wants of the public has
been very carefully considered,
and we have, as a starting point the report
OF the special commission appointed under
the act authorizing the issue of bonds for
this purpose, which report gives plans and
estimates Of cost for bridges TO be con-
structed on Robert street, on jackson street
and on Broadway. These plans were all
passed upon a structure to be built for a sum
not exceeding the amount authorized, $780,
600, and were planned SO as to get the best
possible structure for that money.
In taking up the subject at this time-al-
most three years since the report was made
and taking into consideration the rapid
and almost unprecedented increase in the
growth and population of the CITY, il seems
TO me that We should at least plan so as to be
able in the future to largely Increase the ca
pacity of the bridge. With this object In
view, the plans as submitted to- the council
were prepared The carrying capacity of the
l.-f.l
cordance with these plans would
be almost four times that of the pres
ent Wabashaw street bridge, and will prob
ably be all that will ever be required in that
immediate vicinity.
In regard to the location of the bridge at
Robert street, the recent action OF the coun-
ell in authorizing the Minnesota & North
western railroad TO construct bridge at this
point makes one of the strongest arguments
in favor of this location, as compared with
either of the others proposed, as, considering
the railroad bridge definitely fixed and to be
Immediately constructed, the construction
of the proposed wagon bridge viii not in the
least affect navigation of the river as the
channel span of the proposed wagon bridge
will be long enough TO span both channels
as defined by the arch of the railroad bridge
while il either of the other points we're
selected it would not only be another OBJ
struction to the free navigation of the river,
but its location being at the lower point
would affect much larger interests, as only
small portion of the steamboat business is
done above this point-by far the
larger portion being done At the
lower levee between the foot Of Sibley
street and the proposed bridge.
The cost OF this work rs planned, cstimat-
ing very liberally, viii not exceed S400, 000
This would make permanent structure with
roadway a2 fact vide In tina clear. with side