St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-05
MILLIONS INVESTED.
ia Mil Company, Columbia.
NOW THE BRIDGE.

NOW THE BRIDGE.
The papers then recite the fact that the
city proposes and has already begun work
on stone arch bridge. of width of eighty
feet, and to support its arches upon piers
sunk below the bed of the river, each arch
to be 125 feet in length, three stone piers
being necessary; that the bridge will not
cross at right angles. but in a slightly
oblique direction. the eastern end being fur
ther down stream than the west, the result
being TO set the piers in the stream in
the same oblique direction. By this each
pier will form an obstruction of IS feet in
width, and, with the abutment at the west
end, will narrow IA feet the channel.
which is now but 4s6 feet. If the ordinary
Tip-rap is 10 be used the channel will be
narrowed still more. The complaint then
recited the situation of the Falls of st.
Anthony and the geological construction of
the ledge, dwelling upon the fact that the
limestone is soft and particularly subject TO
erosion by the current. The location and
construction Of the piers as proposed will
necessarily cause the removal of a great
portion of the silt composing the bed of the
stream at that point and a disturbance of
the upper portion of the sandstone fOrma-
ton and will endanger the letting of water
into the natural seams that permeate the
soft sandstone and from the nearness of the
falls and the draft caused when such seams
pass down to the lower level, there is great
danger that
GREAT EROSION WILL TAKE PLACE
and great channels for water be cut and the
upright falls be converted into rapids ex-
tending for miles up stream, thus destroy
ing the falls, rendering valueless the water
power, running the dependent industries,
throwing out of employment the thousands
Of workmen engaged therein and producing
loss and disaster beyond calculation to the
city. At great length the complaint recites
the falls disaster Of 1868 and asserts that a
similar disaster is liable to be the result of
building the proposed bridge. the great mar
rowing Of the channel securing out the bed
of the river. There is no public necessity
for such bridge it claims. as the present
one Is capable of such enlargement as will
amply meet all demands; that said bridge
cost 5000. 900 and is in perfect repair, and
that moreover an iron span, to meet any
supposed demand, could be thrown over the
channel for $50. 900; that the lowest bid
for the bridge proposed was $3.50, 900 and
it cannot be built for much less; that in
stead OF building it through contractors the
city is undertaking to build it itself, which
will cost much more than the amount
named.
The complaint cites the number of -four
and saw mills maintained by the water
power and the large number Of employees;
that the valuable water works Of the city
are operated by water-power, and that the
Minneapolis Mill company has full right to
enjoy all Of the water power to which it is
entitled. whereas, the building of the pro-
posed bridge would divert much of the
water to the East side and ont Of the juris-
6Iction of the Minneapolis Mill company.
The Mississippi river is navigable aud,
therefore. the city has no right to construct
such bridge without the consent of the
government, which consent cannot probably
be obtained. Finally, the plaintiffs say
they are taxpayers of the city. and the pro-
posed bridge is not demanded by public ne
cessity and is undertaken without proper
conception of the dangers to be incurred.
|. INJUNCTION ASKED.
Wherefore. the plaintiffs ask that the city
be permanently enjoined from proceeding
any further with the bridge and from letting
any contract to have all or any Of the work
done; and that should any contract be let.
the contractors or their agents be restrained
from proceeding with such work. and dur
ing the pending Of this action and until the
final determination thereof, temporary in
junction be granted restraining the city
from doing any work towards the construc-
ton of the bridge; that that such other and
further relief be granted as may seem
proper in view Of the facts that do and may
anna2x.