St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-26
WILL IA BE STEEL9
A Compromise Project on the stone
Arch bridge Question.

Arch 3ridge Question.
That 1t is absolutely necessary that better
bridge facilities should be provided, in view
of the exposition that is TO be located on
the East side, is apparent to even the Bit
terest enemies of the stone arch bridge
project The stone arch bridge question
being in legal litigation, with a possibility
of its remaining so for months, has led the
advocates of the bridge 10 propose a COM
promise. This compromise is q plan for
erecting, In lieu of the proposed stone
arch, a steel arch bridge. of the
same width, and upon the same general
principles or plans upon which the former
was TO have been erected, namely: One-half
the width. or forty feet. to be erected at
once, and the remaining one-half when it is
found advisable TO remove the present sus-
pension bridge; that portion TO be con-
structed To be placed 10 the north of the
present bridge; the abutments already
started TO be used for the steel arch; and the
single pier 10 be placed in the center of the
bridge TO be built the full eighty feet, ex-
tending beneath the suspension bridge.
Regarding this compromise scheme, En-
gineer Rinker said yesterday:
the principal object has been TO get an
arch bridge with an unobstructed view,
and capacity equal 10 an average street. ana
also bridge which would be ornamental as
well as useful. The proposed steel bridge
embraces ali these quRlit D., and in fact pos
sesSes all the essentials that would be secured
by a stone-arch bridge. There is no question
that a steei-arch bridge can be built which
will be perfectly rigid, and resist every strain
of weight or speed that can be put upon IL.
II would be adequate 10 all the demands re-
quired of iirst-class city highway, and as to
its cost, il would be much less than the stone
arch bridge. | calculate that the abutments
and pier for the entire width, and the iron
for one-half OF the width OF the bridge 10 DO
first built, would cost not 10 exceed $4,000
As 10 durability, lof course, nothing need be
said With proper care, there is no limit TO
its life"
ANOTHER OPINION.
Said AID Johnson: ''Mr. Riuker and few
friends of the stone arcn Misunderstanding
myself-have been considering the practa-
bility of substituting a steel arch briuge for
the stone arch bridge for two months last
past. We have learned so far as we could do
in a casual way what the feeling OF the
friends of the stone arch bridge would be
toward the proposed change. Such senti-
ment has been favorable, almost unanimous
ly so. OF course l favor il or 1 should not
have taken the steps i have in regard TO the
matter. 1t should be Distinctly borne in
mind. however, that the proposed steel bridge
able and INTELLECTUALLY as handsome a struc-
ture as the bridge originally proposed. II
will be a deck bridge, with an unot s,ructed
roadway, aud paved. 1t will be just such a
bridge as the proposed stone bridge
except that il will have but
one pier, instead of three, and will have steel
arches instead OF stone ones. Steel bridges
have been built for some time in Europe and
in this country. There is an iron-arch deck
bridge across the Thames in London which
has been in use over hundred years. There
are several such bridges in Paris, some of
which have been in use for the past sixty or
seventy-ive years. There are such bridges
in Philadelphia aud 81. Louis and one is
about 10 be built in New York city. The
East side people want to have bridge at the
place proposed-which will be practically a
continuation of the streets at either end of
IL. If we can get such a bridge of steel as
well as of stone, rs am convinced we can.
and by erecting such bridge can do away
with tie prejudIces or fears which some have
TO the erection of stone bridge, l see no
reason why We should not favor the steel
bridge"
The new scheme has apparently struck a
popular chord. One of its virtues lies in
the fact that il can be completed by next
spring, rather that the first half can be CON-
pleted by that time.