The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-12-22
THE P0NTO0N BRIDGE QUESTION.
LIBERTY, Mo-, Dec. 10, 1888.

LIBERTY, Mo-, Dec. 10, 1888.
Capt. A. A. Lesueur, Lexington,
Mo.-Dear Sir:-I see by the papers
that your people have been turning
their attention to the question OF build
ing q pontoon bridge at Lexington.
AS / am familiar with the rise and
growth of the subject in our county, |
write you. Our first idea was to get
the g., M. u st p. r. Il. to pat a
wagon road over their bridge, They
showed us that they could not afford
to do that for the price of such a bridge
as we needed. / conclude that you
may abandon all thought of a wagon
bridge in connection with a railroad
bridge. Our next step was TO get plan .
aud specifications of an ordinary (pielJ
wagon bridge. After wasting some
time and money, we learned that such
a bridge was beyond ~ reach. For
Tfdnetely, Capt. Gustave Dyes, who, as
you know, ia an able engineer of large
Experience, had taken up his residence
in Liberty, where he now resides.
Capt. Dyes had seen the working Of
the so-called pOntoon bridge on the
Rhine, and was thoroughly conversant
with the, subject. Alter bearing him,
the meeting, of hich | was president,
appointed him and DR.. g. NJ. AlleA, OF
Liberty, Mo-, aud Mai. w. N. Ewing,
of Kansas City, Mo-, to visit Prairie
du CHEN and examine that bridge.
Maj. Ewing and DIR. Allen were APP
poinled because they were not at all
favorable to a pontoon bridge. Capt.
Dyes vas in favor of such a bridge,
beside being q capable civil engineer.
They made u thorough investigation,
and all came back fully decided that
they would prefer a pontoon bridge,
even If it cost the same money.
We at once organized u company got
our bill through congress, authorizing
us to bridge, had the plans and speci-
fcations made out by Capt. Dyes and
submitted them to the department at
Washington, and they are now in tue
hands of Maj. Suter OF the engineer
corps.
A letter which | have seen, now In
the hands of Capt. Dyes, says that our
plans and specifications, with very
slight changes, will be approved, when
we will be authorized to go ahead and
build the bridge.
While | cannot speak from personal
observation or expert, nee, except in
crossing over the bridge at Prairie du
CHEN. yet | am fully satisfied from
close inspection of the plans and speci-
tications made III by Capt. DYES and
bis explanation Of them, that such a
bridge, beside being cheap, VIII meet
all the requirements of our people in a
bridge across the Missouri river.
For any particulars, l must refer
you to Capt. Dyes, who is the engineer
OF our company, and is entirely salts
factory to US. You can safely rely OF
any plans, specifications or estimates o.
cost which he will furnish you.
should state also that the "Stewar
BRIDGE" of which they have one a
Nebraska City, has to be taken up dur
ing the flow of ice. 1t would be prac,
tically useless in our latitude In winter
and can only be used for wagons. TIN
plan made ont by Capt. Dyes for II
works 10 well when there is ice a
when there is none. Beside, it Ca
be used for street cars, cable lines o
for railroads.
We are going TO make ours of sufh
cient capacity to carry the heavies
freight trains There is so little differ
euce in the cost, that we think il goo
economy to incur it. Yours truly,
: SAMUEL IIARDwICKE.