The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-11
THE BRIDGE.
Secretary Endicott's Able Report.
He Carefully Examines tho Opinions
of tho Majority and Minority.
A Most Practical, Sensible and q
Just Conclusion Reached.
He Contends That the Span, If TOO
Feet, is Ample.
And Concludes with the Statement That
Railroads Have tho Same Rights
That Steamboats, Have-Mr.
Endicott Interviewed.

WASHINGTON, July l0-The board Of
engineer officers appointed by the Secre-
tary OF War; under the act ri Congress au-
thorizing the construction of II bridge across
the Mississippi river at Memphis has made
n majority and minority report, Secretary
| Endicott, in reviewing these reports says:
"A majority Of the board of engineers re-
port that the main span Of the bridge on
the Memphis side Of the river should 10
1000 feet in length, that tho other two
spans should be COO feet in length and the
whole structure should be 20 feet above
high water.
Upon careful examination Of the cvi.
dcnco in this case. and the peculiar meth
ods of the navigation 10y tows, II appears
that the minimum width Of 700 feet for
the main span named in the act Of Con-
grcss is morn than ample and sufficient for
all kinds Of navigation on the river except
the tows, which Of different lengths,
varying irom 6GO To pnO feet, pass down
the main channel controlled 10y a single
| steamboat
"Thc usual length oi thc~r tows il 80
|
| instance tow Of l,O32 feet Ia length is
! reported. When these tows are IN line
and under control they would have no
difficulty in passing bridge much less
than 700 feet in width, but occasionally
under existing methods they cannot bc
thus controlled and may llnat down tide,
! or. in other words, lcugthwisc across tho
stream. In this condition guidance ia inn
possible. and II il difficult To see how any
! practicable .cugth oi span could insure
/ safety. The obvious provision against
such an accident Is 90 increase the con-
trolling power aud insure safe guidance
from the start, or a. reduce the length and
size OF the tows II may also be- observed
that tow, thus floating hclplcssly down
ut right angles 90 the current, would be
! serious and dangerous obstruction tO all
| other methods ui riycr navigation.
while the rights Of navigation In nav
| ipahlc rivers are 10 be- jcalously guarded
| aud protected, the right to cru-s such
streams hN bridges tu transport freight and
passengers cannot hc discrarlod.
There mus, In such cascs be- mutual
concession, and such adjustments in tho
methods oi transportation ON the stream,
and the construction ni bridges over II,
that the privileges Of both may be- enjoyed
and preserved.
TO require such extreme length of
bridge on the ono hand ~ would permit
navigation by tows In the same manner ~
II there was no bridge would be- ~ unreal
sonahlc ~ to construct the bridge boz such
q manner a. practically 10 destroy al trans
portntion 10y tows.
81 am unable. therefore, 10 approve this
report ~ Tar o. the width 81 the main
channel span Is concerned II appears
that thc width ul the river at Oh" site Sc
lcclcd and approved hy the board is l,W70
feet Ut low water The width NJ the pro-
posed piers IL about twenty feet each. The
minimum length NJ the main channel span
h. fixed hy law NJ 1UU feet anil lhc other
two spans at GOO feet each, to which ad-
ding forty feet iur the width nj the two
piers We have $40 feet, or thirty feet lrss
than the width of the river Ut low water.
Ono span 40 feet long and twu spans u0O
feet long in the clear will make. with forty
feet ior the width 1T the two piers,
bridge l.p,U feet long. II II better in
the interest at navigation 10 add the thirty
feet a. the main span, rather than divide
| II between the shorter spans. illhs may
! De- submitted hy the railway nnl hudgo
| company. giyius u main channel sIun un
| the Memphis side 1T the river 90 feet
| long IN tho clear NJ low water on either
side. ~ tina, the thpc spans will cover
| the entire width oi the liver NJ low water.