The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-25
HEARING ARGUMENTS.
YESTERDAYS WORK BY THE ADvr.
sorry BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
River Men Contend for Thousand
Foot Span on the Tennessee Side OF
the Bridge-The Arguments Resisted
by One of the Company's Engineers.

by One OF the Company's Engineers.
The advisory board of the United States
army mechanical engineers, sent here by
order OF the Secretary OF War to pass upon
the plans, specifications and location of the
bridge over the river at this point, con.
vened yesterday morning at 10 o'clock
The first business Of the board was to hear
suggestions and objections as TO the plan
upon which the structure is to be
built Quite number OF leading steam
boatmen and others interested in
river traffic We're present from dis
lance. While all suggestions aud objec-
tons have TO be put in writing, in order to
be properly laid before the Secretary of
War, the board courteously heard oral
arguments from number OF gentlemen.
The point mainly discussed was as to the
length Of the spans
According TO invitation, quito number
OF river men appeared before the board,
and asked to be heard as TO the length OF
the spans. Chief among these were Capt.
ID. Nj. Mason, OF 81. Louis, president of
the Anchor line; Capt Harry c. Hoars.
tick, OF the Barge line; Capts. JAS Good,
VIM. A. Gall and George Wood, also
OF the Barge line. Capt Hears
tick was the main spokesman for the river
men. lie insisted that the spans should
be 1000 feet in the clear; or rather that
the main span should be from the Tennes-
sec bank, and 200 feet in the clear. Then,
II the bridgemen so choose, they could d.
vide the remainder of the length into two
equal spans. Capt. Hoarstick contended
that the span from the Tennessee bank must
OF necessity be 1000 feet, or il would
greatly reiard navigation and entirely
interrupt large tow fleets, especially in
time OF low water. He also contended
that, as the current bore against the Ten
nessee bank, that TO make the spans 600,
or even 700, feet in the clear would be
entirely too narrow 10 permit large barge
fleets, which were often 900 feet in width,
to pass at any stage OF the water. He
produced maps Of the river bed
showing how the deep water was being
rapidly forced into a narrow current by the
accumulation OF sand from the west shore.
He further commended that II the spans
were less than ! 900 feet II would drive
commerce from the river, and recited
figures comparing the nver trade OF the
last ten years, and with this additional OBJ
struction that within the next ten the
losses would amount TO more than
8, 800, 900. Already he insisted that the
bridge ut St Louis, where the shores were
only $50 feet, had virtually cut the river In
two. II was now the head OF navigation
for the lower Mississippi. Large boats
from below never attempted TO pass above,
and vice versa.
Capts Woodward, Gall and Good all
concurred in what Mr. lleartsick had
said. Capt Woodward, above all the rest,
objected TO the hight. lie insisted that
instead Of being sevcnty.fye feet above
high water the bridge should not bc less
than cighiy-iive feet in hight, and rited a
number Of boats that would require ninety
feet. All OF the revenue men bouliiully
supplied with data 10 back up the points
they insisted upon. All were pretty well
agreed ~ 10 the location which has been
virtually settled upon by the bridgemen.
The point being a short distance below
whore the Kansas City transfer boat now
lands
Mr.. Cottrell, Of Cotlrell 4 Morrison, Of
Chicago, who are the engineers for the
bridge company. was present. lie strenu-
ously objected 10 the span from the Tcnnes.
see bank being 1000 feet, and argued nj
length TO show is impraciicability. In the
fint place, II this span was 10 be 900 feet,
then the bridge would have but two
spans, for TO divide the remainder Of the
space, one OF the spans would necessarily
have 10 be short one. much shorter than
the net OF Congress would permit, M
1900 feet would place the bridge
beyond deep water. In other words, should
the eastern span be 900 feet the other
span would necessarily have 10 be 1000
feet, in order 10 let the bridge come within
the provisions oil the law. The bridge
company desired 10 place the shortest span
next and 10 the eastern shore. They
would make that span coo feet, and
the other two spans 700 feet each.
This arrangement would come clearly
within the provisions Of the law. Mr..
Cottrcll then proceeded at length 10 show
that the claims Of the river men were not
feasible, or rather that their enforcement
in this matter was not necessary 10 free
navigation OF the river. lie, too, was well
equipped with shipping facts, and con-
tended that no boat now plying the river
could not easily pass through the COO foot
span.
Several local men appeared before the
committee also, and urged the board 10
accept the provisions OF the bill providing
for the construction of the bridge. They
felt that the length Of the spans, as therein
provided for, was Sufficient
In the afternoon the board went on the
Patrol, and steamed up TO the point Of
location on this side and also over
10 West Memphis 10 take view Of the
location. They seemed very well salts
fed with that point Of their Investigation.
Tho committee will meet again this
morning ut 10 O'Clock TO hear any further