The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-13
The Appeal Correspondent Gets a
Glimpse Of the Report
And Presents a Very Comprehen-
sive Synopsis Of 1t.
A Majority Of the Board Objects to
the 7Oo-Foot Span,
While Col. Merrill Thinks This is Amply
Wide, and Explains Why 1t is
Sufficient in a Sensi-
BILE Manner.
specInl pisnatch to The Appeal

Special Dispatch to The Appeal
WASHINGTON, June l2.-Secretary Endi-
colt returned today to the war department,
but stated to your correspondent that, as
he had not yet seen the report OF the en-
gineers on the Memphis bridge, he did not
desire to have it published in full He
had nc objection, however, TO allowing it
to be seen and read.
Tie report is quite voluminous, and be-
gins with a description OF the proposed
site Of the bridge and the condition OF the
Mississippi river at that point 1t then
proceeds to say that the river men are
agreed that the site selected by the bridge
engineers is the best that could be found
there for the purpose, and that the board
was unanimously Of the same opinion.
They were also agreed that the hight Of
the bridge should be, at extreme high
water, seventy-fve feet which was all
that would be required. The main
channel span should be located on
the Tennessee side OF Presidents
island. The river men wanted the first
pier TO be placed on the edge Of the Ten
nessee banks, but the board was OF the
opinion that II would be better placed at a
point where at extreme high water II
would be submerged 10 the depth OF about
nine feet. This was decided upon from
the fact that the coal tows drew about
nine feet OF water, and there would be no
more danger OF their running against the
pier than OF running aground, and il was
important that the second pier should be
placed rs near rs possible 10 the Arkansas
side.
A difference Of opinion exists on the
board as 10 what should be the length Of
the channel span. Capt Kingman and
Mayor Ernst think that II should be at
least 1000 feet wide, for the reason that
floating objects encountered q current OF
short distance above the proposed site Of
the bridge, which carries them across to
the Memphis side, and then frequently
before the tows can be straight
ened out they encounter another
current which sweeps them broadside on
and past the point where the bridge Is 10
bclocated. Grain tows are usually about
600 feet long, while coal tows reach 900
feet and sometimes more. One instance
is mentioned OF coal tow Lose feet in
length. They therefore claim that a span
OF 900 feet even, will leave but little
margin for the passage Of the tows, and
intimate that less width would be a dan
ger TO the navigation. At the present
time, even without any bridge, the river
men are usually afraid 10 run the dangers
OF 'ilanking' this bend at night. These
two gentlemen continued by referring to
the Hopefield bend aud Memphis city
revetments, which they declare emphat.
cnlly ought 20 be completed before the
bridge is built. In fact, their recommend
alton Of the building Of any bridge at all
ut this point Is made with the assumption
that these reyetments will be completed
fiSt.
The bridge company ought also to build
revctments on either side extending from
about 300 yards above their bridge TO fifty
Yards below. II these things are not done
10 prevent the further washing away Of
the banks, the bridge might become as
great source Of danger as 10 the OBJ
siacles which the government is now
spending millions 10 remove. They did
not think the cost Of the bridge with 4
1000 foot span need be prohibitory.
Col. Merrill, the other and senior mem
Der OF the board, agrees with all that his
two associates say in their report except
with regard 10 the width OF the channel
span. Hc thinks that 700 feet Is amply
wido enough for that span for the reason
that tows have plenty Of time after being
caught by the current and swept over TO
the Memphis side 20 straighten out and
pass through much narrower span than
that proposed before getting under the in
hucnce ef the second current. Onlp by
. the breaking Of the machinery or some
other such accident, would tow ever 90
under the bridge broadside on, and In such
case the tow being at the mercy
OF the current 1000 foot span
might be Just as dangerous as zoo
foot one. A thousand foot truss span would
be larger than any now In existence. II II
were built on the cantilcycr plan there
would be only one bridge in which the
span would be greater; that Is the bridge
over the Firth Of Firth In Scotland, bui
there the truss system was absolutely i'm
practicable, and the foundations for the
end piers were on solid rock, while nj
Memphis they would have 10 be placed on
clay which had given evidence OF consid
crablo comprcssibility. A suspension
bridge could be built at Memphis, but the
safety Of such a bridge for the passage o
railroad trains could be questioned by
practical bridge builders, and II would bS
unfair 10 compel them 20 put up struc
lurc which was deemed by them TO be un
suitable.
During the whole Of the hearings given
by the committee in Memphis no repre-
scntativcs Of the Coal exchange Of Pitts
burg, Of the Ohio coal men, made thei
appearance, and he thought Il reasonable
20 SUPPOSE that they had found the pro
visions Of the bill satisfactory.
Senator Bate called this morning on Sec
rotary Endicott and secured from him I
promise that nothing should be done Il
The matter until a joint conference bad beef
held between Representative Phelan an'
the two senators from Tennessee. Thes
three gentlemen will, accordingly, in q da
: or two visit the war department and d
what they can 10 help Memphis In thi
matter. The friends Of the. MisslssipT
river arc having good deal Of trouble Il
prevailing upon the committee on apprc
priations 10 include in the sundry civ
bill an item for the salaries and expense
OF the Mississippi river commission. Til
item was originally omitted ON account
an inadyertent mistake Of the chief OF On
gineers, and on account OF a tcci
nical objection raised In the committed