The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-26
THE ARGUMENTS CLOSED.
THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS PREPAR-
ING THEIR REPORT.
The Plans and Specifications for the
Memphis Bridge Fully Discussed
River Men Want Spans OF 1000 Feet
Mr.. Morrison Talks.

When the board Of United States cngi-
necrs met yesterday morningat 10 o'clock,
The consideration OF the hight and span Of
the bridge was resumed. Mr.. George l..
Morrison, the senior member OF the
firm Of Morrison 4 Corthell, engineers, OF
Chicago, who have the contract for build
ing the bridge, appeared before them.
Mr.. Morrison, not having been present at
the proceedings OF the board the day be-
fore, several hours were taken up In ex-
planning to him the subject matter pre-
scented on that day.
Mr.. Morrison, following In the same
Ene rs his partner, Mr.. Corthell. had the
Che day before, proceeded TO lay before
the board the plans which had been ma
tured for the construction OF the bridge.
As TO the spans, the company wished
them to conform in every particular to the
requirements Of the law authorizing the
bridge. In his opinion, there should be
three spans. He then, by drawings, and
the actual measurements OF the boats,
showed that the spans would be OF suil-
Gent length 10 admit OF the largest craft
on the river passing without the least dan
ger. The law required the spans 20 be 700
Iet. The company did not object
10 that length, the longest boat
OF tho Anchor line was $50 feet, 10 that
objection was wholly untenablc. lie fur
ther contended that IL the bridge was built
on the Cantilcver plan, that II could not
be constructed at a cost less than $40, 600, =
900. Mr.. Morrison, like Mr.. Cortholl, gave
. very lucid explanation Of the plans
upon which II was proposed to build the
bridge, and met with incontrovertible facts
the objections OF the river men.
Capt. Iloarstick, OF the Mississippi Valley
Towboat line, renewed his arguments in
part OF the day before. He asked II such
great stream as the Mississippi river was
o. be- blocked up, and navigation practic-
ally destroyed upon II, on account OF the
additional expenditure OF few millions
OF dollars. Continuing, he said that his
purpose in getting the matter referred 10 a
board of engineers was, because he knew
that such board would understand tho
objectionable points 10 such a bridge
Gar better than senators In Congress. In
srkuing the very same points before the
Senate committee, which he now con-
tended for, he was seriously asked by
Senator Sawyer, Of Wisconsin, why he did
not build smaller boats. II was not worth
the while 10 argue such point. lie still
maintained that the main span should be
Mt least 1000 feet from the Tennessee
shore. To make il less would be a fatal
mistake.
Capt. Gall, also OF the Barge line, con.
tended that a single pier In the middle Of
the river would be the most practicable
solution Of the difficulty in case the bridge
was built-that is, provided the shore pier
y at or very near high water mark. The
bargcs Of his line draw near nine and q
half fee. Of water. A middle pier would
give n width OF 900 feet, and he was Of the
opinion that 90 make the span less would
greatly hinder navigation.
A lengthy letter from Capt. u. VI. Mason,
OF the Anchor line, contcnded In sub
stance that II would bc n dangerous bridge
81 pass under with the channel span In
the center 81 the river. The first span
should be at least 900 feet In length from
the Tennessee shore. lie also Insisted
that this was one Of the most dangerous
points at which 10 build bridge between
iaino and New Orleans.
A communication signed by a number
OF pilots was read, which insisted that the
bridge should be nj a point below Fort
Pickering, and that the channel span
should not be less than 1000 feet In
length, commencing at the Tennessee
shore and that the bridge should not be
'lcss than oighty.iiye feet above high water
mark.
The major portion Of the afternoon was
spent 10y the board In going over the spcci.
faiions with the bridge engineers.
The remainder Of the afternoon and
evening WIS spent by the board In prepar-
ing their seport. They expect TO finish
their report by noon today, aud leave for
their respective posts this afternoon and
tonist.