St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-07
The Elegant Structure That
Will Span the River at
Broadway.
Why the Desired Low Bridge
Is Absolutely Imprac-
ticable. 2.
The New Bridge Described in
the Details Of Its Con- ?
Stpuction. .
8
st. Paul May Fairly Lay Claim
to the Title Of Bridge =
City.

A city of bridges. At the preser
rate of bridge construction It will be but
a matter of few years until St. Paul
can claim the distinction of having
more bridges in operation to the popu-
lation than any city under the stars and
stripes. The latest addition proposed
to the already numerous structures
spanning the Mississippi at this point,
is the bridge at State street and Broad
way. Probably none of the bridges
already in position have been the cause
of as much discussion, adverse and the
reverse. as the one now about to be
built. and for which the plans have al
ready been submitted and approved.
The difference of opinion which has
existed as to the relative merits of q
high or low bridge for the point indi-
Gated still eXis'S in measure. There
is Sixth ward contingent which, at
this late date, insists that q high bridge
at State street and Broadway will be
little better than useless expenditure
of money. The claim is made that the
great object in the construction of the
bridge. from Sixth ward point OF view,
is to throw open to the wholesalers of
the city the lOw-lyiug lands on the West
side tor use in the
ERECTION OF WAREHOUSES;,
the reasonable price at which the land
would be obtainable making it tolera-
bly, certain that it would be bought up
and utilized for that purpose. In this
connection a low bridge was wanted.
because with such structure no diff
Guilty would be experienced in hauling
heavy loads of merchant Sc to and from
the West side. With the adoption of
plans for high bridge is claimed that
all chance of the utilization of the flats
for any such purpose is done away with
the grades in the ascent to the bridge
and that of the bridge itself being such
as to make the easy transfer of heavy
loads by team out of the question. The
incOrrectneSS of certain deductions by
those who have favored and fought for
a low bridge, however, is shown i'll
the briefeSt and and planest explana-
ton of the situation by City Engineer
Rundlett. 70 begin with. there
must be approaches to any bridge. From
the point at which these approaches
must necessarily begin, to the waters
edge, grade of several feet is actually
necessary to avoid contact with the
roots of buildings coming in the direct
AItt vi CouS-t IC
which the bridge will pass over the Mil
waukee tracks is one of about twenty
five feet. 1t is difficult to perceive how
the advocated level bridge could have
been constructed without grade of
greater or lesser steepneSS at some point
in its construction. AS a matter of fact,
the grade of the new bridge will be
much less than that of either of the
bridges now spanning the river. Its ex-
treme length, including approaches,
will be about 1900 feet. The bridge
landing on the city side will be at Prince
street. while the West side approach
Will begin at Fairfield avenue There
will be
FIVE RIVER SPANS,
and two more over the railroad yards.
The final abutment at the western eX-
trtmity will rest on the leyee, the rest
of the structure at that end to be SuS-
tanned by girderS. The length of tile
central span crossing the river channel
is $40 feet. A!pecuiarIty in the con-
struetiOn of this span is the innovation
of an arehed lower cord-an unusual de-
parture-which obviateS the expense of
heavy pier masonry, which would other
wise be necessary to bring the piers tOa
height from which the usual horizontal
lower cord would stretch. This end has
been accomplished by the use of heavy
steel uprights surmOunting the
piers and supported in posi-
ton by conjunction with the two
shOrewafd spans in triangular ar
rangement of steel girders. The plan is
by no means new to modern engineer
ing. yet has seldom if ever been brought
into use. The effect, aside from the re-
sultaht leSSening of expense In con-
struction, will be to greatly enhance
the beauty of the completed structure.
The height from high water to the road
way of the center span will be 5615 feet.
The width of the roadway will be 81
feet. while the sidewalks on through
spans will he 8 feet wide. and on deck
spans Ii feet. The paving will lie as in
blocks. The entire length of the shore
ward ends of the bridge will be support
ed by plate girdrrs, except in the cases
of the short SPANS crossing the railway
tracks. which will be supported by piers
of heavy masonry.
THE TOTAL COST
of the bridge and approaches is esti-
mated by Mr.. Rundlett at S350,O00,
which means that the appropriation for
the bridge will just about cover the ex-
penSe incurred in its construction. Mr..
Rundlett, in speaking yesterday regard
ing the plans for the bridge, said that
in his opinion the new bridge would be
the most elegant structure of any
spanning the Mississippi and of the
least grade. He believed that all the
which had been heard
against the s0-called high bridge would
be withdrawn when it was shown how
little OF grade really would exist and
that the bridge was superior at every
point to the drawbrldge idea which had
been advocated.