Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-15
THE VIADUCT ESTIMATE.
Engineer Geo. IL. BOyntOn's Plans
Submitted and Approved.
The Committee of the Citizens I'm
prOvement Association Inspect and
Endorse the Same What the Cost
VIII Re.

There was very important meeting at
the Office of Secretary Medill, of the Rock
Island Citizens Improvement Association
this morning 1t was in response to a
call for special meeting of the commits
tee on public works, TO inspect
the plans and estimates of Engineer
Geo. W. Boynton Tor the proposed Was
duct over the railroad tracks at the foot
of Twenty fourth street. All the mem,
bers of the committee we're present-MsJ.
II. c. Connolly, aud Messrs. P. L. Mitch>
ell. E. d. Sweeney, J j. Reimers and
Henry Carse. Engineer Boynton SUBJ
mitted complete and comprehensive
report, accompanied by letter OF trans
initial in which he says:
In designing this viaduct three condi>
tions are governed:
First. A clear head room" of 10 feet
required by the railroad companies above
the tracks.
Second. The necessity of leaving
Third avenue in Rock Island open fol
traffic.
Third. The importance of leaving the
United States bridge undisturbed in so faI
as the masonry aud general plan of the
| bridge is concerned.
1t is thought the plans submitted com
ply with all these conditions at the mini
mum cost, c6nsiste with safety and
harmony with the present structure
The grades recommended for the APP
proaches, are those used in the tunnels
and on several of the important viaducts
in Chicago, where they are subjected tC
the ordinary street traffic of that city.
The enclosed comparison of grades
shows these grades; also those of several
of the most iT portant streets in the City
of Davenport. l. may be added here
that the grades proposed are substan
TALLY the same as that now used in thu
south approach ID the existing bridge.
1t is proposed % elevate the floor OF
the government bridge by means of new
| floor beams supported on brackets riveteC
10 the vertical posts of the bridge. Thl
part of the work can be done at httl
cost and requires no change in the genera
plan of the structure. The load on tn,
existing bridge would not. be material,
increased nor its stability endangered il
any way
In the accompanying detailed estimate
you will please note the absence of an
provision for the cost of lowering TIT
railroad tracks OF for damage to abutun'
property on Twenty fourth street.
1t was not possible for me TO estimate
such damage to adjacent property; an
the c., r. l. Il P. and the c., B. & Q
railroad cOmpsr les advise me they vii
meet any expense made necessary b
lowering their tracks one foot, according
to the plan.
| The Importance of the proposed via
duct becomes very evident. when one re
members: The average monthly trave
over the government bridges for the yea
1887 and 1888 was 81, $40 foot passenger
and 2S,952 teams.
1t has also teen estimated that tn
present approach to the bridge is oh
structed once in every four minutes dur
ing each day of twelve hours, while 70
each day of twenty-four hours the way
obstrusted once in every five and one
half minutes.
Then comes Engineer Boynton's
PLANS AND ESTIMATES,
| which are as follows: