The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-06-01
A BRIDGE OF BOATS.
The Sioux City and Nebraska
Pontoon Bridge Finish ID
and Thoroughly
Tested.
"a SU.tIins lOng Processions of Vc-
hicbes and PcGesIrianN With
out sign Of Weakness.
A BRIDGE OF BOATS.

"a Su.tIins Long PrOcessions of Vc-
hicies nnd Pedestrians With
out IA sign Of Weakness.
From the Sioux City Journal
A BIG CROWD WENT OVER.
The demonstration yesterday after
noon over the completion of the pom
toon bridge was the most satisfactory
affair for all impromptu demonstration
that was ever gotten up III Sioux City.
Sioux City and the people of Dakota
county, Nebraska, literally packed the
HalbOat structure for an hour, and
there seemed TO be sustaining capacity
in the bridge for train of cars and
thousands more of human beings and
teams. The strain of travel and the
standing multitude along the lOotpath
seemed To have very little effect on
the draft of the boats, and the peculiar
feature of the test was that where the
current was the swiiiest and the water
the deepest the bridge was the tirmest
and vibrated the least. In shallow
water the vibration was perceptibe
and the floats gave Il little to the
weight OF tramping horses. 1t will
never again be subjected to so severe a
test as was made yesterday with
wagons and carriages, two abreast,
with multitude alongside the vehi-
cles and another dense crowd standing
along the walk the entire length of the
bridge viewing the procession as il
passed.
The Sioux City delegation LETT the
Chamber OF Commerce building at l As
headed by the X. 2. band. In car
rlages drawn by four horses each came
representatives of the press and mem
bers OF the JObbers' association. Mem
bers of the city aud county govern.
ments came next, and following were a
line of carriages of business men, Wis
itOrs, farmers in wagons, delivery out
fits, and private conveyances. As soon
as the head of the procession appeared
on the Iowa bank the old ferry whistle
on the other side shouted over the
water greeting, and across the river
hoated the voices of. .many hundred
men i'll grand hurrah. Both shores
were packed with people and ev-
cry evidence was manifest that the
communities on both sides of the old
Missouri were deeply interested in the
event. The vehicle procession from
Sioux City was exactly one hour in
crossing, and when they had all reach
cd the other side it was estimated that
The crowd was not far from 10000 in
number. The carriages punched TO.
3ether on BioodgOod street and rested
tor an hour, the band played and a
great many of the Iowa visitors took q
peep or two inside the bar rooms that
were i'll shspe to receive visitors aud
patrons. There were no speeches nor
formal proceedings, and when the
Sioux City visitors became satisfied
with their visit they returned TO this
side. Ii WAS prObably sunset before
many OF our citizens reached Iowa
again, but everybody was satisfied that
the pOmtoOn bridge was a good thing
and would be a great benefit to the
business community on the Iowa side
a TALK FROM ITS PROTECTOR.
f g. Palmer, secretary and treas
urur of the bridge, was asked if he
was satisfied With the test made by the
celebration. Eyes. [ am delighted
It's grand accomplishment, and
so simple it is surprise to me that il
was NOT atleUiptcU iONS ago.
"One day last tall started by ferr,
to South Sioux City. The low water
and the sandbars made the journey one
OF three hours' duration. When
reached the steps of the citizens bank
| sat down with John Moan and suy
scStet the idea of pontOon bridge
The next day went to Nebraska Cit,
| 10 see the one in operation there. The
next day ] telegraphed TO Moan {,
meet me there, aud we decided before
we left Nebraska City TO build thi,
| bridge. Ii has cost nearly $4,000
| The timber in the boats mad to be Sc
! lectcd i'll the tree. 1t is three inches il
! thickness and The very choicest of tn,
| forest. There are 1856 boats in III,
bridge, and every fifty feet is anchored
with u 1000 pound stone taken from
quarries at Sioux Falls. The lumbe
used cost $40 per 1000, aud the cabI,
wire for anchorage is no small item o
expense. amounting to $500. Our la
Dor bill last week amounted to 81, 100
The cost has been larger than we orig
inalIy contemplated, but we built j
with view 10 durability and safety
The upstream ends of the boats ar,
veneered with oak to protect then
from floating snags and ice. TIL,
structure is not completed yet. 1t viii
look different in another month. Half
inch cable wire will form an QUITE
fence, three electric arc lights will dan
gle above the bri ige, besides six com
mon street lamps; the joints will b.
inade tirmer and then the upper wOrl
will be painted. Two watchmen viii
do service at each end at night ant
their stations will be connected b.
telephone TO protect the public agains
criminals or accident. Yes, sir; tn
Ridge satisfies me and will prove
benefit TO Sioux City and good in
vestment TO Messrs. Moan and Luthe
and myself"
The procession, as it crossed tn
bridge, Was viewed by people in th
east part of the civ from high win
dcws and other elevated positions
The bridge itself could not be distinct
seen, and casual glance revealed tn
procession as if walking on The water