The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-03-01
MAIN STREET BRIDGE,
A Member Of Council !Dl,,ects q Criticism

A Member Of Council !Dissects d Criticism.
sone Myths Under n strong Light.
TO ne Editor Of he Inteligtncer.
siR:-In the local columns OF tho Regis.
Ter Of this date appears m article signed
"Fair Play" purportiug to DO IN expose
Of the reason why certain members Of
Council advocate n loan Of $4,000 for
tho erection Of a new bridge over Wheel.
ing creek. Tho article contains about as
many misstatements rs 1t Is possible 10
cmbody In tho space covered.
i shall not consume time and space by
making n lengthy reply 10 "Fair Play"
but shall point out the misstatements.
lie says: Council never asked for
plans aud specifications Of n steel bridge
but OF q stone structurc." II "Fair plny"'
had spent u few minutes OF his valuable
time, aud nado m examination OF the
record Of tho proceedings OF tho Council.
he would have been more careful In
making tho statement. Council did ask
for the probable cost OF iron, steel and
stone bridges.
lie intimatcs that some person has
paid for plans aud specifications Of u
steel bridge, which inference Is about rs
far from a statement OF facts rs II is posi-.
bio to be. Messrs. Ferris, Kaufman &
20. have not made plans nor spcclllca.
tions for n steel bridge over Wheeling
Q eek. They did send 10 Mr.. Seeley II
utawiRg OF a section Of q steel bridge
which Is being built in Pittsburgh. Mr..
| Ferris made an estimate OF the probable
cost OF such q bridge over Wheeling
creek, and he placed the cost at $1,000,
for q sran Of EOS feet. I think the span
was to BIO EOS feet.) Mr.. Ferris made an
estimate OF tho probable cant OF q first
class s%tono.bridge and placed the cost ut
Sll4,000.
Mir. Secley did not in Council make
the abatement that Ferris, Kaufman &
Go. arc the ouly organization Of civil en-.
ginecrs in the world. lie did say they
were tho only organization Of civil en-.
gineers in tho world who made the
drawings Of plans and specifications and
the superintendent OF bridge work theil
exclusive business.
al am US firmly convinced now rs ]
have been for sometime, that $4,000
will not DO sufficient funds 10 build sucl
4 stone bridge over the creek as Is con
templated. When I made the Btutemen'
in Council l informed tho members tina
my statement was based on tho statet
ment made by Mr.. Ferris, and the esti
mate Of q practical mason who made tn,
measurements and placed the cost a
Sl5O,000 for a ~iirstclass bridge. Afte.
making the statementto Council, I mad,
II motion to insert Sl50.000 instead o
$4,000.
l am not a stone mason, and do no
know anything about the construction
OF bridges. ! have made IN effort to ar
rive ut the probable cost Of such n stonl
bridge asshould be placed over the creel
at Main street, and 1 do not think "Fai
Playn has. Practical men inform IN,
!, that the thrust OF an arch Of $50 feet viii
DO so great that abutments should bi
solid work and built Of stone OF not les
than n cubic yard each. Iam now
and always have been, M advocate OF
stone bridge. "Fair Play" says he haI
been IN advocate ola steel bridge. Posi-
bly, hc has, but l have some doubts as t
where he wished to place the steel bridge
Surely not over Wheeling creek at Mali
street. Advocates Of steel bridges do no
air their views in the Register.
"Fair Plays" admonition to us poo
members Of Council to be careful Il
state facts is in order, but every membe:
of Council who was present at the las
meeting of Council knows that lie car
take that advice 10 his own home ant
profit thereby. ]. ?. NJ. }
Wheeling, Feb. 2S, 1890.