Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-03-05

/
examination Of the report Of th'
committee appointed during th'
, February term to examine into anC
report IN relation TO the Willamette
bridge. Following Il the
REPORT or SAID COMMITTEE.
To the Honorable, the county cour
Of the county Of Marion. state Of
Oregon.
Gentlemen: We, your committee
appointed TO investigate the pro
priety Of rebuilding bridge across
the Willamette river at Salem, Ore
gon, repairing the old and lately dc.
stroyed one, together with the prob
able cost Of the same, beg leave "a
make the following report:
IsL We would most earnestly
urge the rebuilding Of a good sub
stantiaI bridge At ~ early a date a.
practicable.
2Ud. As to location, we submit
herewith the maps of the river as
prepared by Capt. Powell at the
time the former bridgcwas built, to-
gether with diagram mapof Court,
| Chemeketa and Center streets ex-
tended, showing the rolrtive dis
tanee across the stfeain, high and
low water marks, etc.
3rd. As to the cost, your CONF
mittee, not being bridge builders,
and not believing it is authorized 10
impose the additional expen4e Of
getting engineers pIaus and spcci-
ficutions, submit the following:
The bids submitted 10 tile committee
appointed 10 receive the same al She
time Of letting Of the other bridge
contract. were IS follows:
First--A fixed iron truss.
Second a fixed combination
truss.
Third p a suspension bridge.
The San francisco Bridge com
pany bid for No. !. SG2, 80; No. 2,
s57, $50; No. modified, Sls, ,ss7; No.
3, SG5,O0O
The California Bridge company
bid for No. 2, $50, 300; the American
Bridge company, S55, 900.
Hoffman u Bates bid for No. !,
sos, 900; No. 2, So, 1000.
The prices OF other bridges might
be named, but the cost as indicated /
? bove Is fair average.
Fourth--ltwould bc inIpracticable !
for your committee TO give the rel /
ltiye merits Of the different plans .
1f the wooden, iron, steel or wire 4
bridges, or AL adequate idea Of their
construction. They, however, are
decidedly favorable TO the building
If a steel truss or wire suspension
Irldge. These latter bridges are be-
'onlng quite popular, especially
,ver streams like the Willamette,
yhero suitable ground for piers is
lard to lind. The piers Of "a bridge
re its most essential part, aud when
ct on liinisy foundation or poorly
constructed, act only as deadfall
nd will probably lead TO the de-
truction of the entire structure.
Your committee tn erefore deem IL
nWise TO repair the old bridge. II (
ever was satisfactory and results
ave proven that IL was not safe. ,
he strengthening and welding of !
he old irons would have a tendency /
D weaken them, and the tlmbers I
aving been several years unpro- :
'cled, cannot he Ia good condition !
,r such Il structure. Its replace :
lent would cost some $4,000,
carly or quite one half the cost of I
rst class metal bridge, and this g
Im viii soon be saved by the cost y
repairs necessarily and almost =
made on the old bridge.
he old bridge WIS always con. \
'nsldered dangerous from mar. r
wness, and your committee think u
bridge Of this length should bc NJ NJ
lst twenty-five feet wide aud also n
ink economy suggests u metal NJ
ldge, whether suspension or n
lss, with ar without n draw, can
II be determined by examination "a
practical dIsinterested bridge -,
ilder or engineer -,
The safest mode of procedure ty
luld bc for the the authorities t. m
lploy u skilled bridge builder or I'll
glnecr 10 locate tho bridge where
can be- most safely aud chcaply si'
instructed, 20 furnish plans ~
d specification for The same, oI
Il when the contract Is let
superintond its construction A.
Il see that II Il built in strict con- uc
nifty To the same, IL would he ,,I
safe TO engage with any con T.,
ctor to repair or build without a a,
or examination and "A close super nm
Ion of the work by tried builder T.,
! engiueor who Vpresents the
mites,