The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-11-27
1T is OPEN FOR TRAVEL AND DRAW
ING TRADE TO AUSTIN.
1t is Pronounced Superior Bridge, and
Engineer Frizell's Report Bears
Out the Statement.

erdl WeekS, duu OilOo0 WIZ CIOoo ~ say
it is steady, and so far as they can
Judge, it is superior structure.
FARMER DELIGHTED.
A gentleman at work down there
some days ago kept count of those
who crossed during one day, and he
says the number of vehicles and horse
men reached $40, and many of the
wagons were from Bastrop county.
Farmers living in the southeastern
portion of the county and who will
use the bridge are delighted with it
and are anxious for the new road lead
ing to the approach on the south side
to be completed at once.
WORK SATISFACTORY.
Mr.. S. A. Oliver who constructed
the last three spans has reason to feel
good over the reports of the experts
who have examined. his work. They
pronounce it in strict conformity with
bis contract, the workmanship first
class aud the bridge a strong and
safe one.
Messrs. Flume & Rex can safely
swear that the pieces are strong
ones for they had to use
large quantities of dynamite to re-
move two Of them and they were
three weeks at it.
A DISAPPOINTED MAN.
Yesterday a STATESMAN reporter
met Mr.. B. F. Parks, general agent of
the Youngstown, Ohio, Bridge COM
pany, and he said: ~ had heard so
much about your Montopolis bridge
that l concluded to 60 down and look
at it. AS Pm bridge man and take
an interest in SUCH things, 1 went and
I ex oected to find from what l had
heard a snide structure, but l was
disappointed. l went over it from
bottom to top and inspected it care
fully and you have got good bridge.
1 speak as a bridge man. 1t is safe
and strong structure and for years
and years to come it will safely carry
the travel"
Mr.. Parks also took look at the
bridge at the foot of the Avenue and
from the travel he saw going over it
he was very emphatic in saying it was
too narrow. He thought the Montop'
oils bridge just as strong and just as
good one as the Avenue bridge.
1t was Mr.. Parks first visit to this
part OF Texas and he expressed him
self as delighted with Austin, and he
predicted q glorious future for the
, city.
ENGINEER FRIzELL'S REPORT.
Before the the county commissioners
would accept Mr.. divers work they
had Engineer Frizell to go down and
make an official examination of the
same, and the following is his report
in full:
AUSTIN, Tex, Nov. 10, 1S90.-Hon.
j. M. Breckenridge, Judge of the
County Court of Travis County-Sir:
Agreeable to your order OF the 10th
inst. l have examined the bridge
erected across the Colorado river at
Montopolis ford in said county, with
the view of ascertaining whether the
three southerly sections of the super
structure thereof are built in con-
formity with the terms OF the con-
tract between S. A. Oliver and the
said county of Travis.
As to the second and third sections
of the bridge from the southerly end
viz: One cantelever section of 24O
feet in length and one hanging span
of 100 feet, the stipulation is that
these shall conform in all respects to
the similar sections in the other part
of the bridge.
This stipulation I find has been
.scrupulously adhered to. Some tri-
ding defects appear in this part of the
work such as buckling and distortion
of the lacings of some of the COM
pound members which would invite
criticism from casual observe, but
are not msterial. ,s5'"
AS to the southerly section of ITO
feet, the stipulation OF bearing ROLL |
ing load of 1900 pounds per Inca
foot, in addition to its own weight |
without straining any member to
iliOT0 Ludus Ouo-lOulJu VI Ouo-ulIu |
of its ultimate strength; the factor
'one-fifth referring as 1 understand
only to members liable to sudden ap-
piled strain.
/ have verified the strain and am
able to state that the above stipuia-
ton has been fairly complied with, as
regards strains arising from loads. AS
regards strains arising from the action
of wind the specifications are not deti-
mite.
1t is the practice of engineers in
this county to provide for wind pres
sure of fifty-fve pounds per square
foot of surface exposed to the action
of the wind. / have computed the
strain arising from this course and
find that though the provision for this
strain is not quite so liberal as in
other respects, the truss may fairly be
pronounced safe.
noticed a stirrup or suspension
plate near the south end of this
span, made of iron which would not
orJip srily be accepted for bridge work,
but it forms no vital part of the struc-
ture, and is abundantly strong for
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