Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-10-14
THE BIG BRIDGE
A Practical Engineer Has q Word Il
Say, and Very Plain
Word.

EDITOR JoURNAL:-I noticed In
your Saturdays issue some remarks
about the ''steal' bridge. Aren't
you little late in the season? The
time aud place was when the propo-
sition to build II steel or iron bridge,
on wooden piers, not now.
This Salem bridge business has
been funny all the way, started each
time with a "whoop her up, boys"
style. Capt. Powell was selected to
navigate the first one, because U.
S. engineer was the only person who
had sense enough to build bridge,
so 1t was said; so it was believed.
The King Bridge Company, of
Cleveland, Ohio, proposed to build a
draw bridge for $50. 1000, but for some
reason to the writer unknown, the
proposition did not suit Captain
Powell; a combination clap-trap was
preferred at a cost of $4,000 or
thereabout. After meandering the
river four or more weeks, aud deter
mining the course of the current at
nigh water by tioating chips ut low
water, he succeeded III locating the
bridge at the wrong street, IA bril-
liant chap was Capt. Powell.
For superintendent of ronstruc-
ton he placed in charge Swede, or
Norwegian, who knew about as
much about forces as an East Salem
school boy.
Result, one is very we'll known l
think.
When said the bridge would not
staud, l was called a crank, and such
kindred pleasantries.
The same roll was played when
this bridge was started; If l am cor
rectly informed there was no sound
ings taken, so they don't know
whether the piers are Oh hard-pan
gravel, quicksand or mud, or part of
one and part of "tother."
The engineer should have gone
fishing; If they caught mud cots
they would have known there was
mud, and if they had not caught
mud cots they would Ike equally AS
wise and brilliant, as they are as 10
the material down there at the base
of the pier,
IF you were going To build 81 first
class structure, would ynu sc.,tt
party " no was totally ignorant of
the business, and interest hIm to St.
iect you competent architect and
engineer? Not much Well, that
is what's the matter with the Salem
bridge, rs well as some other things,
and you will see the result in due
time.
At this age Of the world, 1t is a
cruel shame aud outrage to place a
decent iron or steel bridge Oh old,
clumsey wooden piers, that will be
continually rolling and slufiing
away. This is the only place On
Gods green earth that is-would be |
perpetrated by :he powers, or al
lowed by the people. /
told two of the scientific partners
that are, or were connected with |
this structure that the piers were u
mistake, that they, or the one IN the
middle of the stream, would rot
stand. They were surprised that I
would express such an opinion, that
the railroad bridge at Pollland stood
lit has only seeu one flood. / VEN
lured the opinion there was some
difference of danger 10 bridge on
duck pond than on a mOunlai. tor
rent.
| sincerely and devoully pray and
hope that the pier will fall, tumble
md float into the river before the
Itructurc is placed thereon. 1t will
ielay the completion Of the bridge
i'll newt season, possibly. But the q
,ridge will be more worth Oh land a
han at the bottom of the Villa |,
nette river.
Lose thi, bridge, gooI bye free
ridge at Salem for twenty years.
SETH X. HAMMER.