Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-06
THE ISLAND BRIDGE
IT is THOUGHT TIE STRUCTURE WILL BE
COMPLETED BY APRIL.
A Novel Expeiient 70 Be Tired, One Span to Be
Supported on a Temporary Wooden Pier
The Bridge Over Back River.

The divers engaged in cutting off the
spileS for the foundation Of the west
channel pier of the new bridge of the
Wheeling Bridge Company, put in Il
hard days work, yesterday, and their
labors were watched from the suSpeu-
sion bridge, by a large and deeply in
terested crowd Ii is the Intention Of
the Bridge Company TO have the work
pushed upon this bridge, notwithStand-
ing the lateuess of the season, with the
utmost despatch, and IL is hoped to have
the bridge completed by the first OF
April next. The contractors think they
can have tine west channel pier up by
the first of December, if the weather is
at AN favorable, aud IL this is accom-
plished. and the Ice iu the river is
not too heavy, the Supcrstructure OF the
channel span will be 40 once swung. 1t
is the intention 20 put up this span,
which will Dee j2j feet long, without in
terferiug In the least with navigation,
and this will be accomplished by erect
ing temporary wooden pier of stout
oak timberS. at point i'm the river
about midway between the two channel
piers. The east half of the span will
then be erected. and allowed TO rest on
the temporary pier, this allowing two
hundred and sixty feet clear, between
the temporary pier aud the west chan
mel pier, for steamboats,. The east half
of the span erected, the false work un-
der il will De torn away, and the west
half put mp In the same way, while
boats use the space under the east half
of the span.
At meeting of the Board Of Direc-
tors of the Bridge Company, held Il few
DAYS ago, ia was determined To 90 right
ON with the erection of the bridge. not
withstanding the pending litigation with
the Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Comp
any might be- carried up Co the supreme
Court of the United States, where II
might remain Enacted upon for year
or So. To do this, without occupying
any Of the ground desired from the
Wheeling aud Belmont Bridge Company,
en- the north side of Ohio street, was for
some time a problem, but the engineers
have determined ON "a novel course, and
one that will be watched with interest
by the public. They will set up the
temporary oak pier, TO Doe erected in the
centre of the river for the channel span.
ON the Island shore at the east
end of Ohio street, and use il
to temporarily support the west
end of the shore span, which
viii thus form an angle with the main
body of the bridge. as the west end OF
/ the shore span will have To be slowed
| 90 the south about fifteen feet TO clear
+ the Wheeling ~ Belmont Bridge Com
pany'S property. The bridge will be
allowed 10 stand i'm this shape until
such time as the litigation is settled,
when the permanent pier will be erect
/ "a and the west end of the shore branch
Strengthened out upon il with jack
screws. without interfering with the
use of the bridge.
ItwaS expected work would be COM
menced upon the erection of the super
structure of the bridge over Back
river last week. but owing to the nom
arrival of certain cye-barS. the work
was delayed. but will probably COM
mencc this week, and the bridge will be
mp iu sixty days, and horse carSrunning
to Martins Ferry. from the corner of
Virginia and South Penn streets.