Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-04-13
"a stone bridre. hy all means. !,

"A stone bridge, by all means
Let the city put up a solid, permanent
bridge"
Enough money has been spent on iron
bridges-lets have change
"A steel bridge might last thirty years,
if constantly attended to, and large sums
spent in its repair. but a stone bridge will
last for hundred years without expense
These are some of the arguments ad-
vanced by thinking. philosophical, and eX-
perienced citizens, in discussing the pend
ing loan ordinance and the contemplated
construction of a bridge across the creek
al Main street And the reasons advanced
are so clear, and appeal with such force to
people. that voters are rapidly getting in
line ON the side of a stone bridge, and when
the column moves TO the polls on Tuesday
pretty much everybody Will be convinced
that a stone bridge is the only one which
will answer the requirements of durability
light cost for repair large capacity for
travel ability TO safely carry water and
gas pipes. and general intrinsic merit
The advance guard of the stone bridge
men heads this article. The list IS a repre-
sentative one. embracing business men,
capitalists, WOrkingmen, professional men,
indeed. every class of our people has at
least one of its membership in this solid ar
ray of men who advocate solid bridge.
They are men of MISUNDERSTANDING men
men who have the best interests of the
CITY at heart-and where they lead others
may safely follow.
Yesterday a handsome drawing of the
proposed stone bridge, taStefully framed,
was placed on exhibition in Henry Some
borns show window, ana the structure was
admired by hundreds of voters during the
afternoon and evening. blueprint
was also displayed at several points,
and all during the afternoon and
evening people We're pointing out its many
good Qualities 10 each other and comment
ing upon the graceful lines and the evident
sOlidity of the masonry. Ii was the almost
unanimous conclusion that the bridge thus
shown was the bridge TO build.
The bridge as shown on the drawing,
has a total length from wing to wing of 2i4
feet, while from the bottom of the f0unda-
ton 10 the top of the parapet is IS feet
The abutments are ~ feet deep by about Is
feet wide and are - feet high from the
bottom of the foundation in solid rock to
the spring of the arch. The arch has
clear width of $50 feet, the spring-line be
ing placed at the point touched by the wa
ter when there is a l2-fOOt stage in the
above the spring-line. the keystone being
thus about - feet above the bed of the
creek and one and One-han feet
above the level of the intersection on Main
and Sixteenth streets. In other words,
when the water rises above the arch, there
will be more than one and One-half feet of
water in the middle of Main street, where
the b. y; O. track crosses. The top OF the
parapet wall, in the centre of the bridge,
will be about l3 feet above the crown OF the
arch. the keystone being four and one-half
feet thick The arch stones increase in
depth from four feet six inches at the crown
of the arch TO six feet in depth at the bot
tom. and the thrust is thence transmitted
10 the great mass of masonry in the lower
part of the abutments. where the pressure
encounters the resistance of nearly forty
feet Of solid stone.
Such "a bridge-nOt constructed OF mere
shell of stone, filled in with earth and sand,
as was the old stone bridge, but OF solid
masonry, in at least two feet courses
would last for at least one hundred years,
and perhaps longer, and would cost nothing
for repairs. II would be as solid as the
street on either side of the creek. and is
must such a bridge as the South Side citi-
zens should unite in securing, and in aid of
which citizens of the whole city should
rally
Enemies of the stone bridge are indus
triouslv engaged in the attempt to make
friends for the steel bridge scheme in the
lower part of the city, by circulating the
report that the city has failed to make pro
vision for permanent bridges across Cald-
wells run. Nothing could be further from
the truth. Not only has Council ordered
the Strengthening and bridging of the run,
but ten thousand dollars has been appro-
priated for that purpose, the plans are
drawn, and bids have been received and
opened for the construction of the work,
which work includes two handsome and
permanent bridges, the full width of the
street. at both EOff and Chapline streets.
This work will be let to the contractors in
side of a week, and will be completed dur
ing the coming summer. In resorung to
this means of diverting popular thought
and expression, the steel bridge schemers
have not only perpetrated an untruth, but
have done an eminently foolish thing. The
fact that the run is to be improved and
bridged as soon as possible is well known,
having been published by the papers on
several occasions.