Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-11
III NEEDS one MORE
Another Bridge Has Become
an Actual Necessity.
A HISTORY OF The BRIDGES
The Early inhzbitznt Crossed IN Canoe
and the Fisst Bridge Was AZ
Bridge Street

II early Jays tie SiLtErA duo aES-Ar@
to crosse Grand River was compelled 10
take passage N a canoe Or nat bot
toned scow which was poied across
from 6ank % bank. the ferry land
ing VAS midway between Pearl and
Fulton streets. During the winter
seasoa thick ice formed and travelling
over the water way Was both expedi-
t.oas and safe. The enterprislng early
settler did not depend entirely on the
ferry, however. bat built what were
called foot bridges Wooden horses
were set up IN the water and planks
laid thereon for foot passengers only.
These ffail bridges were extremely
ussfui during low water, bat when the
river would rise they would COLLAPSE
aud drift down stream along with the
other trash. The very first bridge of
strength Vas buils IN 1872, a mass meet
ing having been held, at which work
and material were pledged Tor q free
bridge Of timber and plank within half
. mile of the Bridge street line. The
bridge Was finished and opened to the
public in June of that year, but II Was
only IN use two or three years, being
totally inadequate 10 meet the demands
for teams and foot passengers In 1919
= bridge was constructed across the
Grand at Bridge street under authority
gwen by the legislature with All appro-
pnatlon of 9, 900 acres OF state lands for
the purpose.
The Men That BuiIr IT.
The builders we're Eiiphalet III. Tur-
ner and James ccribner. The super
structure rested upon eight stone piers,
each S6xS feet At the bottom. five feet
across At the top. with ice-breakers
heading up stream. When the cap stone
WAS lali at the west end there was an
enthusiastic celebration. and the peo-
pie listened TO the orator of the day
with Ali the Difference accorded the
starting Judge IN horse trot. After
An existence of seven years this bridge
was discarded and = toll bridge Was
built ut the same point. The toll bridge
WAS enclosed by lattice work and
rooted over. bus ON April 5, 1858, fi-e
started At the west end and though the \
wind Was in the opposite direction the
flames shot through To the east the
draft. The west side fire engine which
passed over the bridge before the FIRE
made much Roadway had to be taken
back on . scow. The bridge fire was
grand sight and the old settler loves to
describe il even now. lie wasn't glad
20 have u burn, but IL u was TO burn
anyway, why no was IN luck 10 have
seen IL. The bridge company, consisting
of w. A.lRichmond,U.W w. PIERCE, George
Lovett, James NJ Nelson and A. w.
Pike, proceeded 10 rebuild Immediate
iy and the uew lattice bridge collected
toll until 1874 when the city purchased
thu structure for 81, 900 and made 1t q
free bridge.
Replaced by IN Iron Bridge.
In 1881 the old wooden structure was
replaced by the present wrought iron
bridge which Was formally opened in
July. 1884, by grand display of fire.
works, both verbal and pyrotechnical,
with . national salute of thirty-eighs
guns fired from the middle of the
bridge. IL is 664 feet long. but the addi-
ton of the short span ut the east end
brings the total length up to 70l feet.
The great log jam OF 1888 ruined all of
the old piers except the one at the west
end, mourning an expense Of S9.9l3.06.
The original cost OF the bridge was
S2i 800. but there has been a consider
able additional outlay for replanking,
etc. Up 10 the year OF 1858 there
was only one bridge scanning the river,
hat about that time wooden bridge
was placed across Pearl street and this
in turn gave way to the present IRON
bridge built by the Masslllon Bridge
Of IN oh
pany also built the Fulton street and
sixth street bridges. The bridge is 57s
feet long and MAS built at q cost of
$50. 4ss, the substructure costing an
addition Of sfi ,s93.67.
The third bridge built crossed the
river at Leonard street. II was wooden
toll bridge and when laying toll be-
came too objectionable to be tolerated
the city purchased the property and
made 10 a. free as the streets. There
were grand rusnes for free transit when
the toll was abolished and the free
bridges drew like y mustard plaster.
Drove Qua OF the way.
Farmers would drive out Of their
way with the utmost satisfaction for
the privilege of crossing the free
bridge. TIE first bridge built At Leon
AAu -0tC1 Ntbt w kAttrS atI was IT,
built by the city. the contractors being
Chicago psrties. In the fall and winter
OF ls59-so 10 Was rebuilt IL IS the
longest bridge IN the city. lts length
being So feet and the cost beng
sl0.5si.70.
The sixth street bridge IL SIC feet
long and cost S20.2sl for The super
structure and S. .0s067 for the sub
structure. including the piers and
abutmeots. The approaches were
arsded a. On additional cost Of S2.072.
Fulton street bridge nas length cf
$40 feet. The superstructure cost
So. pts. the substructure, sI9,9ff3
end the approaches cost ss,5s6. IL was
bulit IN 1SsA
There n need Of more bridge room IN
this csty. resi street traffic demands
q wider bridge, and City Engineer
Collar q of The impression that the
Pearl street bridge can be taken apart.
Wealthy avenue. where 10 can he again
ses up Tor efficient service. leaving the
wsy clear for . more eommodious
bridge at Pearl street.
strange - u may seem. 10 The year
Of ~ when the LOG jam played havoc
the railway bridges. carrying them
down stream. al the city bridges stood
sbsuss somewhat injured. IN fact tn..
city has never lost bridge, save from,
Hvb~<t cf an In Ieaveuinc Pc