Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-04-25
Some Bridge History.

Mr.. EDITOR: Thinking that some
account of the building of the first
two bridges over Mill creek, South
Salem, would be of some interest ia
your many readers, I herewith send
you short article in reference to
their construction.
The first bridge over South Mill
creek on Commercial street, ives
built in 1856 by Mr.. John; was un-
covered; had a span of about 100
feet in length; the rest of the struct-
ure rested on bents or trestles, ex-
tending to the foot of Gaiety Hill;
was about four feet lower than the
one recently torn down, to be re-
placed by the Electric car and wagon
bridge now in course of cOnstruc-
tion. 1t done good service until the
night of Dec. 20, 1851, when it was
washed out of the stream by the great
food of that date. The writer of this
article, Judge Elijah Williams, (the
father of Major Geo. Williams the
banker, and Hon, Sam. Parker) were
probably the last persons to cross the
bridge, as they passed on it mo-
mant before it went off, and the
blanks were just ready to float. Mr.,
Williams was returning from the
residence of s. A. Clark, having
his wife and daughter there for
safety, rs his home on Front street
was considered to be in danger Of
the high water of the Willamette.
On the morning of Dec. Sd the flood
was at its highest point and wide
body of deep water covered the
space from Gaiety Hill to the north
bent of Mill creek, and there ives no
way to reach the city at that time,
but luckily an old skiff came float.
ing down the river (the slough ives
river them and ives occurred by
Angus Mcdonald, and old Scotch
man, employed by Mr.. Clark. Some
time after the skiff YVES caught,
the overland mail, from Sacramento
city to Portland arrived, and was
ferried over in the old skiff, together
with passengers, and Wells, Fargo g.
Co.'s express. When the water
subsidized to the creek the span of
the bridge Yves floated to conven-
lent spot and secured for tempo.
rary one, until the new one wes
completed.
The bridge just demolished was
commenced early in 1862 and was /
think completed in about two
months. 1t had single span of
two hundred feet and weather pro-
tector on the south end. The con-
tractors were the late Daniel Clarke
and J. I'll. Hayden, also dead. The
designer and overseer was A. r.
Stougton, an old man of 81 or 50,
who is now employed by the state
under the direction of George
Downing, Esq. When the work
on the bridge was finished and the
false work was being removed IL
commenced to settle and would
have fallen down had not Edward
Connor, in the employ of the con-
tractors and who had been a sailor,
rigged hugh tackle blocks and raised
1t to its proper level, when bents
were put under to hold 1t up. From
that time until torn down It did
excellent service and would have
been good for several years 10 come.
1t cost about $1,000 but has fulfilled
it's mission and will soon be re-
placed by a more pretentious and
In every way a better one for the
needs Of a large enterprizing and
growing city.
Before the bridge was completed,
hands being scarce, some young men
volunteered without pay to help
some on the work. j saw one slim
young man of about 81 years of age
driving pins with a huge sledge.
He was named J. III. Haas, now the
jolly rubicund jeweler on CONNER
cial street. May his shadow never
grow less. A keg Of beer stood near
by furnished by the contractors, but
no one drank to excess. Henry
Haas only smelled of the mug prob
ably.
Perhaps it would not be out Of
place TO say here that during the
height OF the flood on the Sd the
steamer Onward, Captain Geo. A.
Pease arrived from Oregon City and
landed lot Of freight on the site Of
Ihe mill Office Of the Salem Mills