The record-union., 1893-02-23
FOLSOM'S new STEEL BRIDGE.
1t Successfully Stands the Hardest
Test Possible.
Packed With Loaded Wagons From
End to End, 1t Scarcely Quiv-
ered-Folsom Elated.

The members of the Board of Super
visors yesterday went to Folsom to in
spect and test the new steel bridge
recently completed by the San Francisco
Bridge Company for the county. Ex-
Supervisors Greer, Bates ard Black, who
were members of the board when the
contract for the bridge was made, County
Clerk Hamilton, Assessor Irvine and a
RECORD UNION reporter accompanied the
party.
The north wind that prevailed did not
add to the comfort of the ride, but it was
welcomed by the agriculturists of the
county, as it is rapidly drying the ground
and rendering it suitable for cultivation.
The fields along the road were occupied
by men and teams engaged in plowing,
and in the orchards ana the Natoma
vineyard the pruners and plowmen were
at work. The past week of sunshine is
showing its effect in the Springlike ap-
pearance of the country, and the busy
season is upon the farmers. Grain and
hay along the route appeared to be very
backward, as well as the feed for stock.
Arriving at Folsom the party found
Major Krusie, who has charge of the con-
struction of the bridge, and Supervisor
Curtis, who had been there since last
Friday making arrangements for the test.
Twenty-six large wagons had been
loaded with gravel and hauled onto the
bridge, making double row Of wagons,
which completely filed it from one end
to The other. Estimates of the weight of
the wagons and their loads placed the
burden on the bridge at from So to 100
tons. n donkey engine at the Folsom
end was in readiness to do the hauling.
The wagons were connected by a wire
cable, and the engine being started they
were drawn across the bridge. Scarcely
any vibra1p ION was noticeable except
slight one of the iron rods serving as
braces to the upper part.
The members of the board were very
well satisfied with the test, but in the
afternoon submitted it to a still further
one. Half the wagons having been
hauled of the bridge, and the gravel
dumped on the Folsom approach to it, a
drove of loose horses were driven across
on the side vacated by the wagons, after
which drove OF cattle, numbering about
Seventy-hYe, were also driven across,
with the same result as in the morning.
A large tgssemblage of people from Fol
som and the vicinity, as well as many
from greater distance, witnessed the
test, and all united in their praise of the
the board On the result.
The Folsomites were jubiiant, not only
on account OF the fine structure provided
.or their use, but on the removal Of the
restriction on travel from which they
have suffered all winter, and which has
diverted so much of their accustomed
trade to other channels.
The bridge is constructed entirely of
steel, except the planks of the roadbed,
and is com posed of a single span $50 feet
long. 1t ssts upon the old abutments.
which have been raised two feet ana
widened out sufficiently to give ample
room for two wagons to pass each other.
The style is known as ''the Pratt sub
truss" OF the most modern construction
and made throughout of the best of steel.
Citizens of Folsom who have watched Its
construction say that each part has been
tested as il was put in position.
There ze fourteen panels in the bridge,
the middle part being supported by iour
main posts of channel steel, fifty-tive
feet high, having between each wind
braces and lattice work, bracing it thor
oughly, so that the substructure and the
plates on the top act in different ways in
relieving the tension. Looking at the
bridge sideways the frame has the ap-
pearance of an old-tashioned Dutch roof,
except for the flat top each end running
up on an incline to the hight of forty-five
Ieel, WnSuC6 SGCOHu IDclll6 brings IL
up ten feet higher to the top of the out
side main posts. The ends are thor
oughly strengthened by braces and web
work.
AS is well known, the action of the
summer heat is to lengthen out the
metal, and in bridge OF this length the
expansion is considerable. This is pro-
vided for by attaching the ends of the
Sub-work to rollers, which rest on plate
at the Ashland end of the bridge, and
which in its turn rests upon the stone
abutment, thus allowing the metal to ex-
pand and contract without injuring the
bridge.
After the morning test the Supervisors
repaired to lunch, when Z. G. Cohn and
others, in behalf of the Folsom people,
rendered their thanks, both to the new
and the old Board of Supervisors, for
contributing to. their use the beautiful
structure which had just been tested.
Chairman Morrison, eX-SuperYisor
Greer and Supervisor Miller responded,
the latter saying that as long as the flags
that had been placed at the top in honor
of the day waved there the bridge could
never fall.
q. A. Stoddard, who accompanied the
board as an expert, says the bridge is fine
one, the material and work being of the
first quality, and that the test of yesterday
was more severe than any it will probably
ever he subjected TO i'll actual use.
The specified capacity is l, $50 pounds to
the lineal foot, and while it was not possi-
BILE to pile enough loaded wagons on the
bridge to fully test it to that point, still
the dead weight and the moving wagons
covering the whole bridge had given it a
test as a whole, and the combination of
the wagons and stock had tested the diff
ferent parts in succession, and it had
stood both successfully.
Major Krusie says it is the largest bridge
OF it's kind on the coast, and predicts that
the days OF wooden bridges will soon pass
away.
AS an instance of the interest aroused
by the test, two wagon-loads of people
came from Amador County, arriving
about o'clock in the morning, so as to be
sure to be on hand. One of them upset
near the town, resulting in one young
man getting bump over his eye and an
other one laments the loss of his false
teeth, which could not be found owing to
the dark ness.
The Supervisors will hold a meeting
this afternoon, and it is expected their de-
| cision with regard to the bridge will then
be made known.