The record-union., 1893-10-06
THE new iron BRIDGE
That is to Span the River Opposite
This City.
The Supervisors Investigating the Mat
ter of the Proposed Overhead
Roadway.

J. r. Wilkinson, the Southern Pacific
Company's civil engineer, appeared be-
fore the Board of Supervisors yesterday,
by request, to explain the character of
bridge which the company proposes to
build across the Sacramento River be-
tween this city and Washington.
Mr.. Wilkinson, in response TO ques-
tions asked by members of the board,
said the plan W as to construct the bridge
at point about opposite the present City
Jail. 1t would be of iron. The company
has two plans under consideration. One
is bridge similar to the one now in use
"a combination railway and wagon
bridge; the other contemplated railroad
bridge with an elevated wagon-way
overhead.
The xvtra cost Of the proposed over
head roadway is estimated at $4,000, and
the cost to the railroad company for the
bridge proper will be about 100000. or
some S240,0 600 in all.
The length of the bridge proper will be
some 500 feet. but the proposed approach
to the overhead wagon-way would eX-
tend back on the Sacramento side about
to Second street. This sort OF bridge,
Mr.. Wilkinson said, would enable farm
ers. merchants and all classes TO use the
bridge freely at all times without being
detained by the moving and switching OF
trains, TO say nothing of the safety from
accidents.
Mr.. Wilkinson submitted drawings of
! the new bridge, with the proposed over
head roadway.
The members of the board will con-
slider the matter of the county uniting
with Yolo in detraying the extra cost of
the roadway above the bridge, and ap-
plication will be made to the railroad
company in due time.
The plan provides for roadway above
the railroad track, instead of requiring
teams 10 use the same roadway traversed
by the trains, which practice is more or
less dangerous to the owners of teams, as
we'll as causing yexatious delays.
1t remains OF course for the counties of
Sacramento and Yolo to determine
whether or not the travelling public shall
be provided with safer means of trans
fer between the counties than at present,
as the only Inconvenience under the pres
ent system is suffered by the drivers of
teams that are obliged to use the railroad
bridge.
AS heretofore stated by the RECORD
UNION, Sacramento and its interests have
! become too important to permit the con-
tinuation of the present bridge facilities
! The Trustees and county officers should
! open up negotiations with the railroad
! company looking TO the continued main
! tenance by that company of the bridge
! foundations ahd the superstructure nee
essary to carry the tracks, and proceed,
at the expense of the counties, to provide
an upper deck or floor for the highway
traffic. with suitable inclined approaches
on each side of the drawbridge, either
upon the bridge itself or on the shore;
this upper deck and its approaches to be
so arranged that the highway traffic will
! be completely separated from the railroad
| traffic, not only over the bridge, but on
each side of the bridge.
In this case the necessary additions to
provide these improved highway facili-
! ties should not exceed $4,000 over and
above the cost of the bridge, and our city
authorities, together with the Yolo and
Sacramento County officers, should lose
no time in arranging to contribute as
/ much as this, If necessary, to nave this
most desirable public improvement car
ried out this year.
The longer approach to the overhead
roadway will be on the Sacramento side.
The ascent is so gradual that the over
head structure will extend a long way
out from the river, and there will be no
car tracks to cross in reaching it. Thus
! there will be no impediment to traffic at
any time, and never the slightest danger
! of pedestrians or teams coming in contact
with tracks or trains.
! The advantages of the overhead road
way plan cannot fail to be apparent to all
owners or drivers of teams whose busi-
ness calls them back and forth between
! this county and NOlO