Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-26
THE TWO BRIDGES,
The Tri.Cities to Be United by
New Bands of Steel.
PLANS FOB THE RECONSTRUCTION

PLANS FOB THE RECONSTRUCTION
The Requirement ~ to the Improvsm ent
and Governing the Work While In Pro.
gress-rhe Terminal Compapy's Enter.
Pri.e-Gener.l Railway news.
The assurance of two new bridges
this fall and winter, in the complete
reconstruction of the Rock Island
bridge by the government and the
Rock Island road jointly. and in the
prospect Of spanning the river be-
tween the two cities by means of the
Davenport & Rock Island Bridge and
Terminal company's enterprise
should serve as an encouraging sign
OF the times.
Tho Rock Island Bridge.
The magnitude of the task to be
undertaken by the Phenis Bridge
company in the reconstruction of the
Rock Island bridge is perhaps not
fully understood. There are to be
built wholly new one draw span
365 feet z inches long between CEN
tiers of end pins. two fixed spans 258
feet long between centers of end
piers. three fixed spans PIG feet 81
inches long between centers of end
piers. one fixed span 1913 feet s
inches long between centers of end
piers and one fixed span 80 feet 9
inches long between centers of end
piers. About 900 cubic yards of ma
tonry will be required for abutment
and piers, and the new superstruc-
ture will consist Of eight spans-five
fixed and one draw and two elevated
spans-a total weight. when erected
complete. of about $40, 900 pounds.
While the Work Goes On.
One or two of the articles in the
specifications are very interesting in
this connection and are given as
follows:
The contractor will be required
to perform the work in such a man
ner as not to interfere with the run
ming of trains over the bridge. One
track will be used until the erection
is completed. The contractor will
be required to keep this track con-
tinually open and safely supported
so as not to delay the trains.
1.-The contractor will be required to
remove the old superstructure, with.
out disturbing the trains, and to
erect the, new superstructure COM
plete in every respect. including riv-
citing. ready to receive the ties for
the railroad floor. the wooden road
way and the moving machinery Of the
draw.
The grade of the railroad floor on
the new bridge will be about two
feet higher than the present grade.
The contractor will be required to
effect this change of grade in a man.
ner not to disturb the trains or intro
duce heavy inclines.
There shall be no traffic on the
roadway floor during erection which
will interfere with the erection, but
the contractor shall so manage the
work as to require the closing OF the
roadway floor for as short period
as the requirements Of a proper per-
formances of the work will permit,
and the commanding officer is to be
the judge of this. and if. for any rea-
son. work is suspended for suifi-
GENTLY long period, the commanding
officer may require the contractor to
provide for such temporary use of the
roadway as is reasonable and pra cti-
cable"
The draw span, says Col. Bufing-
ton. must necessarily be put up dur
ing the season when navigation is
suspended. that is between Nov. Is
and March Is, to meet the necessity
OF keeping the passage of the bridge
free to railroad trains. The main
structure. it is believed, will be put
up with little general interruption to
the accustomed traffic between Rock
Island and Davenport.
The Lower Bridge.
The passage by the Rock Island
council Of the ordinance giving ap-
proaches and track rights to the
Davenport g. Rock Island Bridge and
Terminal company is regarded as an
assurance of the success of the en-
terprise. The Davenport Leader
says OF the canvass for subscriptions
for the project: 1.-The lower bridge
ProJect now looks brighter than it
has at any time since Frank P. Blair
has been here. Mr. Blair has GER
tainly been persistent in his efforts
in this matter, having been on the
ground now for nearly a year. His
project is certainly worthy of sup
port as its success means much to
this city as well as to the city of
Rock Island. Many arguments can
be used favoring the lower bridge
and not one against it. The COM
mittee appointed to solicit subscrip-
tions to the $4,000 bond purchase
fund. though it has not been at work
very vigorously for the past week,
has secured an additional s., 900 to
the list. and now the total amount
subscribed is in the neighborhood of
t2S, GOO"
Notes OF the Rail.
Agent Greer has illuminated the