Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-11-23
THE NEW BRIDGE.
Supt. Taylor's Forces Actively
Engaged.
ONE SPAN OF FALSE WORK DONE.

masonry ON the Abutmonts to Commence
Next Week-rramc VIII be Protected ~
Far - Possible-The Last Swing Of the
Draw.
Supt. Taylor, of the Phoenix Bridge
company, has force of 40 men at
work on che preliminary structure
for the erection of the new Rock ISL
and bridge. The false work under
the first span of the draw has been
completed and that for the second
span will 60 in as rapidly as posi-
bic. A large quantity Of the stone
for the abutments and pier extern
sions has been received and opera
tions in this line are expected to
commence Monday, or a day or two
later at the furthermost.
As to Tramc.
The plan Of the contractors is to
push the work as rapidly as possible.
and to get everything in
readiness, go that there may be no
more interruption of traffic between
the the two cities than is absolutely
necessary, and when the time comes
to suspend the use of the bridge to
put the work through without delay.
1--WE are making no predictions"
said Supt. Taylor this morning, ..but
We will do our best to discommode
the public as little as possible. We
will say this much, that we expect to
be in entire readiness to shut up the
bridge by the first of the year, and
when this is done will redOu BILE our
efforts to build the new structure as
speedily as science and labor can &C.
complish it. However, should at
any time during the progress of the
work. obstacles arise which will de.
lay the operations indefinitely we will
always be in position to reopen the
bridge to traffic temporarily"
Tho Specifications.
Under the specifications governing
the letting of the contract, it is pro-
vided:
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 a closing of the
roadway floor for as short period as
the requirements of a proper per-
Torrance 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 a suffi-
GENTLY long period, the commanding
officer may require the contractor to
provide for such temporary use Of
the roadway as is reasonable and
practicable"
While this provision gives the con-
tractor control of the lower deck, it
does not signify that any unreasona-
BILE or unavoidable interposition to
the use of the bridge is to result.
Col. Burlington. Engineer c. H. Mer-
GER. Of the Bridge company. and
General Manager Lardner. of the
Tri-City Railway company, have
worked together to maintain traffic
to the fullest extent possible consist
ent with the requirements of the
situation and the interests of public
safety. By means o. transfer street
car traffic will be preserved even af-
ter the bridge is closed to the gen.
eral public and every possible effort
made to avoid undue interruption.
The Last Swing.
The last swing Of the old draw &C.
CURED Thursday Of this week. and
navigation above Rock Island closed
for the season. Before the river
season opens again the draw
span Of the new bridge will be in
place. Compared with other years
this season of navigation has been
practically of the same length as
during the past. as the official Open
ing and closing of the draw seldom
varies more than couple of weeks,
no matter whether the river is closed
or not. Last spring the draw swung
for the first time March IL, for the
purpose Of testing the machinery.
although the first boat. the steamer
Myrtle. did not go through until the
morning of the 22d. The McGregor
was the last boat. The year pre-
vious the draw was opened March Is
and closed Nov. &c.