The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-07-25

abutments are ready, whereas iron bridges
of this length cost from 1915 to $1,000
per foot.
If placed on high abutments, as the
iron bridges now are, and made of the
best materials, well protected and kept in
careful repair, there is no reason why a
covered brige should not last 100 years
We instance the covered bridge over Wills
Greek, near the b. a. o. depot in Cam
bridge. 1t was built in 1928, and seems
as sound and solid today as ever. Cow
cred bridges of ordinary length will not
cost more, and probably not so much, as
an iron one, will last much longer, and
the money expended in building them
will largely remain among the taxpayers
Of the county instead Of being paid out to
foreign corporations and pools.
Iron or steel at the time the Miskimins
bridge was built was probably at the low
est price It had ever reached, which would
give higher profits and more to the pool.
We understand that at the time Of the let
ting Of this bridge there was some contro-
versy among the different agents present
about who should have the bridge. But
there never was any differene between
them about what should be the price of
the bridge. That was determined at the
agents meeting before the letting. An
effort was made before the comm
missioners on the part of one of the
agents to have them rule out the Wrought
Iron Bridge Co., on the ground that one
of the commissioners was the salaried
agent of that company, but this was not
done.
The iron agents seem to have been
pressing their wares upon the commits
sioners, for we notice va contract on the
journal with the Iron Substructure Co.,
for iron tiling at S23 per ton, and pay
ment to the company of 1923 80. What
tiling was furnished for this sum we have
not learned, but we notice that the cost of
delivery at the points wanted is quite con-
siderable. The ledger shows, Hauling
pipe to Washington township, $31.00,
etc. Handling pipe to Madison town
ship, $13, 80 etc." This seems to be a
rather costly experiment.
In computing the cost Of bridges we
have made no estimate of the commits
sioners per diem, mileage and expenses
in letting and overseeing these bridges,
which, it will readily be seen, must
amount to very considerable sum.
The operation of the law giving the
commissioners authority over all con-
struction or repairs which exceed $50, is
sometimes rather expensive. Thus, the
culvert, ditch and fill ON the road south of
Point Pleasant was let by the commits
sioners at cost for grading of $50; cul-
vert, $2S.37, and labor on road, S25, and
S14 more for culvert, ditch and fill, max
ing in all $117.37 for a job that is not
half done, and could have been much bet
ter and more economically done under
the supervision Of the township trustees.
The per diem and expenses of the COM
missioners In visiting and overseeing this
work amount to large per cent. of the
total cost.
Another case is what is known as the
Pulley bridge in Londonderry township,
which appears from the ledger to have
cost as follows: r. w. Hanna $202; VIM.
Boyd. fill, $14.95. The commissioners
charges for per diem and expenses in look
ing after this bridge would probably in
crease the cost to near $3.50. This bridge
is over stream that in any ordinary
stage Of water can be stepped over, and
the township trustees had already entered
into contract for a bridge which they
deemed sufficient for less than $40, when
the commissioners, having knowledge of
| this prior contract and in the face of 1t,
advertised and sold out the bridge at the
cost to the county as above stated.
1t is believed that this work should be
placed more largely in the hands Of the
township trustees, who are usually men
Of good Judgment in such matters, and
oan see to such work with perhaps one
fourth the expense now incurred. An
amendment to the law giving the trus.
tees authority to build all bridges, cost
ing less that $500, with a limit to the
amount to be expended in any one year,
would doubtless improve the present law.
Provision might also be made requiring
the township to pay for all bridges cost
ing $50 or less, and on all others to pay
$50 and 20 per cent. of all additional cost
over $50 on each bridge. This would pre-
vent townships vieing with one another
in having the best and costliest bridges
unless they are willing to pay the cost
| largely out of heir own treasury