The record-union., 1896-07-12
TIE BRIDGE At M'CONNELLS.
Surveyor Boyd Recommends That TWO
Span Truss be Built.
a Grade Where, in Flood Time, the
Water Stands Over Five
Feet Deep.

The Board of Supervisors met as
board of Equalization yesterday, as
Well as Board of Supervisors
In the latter capacity 1T listened to
the report of County Surveyor Boyd on
the estimates made by him on improv-
Ing the road from McConnelpS bridge
to the old river channel on the Arno
road.
He considered the bridge over the
river to be still unsafe, Notwithstanding
the repairs on it last year, and advised
that it be replaced by a new truss bridge
of two spans, the north 200 feet OF the
old bridge having filled in with sed1-
ment SO as not to be longer needed.
The roadway is graded up for about
4,500 feet, but is not high enough, as
the water at it's highest stage overtops
it, making travel at such times danger
Gus.
All the treStleS except the hrSt one
are too low to allow free flow of water
under them at such times, and the north
end of the long trestle, the one nearest
Arno having been covered by drifting
cornstalks last year These trestles
should all be raised so that the floor
timbers would be at least fifteen inches
9OONt nigh water llldi n, VI w nat "OoiN
be better, thirty three inches above, In
order to give a margin for driftwood to
pass underneath.
The first three trestles should be aban-
doned, and the long trestle should be
increased from 500 feet to LOO feet in
length At extreme flood, $50 feet at the
north end of the grade is five feet under
water and $50 feet at the south end
is six feet under water.
He also recommended that as a con-
siderable portion of the grade would be
fresh and new no macadam should be
placed on it within six months after the
grading is completed. He thought that
If thorough job were to be done on this
portion of the road it should be straight
eled beyond the Mcconnell bridge,
which could be done by purchasing
about three acres of land of Thomas
Mcconnell at $40 per acre, and the road
can be Strengthened at a cost of less
than S400 more than it would take to go
around.
The cost of bringing the grade sixteen
feet wide to fifteen inches above high
water mark, will be $4,513 II.
Morrison said that Mr.. Mcconnell had
Informed him that the old bridge over
the main channel of the river was liable
to fall in at any time.
Jenkins said that the statement was
true, as the bridge is an old one.
Todd asked what would be the length
of span for steel bridge, of a single
span, in it's place, and Surveyor Boyd
answered that it would be 25S feet. He
had made the estimate for one pier in
order to reduce the first cost. The single
span would be much better, as it would
not obstruct the driftwood.
The board agreed with him that 1t
would be cheaper in the end, as we'll as
better at all times to have single span,
and would obviate the danger of the
srade being washed out on account of
the flow of the water under the bridge
being obsructed.
Morrison said he did not favor any
patchwork as the people down that way
had been very patient under their dis
advantages, and should have what they
need now The debris, however, is fill
ing UP the land and he thought the
grade, instead of being raised to fifteen
inches above high-water mark should
be raised double that amount, or il
would inside of ten years not be up tC
high-water mark
The report was ordered filed, and the
board will go down some day next week
and look over the ground and conclude
what should be done.
1t then adjourned till 10 a. m. Mon.