Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-27

Yesterday City Engineer White and a
force of men were engaged in.testing the
Market street bridge. for the purpose of
reporting to the Board of Public Works
whether or not the bridge was in an I'M
safe condition. This was done upon the
instructions of the b. P. w, and they will
be governed great deal by what the
City Engineers report will be- The En-
glneer yesterday had the sidewalk p!anks
torn up at both ends Of the bridge, where
the superstructure rests on the three
piers.
Ny. White made close investigation
which was sufficient to convey the i'm
preston to himself and those watching,
that the bridge was decidedly unsafe
particularly for heavy travel. That the
iCty Engineer was of this opinion could
be readily judged by his conversation. al
though he said he preferred not TO express
himself until he had made his official re-
port. The examination yesterday was the
first made Tor number of years. 1t was
done at the iHs,igation Of the =. =. w,
who have received many complaints and
expressions Of unoasiness from the general
public. who are compelled uy force Of
circumstances to cross the creek. either on
foot or by street car. 1t has been fire.
quent expression that it was feared that
calamity would happen some day which
might entail loss OF life.
\ member Of the Board of Public Works
stated himself tina, he was afraid every
time he went over the bridge I'm crowded
street car that thu car would crash
through. So general has been the appre-
hersioE. whittier justified or not. that the
L. p. W. recently posted notices al each
end of the bridge making it Unable Of
Tense to drive over the bridge fast. and
motormen are expected to run the electric
cas- slowly.
The fact was disclosed by the eXamina-
ton yesterday that there was ground for
apprehension. The safety Of the bridge
has been considerably damaged by the
rusting of the iron framework which
rests on the stone piers. The rust had
eaten through the iron in several places
to the extent of couple of inches. The
iron rods that support the bottom OF the
bridge were also found 10 have been eaten
greatly by the rust during the past ten
years These rods furnish principal part
of The support of the structure and the fact
that this part of the framework is no
longer to he depended upon is sufficient
for cond5muing the whole bridge. as it
is only as strong rs a. It's weakest point.
so entirely and thoroughly had the gnaw-
ing rust gotten in its wor!. thar several
iron bolts were found 20 have been en-
tirey eaten through. The examination
was very satisfactory. and was convincing
that the City Council viii be called upon
10 act i'm the matter.
The probability is that the Board will
declare the bridge unsafe and The matter
will DE left in the rauda OF Council to de-
eide whether or not a new bridge viii be
built. The present bridge has been stand
ing and i'm continual use for nearly thirty
years the natural life OF any bridge Of
the kind. At the time IT was built il was
considered a modern structure. and cost
the city about So coo. II succeeded the old
foot bridge. which is wen remembered by
Il majority of the present day citizens.
This bridge was only about five feet in
width. and was swung across the stream
by means Of rope cables about a couple
of inches in thickness.
If the present bridge IS replaced, it viii
he probably by an iron girder bridge. which
are considered by engineers TO be the
strongest and most enduring. Ii is the
opinion that by widening the piers and
making the foundation more substantial,
that q structure could be built that would
last for half century If properly cared
for. There Is no doubt that the Market
street bridge has been somewhat neg
lected, and that if it had been painted oc-
casiorauy that the rust would not have
ca1sed so much damage.