The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-20
FOR A new BRIDGE.
The City and County Authorities
Have Taken Favorable Action.

The City Council and the authorities
of Roanoke county have taken favorable
action in relation to the construction OF
bridge over Tinker creek, at Richmond
ford, on the road leading to Bonsacks,
better known as the "LynLhbu-g and Sa-
lem turnpike This bridge will add
materially to the business interests of the
city and be great blessing TO the people
OF large part Of the county. This road
is the only communication with the city
of a very rich section of the county, and
beyond the city limits is the best drive Of
any road leading from the city. Rich
mond ford has always been dangerous
place, and many accidents have happened
to persons and teams in crossing the creek
at that point.
Some weeks ago a petition WAS presented
to Council, signed largely by citizens of
Roanoke county, asking the City Coun.
Gil to unite with the county authorities
In plan to secure a bridge at that point.
The Council, when the petition was
presented, authorized the street commit
tee to act for the city. Several confer
ences have been held, and as result the
street committee made favorable report
at the meeting held Tuesday night, and
which, being adopted by the Council,
practically insures the bridge. 1t Is un-
dcrstood that the same report has been
presented by the commissioners to the
Roanoke county, court and approved.
Following is the report of the street COM
mittee presented to the Council on Tues
day night, which gives some idea of he
character and dimensions CT the bridge:
The committee on streets, acting Jointly
In pursuance of a resolution Of Council
with the commissioners appointed by the
Roanoke county court. viewed the site for
Ibid L.
Richmond ford, and have deemed that
bridg e is necessary. The estimated cost
OF the structure, including stone ahut-
ments, is $4,000. The bridge to be of
steel, with span 40 feet long and road
way III feet wide. We attach herewith
the .oint report, which we recommend
shall be adopted:
Resolved, That the commissioners APP
pointed respectively by the City Council
OF Roanoke city and the county court of
Roanoke county to report upon the ne
cessity of Il bridge across Tinker creek at
Richmond Ford, and the manner and
conditions in which the bridge should be
built and the work done, acting in joint
session, agree to report to their. respective
bodies as follows:
"lst. This joint commission agrees
that the bridge across said ford lis ne
cessity.
sgd. That the said bridge be built
jointly by Roanoke city and county, each
sharing equally.the cost of the bridge and
all masonry connected with same
I'D That the.approaches to said bridge
be paid for oy the said city and county of
their respective sides. and that each party
maintain and keep in order their respect
I've portions of said approaches.
18th. That all future repairs or inn
r,rn 70 Il l.
equally by said city and county,
Goth. That the said bridge be of the
following dimensions: 110-foot span,
with III loot roadway, superstructure of
steel with wooden floor, stone abutments
II feet above low water mark. The bridge
to be built according to specifications on
file in the city engineer Office of the city
of Roanoke.
9th. The bridge and abutments not to
exceed $4,000 in cost.
7th. That notices for the construction
of said bridge and abutEents be adver.
tised for thirty days in some newspaper
published respectively in Roanoke city
and Roanoke county"
On motion of Mr.. Exams it was ordered
that the joint report he adopted, and that
on the part of the city of Roanoke and
let the bridge to contract.
The motion was agreed to by the fol-
lowing vote:
Ayes-Buckner, Casey, Coleman, Coul-
bourn, Evans, Fox, Guy, Hodgson, Mays,
Minahan, Mullen, Newton, Page, Seifert
Strickland, Witt, Mr.. President 1T.
Noes, o.
1t was thought while the subject was
under consideration between the street
committee and the Roanoke county CON-
missoners that single roadway for the
floor of the bridge would be Inadequate,
and so they determined to recommend