The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-08-25
NOT THIS YEAR.

MI UUuS YCnK.
VIII the BelvieW Bridge Be Recon,
structed.
The bridge across the Minnesots
river, 81 miles north of Belview, los
feet of which went down under an
engine on Tuesday of last week, will
not be rebuilt this year, according to
the statements of joint committee
from the county commissioners of
Redwood and Renville counties.
As stated in last weeks issue of
this paper, the two counties had ap-
propriated $500 each for the repairing
of the bridge, and the committee was
to have met last Friday for the pur-
pose of awarding the contract for the
repairing. Messrs. j. P. Cooper Of
this county and F. A. Schroeder of
Renville county, reached the bridge
site shortly after ten o'clock on the
appointed day. Four bridge builders,
who had previously been notified of
the proposition to award the contract,
were on hand, including L. 81. John
son of Minneapolis, who originally
constructed the bridge.
There was great deal of figuring
over the question of Demonstrating the
SPAN and putting all of the bridge in
proper shape, but none of the con-
tractors could get the price down lower
than $500. and the commissioners
having only 81 200 at their disposal,
decided not to accept any of the bids.
Commissioner Cooper was openly
opposed to constructing anything but
steel bridge over the place, as we'll as
in any other place of the county where
it is necessary to bridge. One of the
contractors proposed new span and
the fixing of the north span, for ST, 500,
but he would not warrant it's lasting
over 10 or IL years, and the commits
sioners would not listen to his PROPOSE
ton.
The iron in the demolished span
was sold to NJ. johnson for $25, more
than the two counties could have got
out of it had they put it up at auction,
and paid preliminary expenses. One
or two of the contractors offered $35
for the span standing. but the com
missioners concluded to hold on to
that section.
The bridge was built in 1890 by the
Milwaukee Bridge Il Iron Works, at
that time represented by L. 81. John
son OF Minneapolis. The State appro-
priated 81 600 for the work, Renville
county from $500 $1,000, and the
balance, or 500 Mr.. johnson secured
by Individual subscriptions from
farmers in that neighborhood, and
from business men residing in Sacred
Heart and Belview. The entire
amount was not sufficient to warrant
the construction of such bridge as
was needed there. After its construc.
ton it devolved upon Redwood and
Renville counties to take care of the
structure, and three or four years age
the bridge was replanked and an
attempt was made to protect the piles
on which the bridge rested.
| The work OF getting the engine out
was progressing slowly on Friday
The engine had not been moved from
its dropping place, but the bent wheeI
had been taken off and the hub was
resting on a support. Men we're al
work constructing temporary bridge
about 80 feet west of the fallen one, or
which 1t is proposed to get the engine
out on dry land. The task will be 6
Olmcult one. The throSher was still
on the North side of the river.
! After the committee decided to d.
nothing until the October meeting
Messrs. Cooper and johnson drove
down to the Delhi bridge and made ar
inspection of that structure. It needs
adjusting badly, the iron work on thu
south side having to hold most of The
weight. On Saturday morning The
bridges at North Redwood were in
spected, and both are in need of ad
ljusting and reconstructing in part.
bridge foreman will come up from
Minneapolis in q few days to do the
work.