The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-18
1RESTlE IS CONDEMNED.
BALLARD COUNCIL TAKES PROMPT
AND DECISIVE ACTION.
City Engineer nnd Bridgemen Re-
port salmon nay Bridge Unsafe
BY Unanimous Vote II IL Con-
demned-Wiii BE Closed to Trn sslc,

The city council of Ballard met last
evening and took up the matter of the
street railroad bridge over Salmon bay.
The committee which was appointed la
week mad made n careful examination of
the structureand was prepared TO make It's
formal report. city Engineer Bostian. as
chairman of the committee read the re-
port, which was short. but very much
to the point.
Omittus the formal parts. the report
stated that the committee had on sew
eral occasions met the street railroad Of
ncials, had seen the shipping bills for
new cars. had inspected the plans for
new bridges. and had gone over the work
under construction. IL was the opinion
or the members that all materials order
ed and all work under construction would
bear the closest scrutiny. on the matter
of the bridge. however the report was
much less favorable. The portion refer
ring to the Salmon bay trestle read as
follows:
I'VE have also examined the bridge
across Salmon bay, and find that portion
OF the bridge between the north end and
the seventh bent north of the span across
the creek, 10 be In fair condition as to
piling and framework Most OF the
stringers underneath the rails have been
replaced with new timbcrs. Yet there
remain "A few OF the old stringers which
are In very bad ana unsafe condition.
There Is only six inches OF the end OF
found this bearing 80 rotten that we.
picked II apart with our fingers. We also
found the planking between the rails
badly worn. rotted and loose. 80 that
there Is danger OF 4 dying W and throw;
ing a car of the track We also found
a number of the rail spikes loose. and in
many cases. IL II were not for the planks
between the rails and on the outside, to
help hold the rails IN place, there Is moth
ing to prevent their spreading
Eve also examined the piling, caps. and
posts Of that portion OF the bridge be-
tween the seventh bent north OF the span
and the south end OF the bridge, and
found the tops of the piles rotted 40 that
1t many cases the caps had settled into
the piilng an inch or more, Where the
caps had rested on the piiina the caps
had become 50 rotten that we were able
after boring through one inch OF the
she'll. to shove the bit through the rot
ten center until II struck the shell on the
opposite side OF the cap
The report then states that part Of the
north end OF the bridge has undergone
for traffic. and closes with the words.
The balance Of the bridge we consider
In very unsafe and dangerous condi-
ton We found no Indications OF the
pilng being injured by teredos-"
After tho reading OF this report the
councilmen discussed u very briefy' ana
Torgenson moved that the city Of bal
lard condemn the bridge at once Chand.
Ter seconded. and the motion was passed
unanimously. The city engineer was IN,
structed TO have prepared a sign board
stating that the bridge had been condemn
ed and l. unsafe. This board VIII DE
placed Immediately. The council thsn
agreed 10 meet Thursday evening for the
purpose Of comforting with the officials
OF the street car company as 10 what
shaii he done pending the construction Of
tho new bridge After hearing the quar-
teriy reports OF the city officials. and con-
aIdertng some routine business. the coun-
Ell adjourned 49,.
Mr. Murray. OF the committee WHICH
made this report stated that he could
see no indications that me street cI
,nvfrcarx had ever inspected the tresile.
ana further, u was said that the eugin-
eeys of the company had been very viii
,,,nrovewrnta under way. but had refus-
"a to assist In the inspection % che tres
10 although tho superintendent ~ the
company had stated that they wHu'd 10
So