Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-12
Council Proceed dinuS.
Council Room, Dec. 5, 1901.

NCiAdHu, LuO6Ck, OttO, bOSSerI. hel-
logg, Jackson and Bo1es.
Minutes of last meeting read and
approved.
City Attorney Goggins reported on
the bill of S. Kingston as not being a
proper charge against the city.
On motion. the report was adopted.
Street committee reported on the
petition of E. Toepel and others,
recommending the prayer of the same
be denied.
On motion, the report was adopted.
petition was presented praying
Tor the placing Of two street lights on
Witter street.
On motion, same was referred to
street committee.
The offer Of Geo. F. Kreiger Of
81, 500 for forty feet front on Gran
berry street and east of G. & n. W.
right of way was, on motion, rejected.
The resignation of Supervisor J. W.
Cochran in aud for the 9th ward of
the city of Grand Rapids was pre-
sented and, on motion, accepted.
On motion, H. Flewellan was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy.
Chief Lutz Of the east side depart
nent presented a petition praying
that the city purchase a hose wagon,
rubber coats and one-half dozen pairs
of rubber boots for the east side de-
partnent.
On motion. the purchasing commit
tee was instructed to purchase same
by following vote, the clerk calling
the roll:
Ayes-Wood, Lutz, Rei1and, Lu-
beck, Otto. Bossert, Jackson, Kellogg,
and Boles. Noes-none.
A claim for Godfried Bruderli of
$500 for damages sustained from a
defective street was presented and,
on motion. was referred to the city
attorney to report at the next regular
meeting.
Jacob Winger made the folio wing
report as to the condition of the wagon
bridge across the Wisconsin river:
To the Honorable the members of
the Common Council of the City of
Grand Rapids, Wood County, Wiscon-
sin:
The condition of the wagon bridge
is such that many of our citizens have
come to the conclusion that it is un-
safe for the travel that it must ordi-
nar1ly carry. In fact, almost every
day some of our citizens inform me
that they do not consider it safe, and
that something should be done.
Owing to the apprehension of so
many of our citizens, we had MIR.
Wolf thoroughly examine the bridge
and report to the common council as
to its condition some time ago, when
it was decided to lay the matter over
until winter, when the bridge could be
repaired and overhau1ed much cheaper
than at the present time.
Last Wednesday night, at the meet
ing of the stockholders of the Electric
s. Water company, several of our rep
resentatlye citizens prevailed upon
Mr.. Jacob Winger, practical bridge
man having charge of the bridge
repair work. on the Valley division of
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Railway company, to examine the
bridge and report to the common
council of our CITY as to its condition.
Mr.. Winger volunteered to do so,
without cost to the city, and requested
the undersigned to prepare his report.
Mr.. Winger made thorough exam
ination of the bridge, especially of
the posts or uprights and the top lat
eral posts, and found by such examin-
alton that most of the posts and top
laterals were in very bad condition.
In fact, more than one-ha1f of the
posts or uprights are very rotten near
the base, the rot usually being in the
center OF the post, so that the post
would appear from the outside to be
in good condition., while the fact of
the matter is that the only sound tim
Der in the posts is on the outer edges
or corners of the posts.
Mr.. Winger informed me that the
condition of the bridge was not alarm
ing. and was not unsafe at the present
time, but ir order to maintain the
same for year it would be necessary
to make extensive repairs upon it this
coming winter, repairs that would
cost in the neig ghborhood of 81 900,
according to his estimate.
Z Mr.. Winger also suggests that if
the weig ht of the travel was evenly
distributed, so that several loads were
not allowed to be upon one span of the
bridge at one time, the bridge would
stand up for one year just as we'll as
If the repairs we're made, his idea be-
ing that man be employed to look
after the bridge, sweep off the snow
from the walks, move any undue
weight in the center of the bridge
and to carefully examine the uprights
and posts where the same are SET on
the plates at the bottom or base, so
that if there were any danger of the
bridge falling we would have warning.
as it is very Improbable that the
bridge would collapse suddenly, with
out any warning whatever. In fact.
by examining the bridge daily, we are
sure to be warned of any danger of
the bridge co1lapsing, as the base of
the posts or uprights will commence
to spread out OF swell where they set
upon the plates, before there will be
any slump that will be noticeable.
Mr.. Wingcr made d thorough test by
boring with a small brace and bit into
the posts, SO as to get at the inside of
the posts, this form of test being the
only reliable test that could be made.
Mr.. Ninger further informed me
that the only danger of the bridge
coming down would be from a very
severe storm, which, of course, is
something we have no control over:
and he further informed me that we
could not expect the present bridge to
last more than one year, and would
recommend that the present bridge be
renewed or rebuilt this coming winter
or the next ensuing winter.
Dated November 10Th, 1901.
-. W. E. WHEELAN, Mayor
Moved and carried that the mayor
appoint d committee to report on cost
of new wagon bridge and repairs On
present bridge across the Wisconsin
river and report at the next regular
meeting.
Aldermen Jackson, Mccarthy and
Kellogg were appointed as SUCH com
inittee.
Moved and carried that the applica-