Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-09-26
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
Council Room Sept. II. 1901.

oOullCll INOOlI IOGpU. II. IooI.
Council met pursuant to adjourn
ment, President Hill presiding.
Alderman present Wood, LutZ,
ReiIand, Schuman, Parrish, Gross,
Pratt, Otto, BoSSert, Kellogg, Jackson,
Rossier, Hill and Boles.
Minutes of last meeting read and
approved.
City Attorney Goggins reported on
the following claims:
The claims of w. BlaiSdcll and J L.
Harvey recommending that they be
diSallowed for the reason that they
were not proper claims against the
city.
The claim of F. L. Steib & Co. were
charges which were specially author.
lied by the council at a former meet
ing. They were contracted by the
health officer and would probably be
without such special authority legal
charge against the city.
The claim Of DR.. Frank Pomainville
referring the same back to the council.
On motion the reports were adopted
Engineer Wolff made the following
report upon the condition of the
highway bridge across the Wisconsin
river in our city.
To the Honorable Mayor aud Conn
mon Council, Grand Rapids. Wiscon-
sin. Gentlemen: l herewith sub
NIT a report upon the condition of the
Highway bridge across the Wisconsin
river in your city. On August 31st, in
company with your City Engineer,
Mr.. Philleo, l made an examination
of this bridge. The examination
which we made was directed mainly
to asCertaining the condition of the
batter and vertical posts which are of
timber. In nearly all cases the lower
ends of these posts are the first to
show signs of decay. The dirt from
the roadway lodges against them and
retains the moisture, thus fastening
their decay.
The batter posts appear to be in
fairly good condition and entirely safe
for the present, but we found three
vertical posts which were quite badly
decayed at their lower ends. The
condition of these posts is such that
they will require repairing or re-
newal within d short time, probably
during the coming year. This re-
newal should not be delayed too long
as the decay may be more rapid than
anticipated and may thus render the
bridge unsafe. The time at our dis
posal did not permit of an eXamina-
ton of the top chords, which are of
wood. These are probably still in
good condition as they have been COW
cred to protect them from moisture.
1t would be best however to have them
examined. In order to do this it would
be necessary to remove the sheet iron
cover near a number of the joints and
bore holes into the timbers to deter
mine their condition on the inside.
The iron work is undoubtedly still in
good condition but should be painted
if the bridge is to be used for an in
definite time. I am of the opinion
that at present the bridge is safe for
the ordinary travel it is required to
carry, but that repairs must be COM
menced in the near future, and that
such repairs will be required from time
to time as long as the bridge is in SER
vice. The bridge can be kept in SER
vice for probably four years by re-
placing the old wooden members with
new ones as fast as they decay. This
however will be a continual expense,
and it would seem wiser with the
present low interest rates, to pay the
interest on the cost of a new bridge
which would give satisfactory service
than to pay for continual repairs on
an old bridge which is not satisfactory
to the public. 1t has been suggested
that the wooden members be replaced
with steel. This can be done, but in
my opinion would not be wise as the
present bridge is designed for a COM
paratively light load and the sub
stitution of steel for the wooden mem
hers would ha
little and would not add to the strength
of the bridge.
In order to secure satisfactory ser
vice believe new bridge designed
for a heavier load, with wider road
way and with shorter spans to reduce
the vibration will be required.
A new bridge with thirty foot
roadway and 2-S foot sidewalks, di-
vided into four spans would cost APP
proximately $4,000. This estimate is
based upon constructing two piers and
using the present center pier and the
two abutments. The abutments may
not be wide enough, but if not, this
difficulty could be overcome by using
heavy steel beams at each abutment
which would extend out far enough to
support the trusses. Respectfully
submitted, L. ?. WOLFE.
On motion the report was received
and placed on file.
City Attorney GOgginS reported on
the petition of Emil Toepel and othe rs
relative to laying out street across
the Sc quarter of the SW quarter of
Sec. II, township D n, r. 6 east, as
follows:
On the matter of the petition of
Emile Toepel and others relative to
laying out street across the south east
quarter of the south west quarter of
section 10, township . north of range
east, referred to me for investig alton
of title, would respectfully report:
1st. That it is not clear what lands
are meant If it be the strip which it
is proposed that the city surrender to
Mrs. Case, then the city mas title by
quit claim deed recorded in 43 of deeds
page %.
ID. If the investigation of title re-
fers to lands to be included in the pro-
posed street, l would report that a
careful search of the records discloses
no deed to the city of the whole or any
portion of this strip.
3rd. Sargent's plat indicates d
street in the identical position of the
proposed street to petitioners lands
with half the width of the street ex.
tending east and west the length OF
lot and half the width of the street
extending the width of lot 10. 1t is
not unlikely that the measurements OF
the lots referred to are such as to leave
street space as indicated on said plat
The city engineer could ascertain this
fact.
4th. Petitioner requests the street
but offers no lands for the purpose