The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-18
BRIDGE SPECIFICATIONS
CITY ENGINEER NELsON WILL HAVE
THEM READY IN L DAYS.
Mr.. Nelson's Statement Concerning
the Collapse of the Old struc-
observation-disclosures Talk.

City Engineer Nelson is engaged in pre-
pairing the specifications for the new bridge
that was ordered by the mayor and the
Board of Works Thursday evening.
He states that he does not ex-
pect TO make the specifications pub
lie for at least ten days. There
is no use in proceeding too rapidly. Mr..
Nelson declares, until his department as
c~ertains Just how much money it will have
at its disposal for the Improvement.
The city engineer yesterday issued a
formal statement concerning the collapse
OF the bridge. He says that until he has
had time TO make a thorough examina-
ton of the wreck he does not care 20 state
Just where the initial break occurred. 1t
was so1ae place. he thinks. in either the
lower cord or the arched upper cord, prob
ably the latter, Of one of the trusses.
These were not strengthened in any way
by the recent repairs as it would have
been impossible to do this for much less
than the cost of entirely new trusses. The
repairs. he said, were confined to the new
floor and to strengthening the web MEM
bers, the rods Of which had broken fire.
quently. BY these repairs the bridge was
made much safer than IL had been for some
time, as the spans still standing will show
and the rupture must have occurred in a
new place.
EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS.
He further said:
1T is well known that this bridge. for
some time, has been subjected 10 excessive
vibrations, and undue strains have been
thrown upon certain members by the
weakness and giving way of others Iron
and steel when subjected TO influences OF
this kind. long continued, become. in a
measure, crystalliZed and thereby lose
much Of their original strength. And prac-
Ill q l.. . arrTN 2 Z n nEfarfai IN
at any time 10 just what extent this crys-
tallizatiOn may have taken place. This, IN
conjunction with the light traffic for which
the bridge was originally designed, has
given IL, for some time past, a very low and
unknown factor of safety. The two spans
which are yet standing indicate the nature
of the repairs which were made, and |
believe any one familiar with bridge con-
structiOn will say that this work was car
Iied on in a business-ike manner, and that
about the best was done which IL was prac-
ticable TO do towards repairing the old
bridge. This, of course, was not con-
structing "A new bridge, which we know has
been needed at this point for some time,
but 1t was a temporary expedient to pro-
long the life of the old structure for a
short time only, and until such time as
the city might be in financial condition
10 undertake the construction of a new one.
In a recent report TO the Board OF Pub
lie Works. on the condition of this bridge
and concerning plans for repairing II,
made this statement. The bridge is OF
obsolete and faulty design and inadequate
Tor the present ana increasing nedNy lrdI-
hc to which II is subjected Only a few
days since, when the repairs were al
most completed, 1 had a conference with
Mayor B~OOkwalter and advised that pro
vision may be made in the next tax levy, OF
otherwise. for funds for building a new
bridge at this point. SO that the work Of
year. L am pleased 10 state that the
mayor was in entire accord with this sug.
geStion, and Informed me that such pro
vision would be made.
NOT ~, AREN-En nv DEDATDG
9Th repairs were not made in such {
manner as to weaken the bridge. so far a:
is apparent, except that the dead weigh
of the structure was slightly increased by
the additional weight of the new floor.
II am very glad to know that no live,
were lost. and that there was no seriou:
injury. 1 have always felt that where hu.
man life is involved. in connection will
works OF engineering. one should err. if al
all, on the side of safety. i expect TO b'
criticised 10 some extent by the public, anC
yet / feel that this is unjust, and would no
be so were the public fully Informed as L
the conditions which we were forced to dea
with, and as to the nature of the worl
done I'm repairing the bridge. and the hon
est and conscientious efforts which wer,
made TO guard and protect public safety
In conclusion, j believe 1 may say tina
in dealing with this subject 1 have had
full realization Of the seriousness of tn,
situation"
The question OF raising funds for th'
building Of the new bridge has been prac
tically settled. IL will be paid for as STATED
from the proceeds of a bond issue tn,
amount OF which Will be governed by tn,
estimates OF the city engineer.
The mayor said yesterday that he hai
considered the possibility OF raising fund
by taxing breweries and gas mains anC
that city Attorney Joss has been asked Il
give his opinion on the legality OF ordi
nances for that purpose. Neither the cit
attorney nor the mayor IS very optimisti
as 10 the fafR or EuRn ordinances IN
Council.