The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-09-24
WILL CHANGE BRIDGE
And the Burlington Road Will Bear
the Expense.

Considerable dissatisfaction has
existed since the grading Of the Bur-
lington road west OF Beacon and the
changing of the highway and the
bridge over Muchakinock Creek at
this place, to suit what seemed to be
the requirements of the occasion.
The board of supervisors and the rail-
way company did what seemed best
to them at the time. The fill for the
railway grade at this place, approach
ing the trestle and bridge that spans
the creek, is very high and 1t has
continued to slip down into the road
way that runs along both sides of the
big dump and crossing the line of the
railway beneath the bridge. An abb
rupt turn was made around the end
of the dump on the east side Of the
creek and the bridge over "Muchy''
was to the north side Of the west APP
proach of the railway grade. The
slipping and sliding of the huge bank
Of dirt and clay has been very pro-
nounced and was great source OF
annoyance to the people, both resi-
dents of the town of Beacon ard
those of the county travelling this
road.
The matter was looked into some
months ago by the board and COM
munication entered into with the
management OF the railroad. Both
parties concerned were on the ground
repeatedly. The county board felt
justified in asking that something be
done, and insisted that some sort OF
relief be granted the people. The
Burlington people acknowledged that
it was bad place but what to do
was a problem with them as we'll as
with the county board. 1t was
thought that perhaps the bank might
soon become finally settled and the
matter could be adjusted; but every
rain tore great pieces of the dump
away and washed it down over the
highway.
After considerable talking ana
planning by the railway people and
almost constant urging on the part
of members of the county board a
plan has been hit upon that will bring
the trouble to an end. The plan OF
the railway over the place has been
changed and the highway is also
changed so as to be greatly bettered.
In place of the bridge structure as 1t
now stands the piling is to be re-
moved and set back distance OF
thirty-flve feet on both sides. A
steel truss bridge 95 feet in length
over the creek will give passage to
the railway and in this manner n
clear way of over fifty feet is secured
to the highway below. But the high
way is also changed in way that is
greatly beneficial. The bridge is re-
moved from its present location on
the north side of the dump and the
roadway is Strengthened out so that
it crosses the creek almost beneath
the railway bridge. The grade OF
the roadway and road bridge are
raised several feet and the roadway
when completed will be graveled and
finished off. 1t will be in far better
coalition than it has ever been before,
for the place has always been a sort
of mud hole. The plans for the i'm
provement have been approved both
by the management of the road and
by the board of supervisors, and may
now be seen by any one interested at
the Office Of the county auditor in
this city.
The expense of the change Is no
small figure as the revision OF the
plans of the railway company meant
the altering of almost the entire
structure. The great concrete and
cement piers will have to be con-
structed as soon as possible for the
footing of the steel truss of the rail-
way bridge. The truss will rest upon
piling at present as tneIcondition OF
the bank will not admit Of the build
ing of the permanent piers. The en-
tire locality had to be re-surveyed,
plans prepared explained to the man,
agement of the road, adopted and ap.
proved and then material secured.
All this has meant delay, and then
came another wait in the securing OF
material for the construction OF the
bridge. Everything has now been ar
ranged to the satisfaction Of all par
= ties interested and the work itself
4 will be accomplished as soon as pos
sible. & Gisg EanTu,T c .gGgs e,if q
Z The county having done its work
at the place once and in good faith,
is to be spared further expense. AL
Of the changes in, the county WORK
proposed In the new plans, will be at
the expense Of the Burlington road
The change as now approved is NO
small victory for the 8 county In .
number of ways and the gentlemen q
I the board who have labored long and
earnestly over the matter are to be
congratulated upon the final outcome
and the very excellent and satisfac
tory solution of the problem,