Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-07-21
Tbs Handsome and Sub
stantial Public Improve
ment to be Constructed
at Once.
SUFFICIENT FUNDS ON HAND
County Commissioner Seligman
Entitled to Great Credit .
Specifications of the
Structure.

Bids for the construction of the new
stone bridge on Don Gaspar avenue
have been called for by the Board of
County Commissioners and will be op-
ened on July 80, coming. The plans
and specifications for the construction
We're drawn and prepared by David M.
White, locating engineer of the United
States land commission, who has
had considerable experience in that
line. The structure will be very hand
some, and an outline of its appearance
has heretofore been published in these
columns Hereafter follow some of
the specifications. From them it will
be seen that the bridge will be a very
substantial and strong affair, and an
important improvement to the Capital
City. Funds to pay for Its building
have been secured; part was collected
during the last fiscal year and the
county commissioners have made a
levy Of three mills on the dollar for the
present year in accordance with petit
tions signed by over 300 property own
ers asking them to do so. Several
bridge builders from different sections
of the territory, from Kansas and Col
orado have stgnified their intention to
put in bids.
The construction of this greatly
needed public improvement on the
leading thoroughfare to the capitol
this town located on the north and
south sides of the Santa Fe river be-
ing now assured, 1t Is proper to give
credit where it Is due, and this credit
belongs to County Commissioner Ar
thur Seligman who, during the last
two years, has faithfully and con-
stantly worked to secure the levy of a
tax for the purpose named, and at a
recent session of the county commits
sioners did energetic and faithful Work
in the same direction. Had 1t not been
for his singleness of purpose and faith
fulness in the matter, there is but lit
tie doubt that the project would have
gone glimmering and that nothing
would have come of It, Mr.. Seligman
from this paper and an overwhelming
public sentiment in favor of the con-
struction of the bridge was created
and augmented, slowly, to be sure, but
successfully, nevertheless, and leading
property owners by word and deed
used their influence with the last and
the present boards of county commits
sioners. The property owners were
pretty we'll united upon the question,
and the result will be that within
few months-probably not more than
six-the city will have public i'm
provement Of which 1t can and will be
proud and which will prove Of the
greatest utility and benefit, not only
to the business men but also to the
people generally, to tourists and to
healthseekers.
In addition, the erection of this
bridge will help materially in keeping
the capital Of the territory and the fu-
ture Sunshine State" in this city. The
more the grounds and the streets sur
rounding the capitol are improved the
less chance is there for a future remov-
al to any other point in New Mexico.
The specifications In brief are as fol-
lows:
The face stones will have pitched
faces with edges pitched to a straight
line. Each stone will be dressed to an
uniform thickness, and no stone Will
be less than eight inches thick. The
masonry will be laid in irregular cours-
es, In full cement mortar beds. The
backing will be Of stone, not less than
six inches, thick.
The wing walls will rest on foun-
dalton three and one-half feet below
the surface of the river bed. They will
be stepped and of proper dimensions.
The excavations for the abutments
and pier will be carried down to firm
foundation regardless of depth. Its
bottom will be leveled and upon 1t
footing course of concrete will be built.
The arches will be Of selected stones,
set with great care.
The parapet wall will have cap
STONE dressed to neat lines, projecting
bevond the face of the wall, and Will
be finished of at the ends with pil-
lar, neatly dressed.
The spaces between the parapet ana
the retaining walls will be filled with
gravel, thoroughly wetted and tamped'
and upon which layer Of sand Will be
spread. The vitrified brick for the
walks viii be laid fiat on the sand
cushion and will have a slope OF one
inch towards the roadway. The brick
forming the edge Of the walks, at the
sides OF the roadway, will be laid IN
cement mortar. It being intended to
form the upper part Of curb on the re-
tanning wall. The surface Of me road
way will be rounded to accord with the
radius due to its width and crown.
The space between the retaining wall
will be filled with gravel upon which
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