The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-24
BRIDGES ARE Bad.
City Council Faces Another Ser
iOus Problem.
Structures Wrecked and Some
of Them Unsafe.
HE FAVORS GOOD ONES
Mayor Thinks City Should Build
Permanent Bridges.
Nay Require New Issue of
Bonds.
HE FAVORS GOOD ONES

The recent collapse of the fiimsy, Did
East Eighth avenue bridge has brought
before the city council the necessity of
replacing the old wooden bridges over
the creeks in the city with permanent
structures. The city has done but little
bridge building for ten years. Several
of the old, wooden piled structures are
weakening and the one on Eighth ave-
nue. has partially collapsed. The in
struction of the streets and walks COM
mittee of the council to the street conf
missioner. to repair the bridge as we'll as
possible, is undoubtedly the most prac-
ticable way of restoring the structure
20 immediate usefulness. The present
cost of the repairs will probably not
much exceed 800 It will postpone the
construction of a new bridge until the
city has had time to take that PROPOSE
ton up seriously.
City Engineer McCabe has recently
made a rough estimate of the cost of
building a single arch OF Melan struc-
ture similar to that over the Kansas riv-
er on Kansas avenue. 1t would cost So
500 or thereabOut. A concrete bridge,
similar in appearance but not covered
by patent rights might be put in for
little less. Nothing that costs more than
$1,000 can be attempted without submit
ting to election proposition to vote
bonds for an amount sufficient to cover
the expense. This can not conveniently
be taken up before next spring.
Topeka has usually built small bridges
costing between two and three thousand
dollars. The East Fourth avenue bridge,
built in 1898, cost $1.S59 while that on
East Sixth avenue came to $500. The
Eighth avenue structure cost about the
same amount but was much older 1t
was originally built years ago and has
been repaired at successive intervals.
Its recent collapse resulted from the
giving way Of the stone abutment on the
west side upon which rested the end OF
the iron arch which supported the floor
The other end of the arches rest upon
wooden pile bents. Both the Fourth and
Sixth street bridges. which are each
about ten years old, are showing indie5-
lions of weakness about the wooden pill
ings on which they are based.
City Engineer McCabe is in favor of
the use of concrete in building wagon
bridges in the city. Its wearing quail
ties are superior to almost all other
bridge materials and in appearance
concrete bridge possesses more beauty
In speaking of the use Of native stone in
bridges Mr. McCabe said this morning:
"Our native limestone is hardly suit
able for use in bridges or abutments.
on account of its susceptibility to
cracking from frost and water. 1t does
not bear exposure as stone Tor Such
use should IL stone is to be used it
should be brought in from elsewhere.
1 have roughly estimated the cost of a
Melan arch on East Eighth street at
SO, 500. When that sort of a bridge is
once built it will last a lifetime. and
the city Will be at no further expense
for its maintenance. Topeka has passed
the time Of cheap bridges. There is no
economy in cheap ones, and the sooner
the town begins to build permanent
structures the sooner will it begin to
save money upon its bridge building.
The commissioners OF this county have
come to the conclusion that there is no
more economy in cheap bridges and
have stopped building them altogether
The city has several bridges and will
be obliged to replace some of the older
ones within a short time. They should
be replaced in such a manner as to re-
main"
Mayor Bergundthal is favorable to
the erection of permanent bridges over
the creeks in Topeka, but he wants to
be sure that the city has gotten all the
wear out Of the old ones before they
are abandoned.
"A permanent bridge" said he. sis
the only sort for Topeka to build when
II finds the construction of a new
bridge Is necessary. But l think we
should move slowly in the matter I
am Of the opinion that the East Eighth
street bridge can be repaired with COM
parattN ely small expense, and that it
Will wear for some time afterwards
II 1t is found, upon examination. that
this and any Of the other city bridges