Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-05-12
CITY
BRIDGES
DISCUSSED
ByaSpeciaI Committee
of the Council
Favors Acceptance of the Rec
concentrations Of the Tax
Payers League

The special meeting of the city coun.
ell, called to consider the report of the
special bridge committee, appointed TO
make estimates on the cost of putting
the various bridges of the city in good
condition, convened last evening in the
council chambers. All the aldermen
were present except Bayne and Frazier.
The report Of the special committee APP
pointed by the Taxpayers League TO
find the cost Of repairing the different
bridges was read, and afterwards the
report Of the councils committee was
also read. The report Of the bridge
committee is appended. A resolution
relating TO the graveling Of 18th street
with six inches Of gravel was read and
unanimously adopted. The report on
the condition Of the new fire hose by the
fire chief was read and adopted, and
the recorder was instructed to draw
warrants for the required amount to
pay for it. An ordinance relating to
the riding Of bicycles in certain pre-.
scribed districts was reported favorably
on by the committee having It in charge
and after il had been read the first
and second time was referred back TO
the committee on ordinances for furth-
er inspection. The report Of the com.
mittee on bridges is as follows;
"To the Hon. Mayor and Common
Council:
1--WE, your special committee on
bridges, to whom was referred the
matter Of erecting permanent bridges
in the city, particularly on South Com
mercial street, would report as fol.
lows:
"We have considered and investigat.
cd several kinds of bridges, as to cost
of construction, durability, utility and
adaptability to the wants Of the city
and the constantly increasing traffic of
the municipality, constantly keeping in
view what would be to the best inter
ests Of the city in our deliberations,
never losing sight Of the fact that
something must be done to better the
condition Of many of the bridges in the
way Of repairs and building new ones.
Steel Bridges.
"We are not able 10 give only a
probable estimate Of the cost Of steel
bridges, but without going into detail
a steel bridge will cost at least one
half more than concrete bridge, and
il would entail considerable annual
cost Of maintenance, such as keeping
the planking on the bridge, painting,
etc, etc, and lacks that Rermaneney
that is desired.
Concrete Bridges,
"ln considering concrete bridges
your committee has given the matter
a pretty thorough investigation, and
find that cement is used largely in al
most all structures The railroads and
are adopting cement
strueturesj either pure cement, rein
forced eoierete or steel girder concrete
bridges. In fact, concrete bridges are
used, when practicable almost entirely
to the exclusion Of all other kinds in
all branches of engineering, as II gives
what is desirable in road building
strength, durability safe for traffic
= aithOut any annual expense Of main
lenanee. When once done il is done
for all time. To those Of us who have
for the last half century been used to
the old wooden bridges 1t is hard to
give them up. Sentiment binds us TO
these old landmarks. We cannot help
but cherish them, but then we must re-
that we live in an age Of pro