The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-09-16
COUNCIL WATTS
FOR BRIDGE
PLANS

the city council last nlSht CoH-
cluded to defer further considera-
ton of the bridge plan question
until plans for both steel and con-
crete bridges at Monroe street and
a concrete bridge at Olive avenue
are submitted by City Engineer
Ralston. An ffeort was made to
induce the council to employ Pro-
fessor Burr to prepare plans for the
Monroe street bridge, but when it
was learned that Burr's charge
would be per cent for plans or
per cent for plans and inspection,
it seemed to have a dampening eff
feet on the Burr enthusiasm,
The same lack of definite infor-
nation that has characterized past
meetings on the bridge question
was in evidence again last night.
The councilmen seemed to feel that
they had heard so much on the
subject of the probable cost of the
bridges that they had finally con-
cluded they knew nothing about it.
AS a result. when Councilman Lam
bert made a motion at the close of
the meeting favoring the postpone
ment of further action until plans
were presented by the city engi-
neer, it was adopted without oppo-
sition.
President Phillips announced
that the council had ordered plans
for both styles of construction pre-
pared, and that when such plans
were presented the city council
would advertise for bids in order
that it might act intelligently in
the premises. No objection was
entered to this presentation of the
case by Mr.. Phillips.
Councilman Dalke favored the
employment of Burr or Waddell
but when he learned that the cost
of their services would run to from
$4,000 to $4,000 he favored the
preparation of plans by Engineer
Ralston and the subsequent expert
ing of such plans by competent
engineer, which would cost but one
half of one per cent.
Councilman Schiller said the city
had started out to solve its bridge
necessities with a bond issue of
100000 and of this amount, nearly
100000 was already gone. He be-
lieved that the council could have
pulled through on this figure, with
what is to be given by the county
and street railway companies, If
the question of concrete bridges
had not presented itself.
Mr.. Baldwin said Engineer
Strauss, who has national reputa-
ton, told the city the Washington
street bridge could be built of con-
crete for $4,000, yet it cost over
$150,000.
Councilman Mohr seemed to be
out of patience with Engineer Rails
ton, whom, he said, while profess
ing himself not to be bridge engi-
neer, yet picked to pieces every
other bridge plan submitted by an
other engineer, from Professor
Burr down. He favored the expert
ing of the plans to be prepared by
Mr. Ralston.
Mr.. Schiller seemed to think that
Burr and Waddell were in the bust
ness of preparing bridge plans, but
gave no guarantee with their plans
that a bridge could be built for an
estimate submitted by them If
the cost run above their estimate
their charge for services would be
that much higher.
Councilman Baldwin said Profess
sor Burr's estimate of $685. 900 on
concrete for Monroe street was
purely an offhand figure without
any plans having been prepared by
him. This figure does not include
the cost of very expensive APP
proaches, which Professor Burr
thought would cost at least SIS 900
more. Burr had led the committee
to believe that a concrete bridge
complete at Monroe street would
cost 100000 to $425,000.
Orvid Reuterdahl, a bridge engi-
neer in the city's employ, thought
concrete bridge at Monroe street
could be built for 100000. He said
there was no doubt of the safety
of reinforced concrete bridges OF
the length of span and height OF
piers required for the Monroe
street bridge, as concrete piers
would necessarily be built even
though we used steel The rein
forced concrete bridges of today
he said, are better, safer and more
durable than the plain or solid con.
crete work of the Romans, which
has stood up for over 1000 years.
Remarks being called for from
citizens present, G. b. Dennis said
he had not changed front on the
question, and reaffirmed his faith
in steel as preferable under the
present situation here. He present
ed figures TO show that the con
crete bridge at Mission avenue will
cost double what 1t could have been
built for OF steel.