The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-01
ON THE NORTH SIDE
Work OF Replacing Spans on
Santa Re Bridge.
Each Span Weighs Two Hundred
Ten Tons.
UNION PACIFIC SPUR.
One Being Built to Facilitate
Unloading Cars.
Gang OF Greeks Are Employed
in the Work.
UNION PACIFIC SPUR.

Mrs Lula Smith, the wife of Edwin
c Smith q miller at the Inter-Oceau
mills, died at her home Sunday morn
ing, from the effects Of an operation
She was % years old She IS weu known
IN North Topeka. having spent the
greater part Of her life here Mrs
Smith was born IN North Topeka,
March 19. 1873 She was the daughter
Of Mr. and Mrs y. A Streeter of s34
Fillmore street She was married to
Mr. Smith March II. 1885 She leaves
three children. Daisy. Albert and Mar
garet, also a brother, H G. Streeter. of
e34 Fillmore street She was very
prominent as a member Of the North
Topeka Baptist church She also be
Ionged to the Knights and Ladies of Sc
curtty. North Topeka lodge The fun
eraI viii be held from the Baptist
church AT go o'clock Wednesday af-
ternoon- Rev. G 7 Peterson, the pas
tor, viii oficiate- The remains viii be
Inferred IN the Rochester cemetery
Coming from Russia to America is
Ike jumping from hades into heaven >
This IS what Peter Rimes, who arr1v-
ed here from Russia with his family
recently said this morning when asked
how he liked America He Is brother
of Mrs kamer Of III East Gordon
street. and viii make his home with
the kamers for the present He Il
blacksmith by trade, but work has been
very scarce in the old country He
started from Russia about two months
ago He had sold his farm OF So acres
for about s20e in American money. be-
fore he left He did not get his money
when he expected It and vas delayed
On the Journey
Things are bad IN Russia, very had
said Mr. RiHsr. IN German TO his
brother-in-Iaw. Mr.. Kamer. who trans
lated his remarks TO 4 visitor We
have not had 4 crop since 1886 and ey-
cry one IS poor 4 day IabOrer doesn't
get much over ten cents a day in Amer
lean money. A blacksmith should be
paid well for his labor. but very often
can not get the money for his work
He viii make q wagon for a man and
then the man won't or can't pay him
We i've mostly on rye bread over there-
As 70 the government well the czar
doesn't have much power He hasn't
much to say. The other men OF the
government tell him what TO say and
what 70 do-ald he does it"
Mr. Rimer came from 4 small town
Z bout 500 miles north Of St. Petersburg
T IS practically nprouHceabIa. but
sounds ike +Sssarsmarskissk or the
noise between a-cough and 4 suseZe-
All is in readiness to replace the
old span OF the santa Fe bridge
across the Kansas river with the new
span Of heavier and stronger ma (
teriaL The old span has been re- |
moved and two spans of the bridge at /
the south end have been raised four l
and oue-haIf feet The entire bridge |
VIII be raised to this height to con- /
form with the grade of the dixie
The iron work for the new span
viii probably be swung into place to /
1ay or tomorrow Each OF the new /
spans Will weigh 21o tons, which IS /
said to be only fOrty-fye tons less
than the weight Of all the old five /
spans Of the bridge put together /
When the new bridge IS completed II /
will be safe for the heaviest type Of
engines The work IS expected to be /
finished in about six weeks Then
the piIing which has been driven IN
der the spans to raise the bridge will /
De removed
Meanwhile the old piers are be-
ing built up with concrete to meet the
extra height to which the bridge IS
being raised
All of this work requires skill and |
great care in management i steam
engine operates the pile driver
Ralph Tocum, in charge Of that work,
gives 4 signal There Is 4 rumble
and the drum attached to the engine
winds up the cable until the weight
AZ the other end of the span IS raised
above a pile At precisely the right
time, not 4 second too soon or too I,
ate MI. Yocum gives another signal
1n the pile with & thud- The timber
s driven about a foot into the river (
bed at each stroke At the south
md Of the bridge, 4 huge derrick
swings the heavy steel material for
he new spans into place Everything
goes Ike clock work There is no
1esftatfou or confusion All Of the
men seem to know just what to do at
he right time
Some time the first Of this week the
work OF raising the Union Pacific
bridge across Soldier creek will be-
gin The structure will be raised four
Ind a half feet 70 conform with the
<rade OF the dixie Over ,, 090 feet Of
he track on each side Of the bridge
VIII also be raised TO conform with
he increased height OF the bridge
Seventy Greeks arrived last week from
kansas City to do the work
The Union Pacific IS building q spur
rom a point Just north and west of
IL. rcr1rl hnl1sa 70 6IS-zrca Of