davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

ly to complete the destruction of the
thing of metal, wood and concrete
that had the temerity to stand before
it. To be true, it was on the morning
Of Sunday, June z, that the middle
span of the bridge gave way with
crash and was whirled 300 yards down
stream, to lie a warped and worthless
pile of junk. Credit must be given the
old bridge; it stood longer than two
days before the grueling waters, but
only few hours.
The American Spirit.
Hardly was the destruction of the
bridge complete before Missoula, shat
tered and broken in resources and
property, but undismayed and I'M
shaken in spirit, was planning new
bridges, was dreaming-in an intensely
practical way-of just such a bridge
as The Muscular today portrays. 1t
is a matter of record that Missoula,
on the very afternoon that it's chief
passageway to the south side was
made of no account, stretched a cable
across the broken trestle of the Bitter
Root railroad bridge and walked to
and fro. 1t is also a matter of record
that on the same afternoon the Ia
coma Tigers-held here by the flood
played team from Bonner before a
large audience. The fact that on the
day that marked the heighth Of the
greatest disaster in her history, Mis-
soula not only constructed a temper
airy bridge but also found time to at
tend a hall game Is q true eyeunIifca
tion OF the American spirit. the gritty
determination not to be downed by
anything that once caused a ruined
financier to say, Cheer up, boys, the
worst is yet to come"
Temporary Bridges.
Following the cable bridge over the
railway trestle-at best a flimsy thing
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

better bridge than the old one. There
were many suggestions made and con-
sidered; how the matter was finally
settled Is well known. The new bridge
is now under construction and will be
finished as fast as skill and energy
can bring it through to completion.
A Good One.
The new bridge is shown In the
sketch which heads this page, prac-
tically as it will appear when COM
pleted This is the first illustration
of the plan that has been given and
| it will be interesting to the people of
the county and city. There win be no
construction above the deck of the
bridge except the steel handrail and
the electric light posts, which will be
ornamental The bridge will be sim
ply an elevated street, paved and fin
ished in the most approved manner.
Two cartracks will run the entire
length of the bridge, being a part of
the bridge itself and owned by the
county. The Clark electric railway
has secured the right to use these
tracks by the payment of $4,000.
Any other company can, according TO
the terms of the resolution of the
board, obtain the same right by the
payment of a similar sum. The tracks
and the right to use them remain with
the county commissioners and do not
pass to any company; the only privi-
lege which will be granted will be the
right to use the tracks for street
cars.
The men who prepared the plans for
the bridge are the most eminent bridge
engineers in this country; their plans
are accepted as standard by all au-
thorities. The firm which has the
contract for the construction is rated
as among the strongest in the west;
its equipment is large and it's execu-
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

high water season of June, 1910, and
explaining its virtues and qualities to
casual visitor, flood bound, perhaps,
by the washing out of railroad bridges
and tracks on either side of the city
1t is an easy matter to do this, be-
cause the bridge is even now almost in
tangible form, The old bridge has been
so completely removed that nothing
but broken stubs of concrete piers re-
main to call to mind the structure that
gave way before the savage attack of
the flood of June, 1908, flood that
made history and unmade topography,
flood that in it's resstless rush swept
away bridges and houses, log booms,
railroad Notwithstanding that OPP
posed its unbridled license or ran afoul
Of it's unreasoning rage
Fear No Floods.
After this year the midsummer
floods-even should they again attain
the unprecedented proportions of that
of 190S-should strike no terror to the
heart of the south side resident whose
business brings him to the north side
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

west end bridge played In relieving
the situation on the south side when
the Higgins avenue bridge and the
railway bridge were wrecked This
structure stood like a rock and re-
quired but little bolstering. 1t had
been built by the county commission
ers a short time before and they had
been criticised more or less severely
for putting in the bridge where II
was not needed" The useful mart
which this bridge played all summer
furnished ample justification for it's
construction and those who had criti-
cised the commissioners had not a
word to say. This bridge is still In
good condition, though 1t was over
worked all summer, and it will make
a third crossing, supplementing the
Higgins avenue and Van Buren, street
bridges, when the latter are completed.
Hurryns Along.
The construction work of the men
amazes the interested audience that
each day watches it from the inclined
walk that leads TO the temporary
bridge. Snow has not hindered them
and storm has not checked the pro-
gress of their operations. Already
the work on the span across the
north channel is well along and each
day of the past week has seen strides
taken toward the concrete work. Out
on the island, where there win be
heavy concrete spans, small army OF
men labors increasingly, There is
precision in their movements and they
operate like a well organized force.
Every days work on the bridge is a
step toward n bigger and better Mis-
soula. 1t is typical of the progress
and development of lively town.
awake to the opportunities and deter
mined to improve them.
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

stipulates that the bridge must be
ready within eight months after the
time of work being started. The con-
tractors. however state that they eX-
DcCt to have their big task finished
within six months. barring unavoida BILE
delays. The fact that opera tions were
resumed soon after the blizzard OF last
week lot W u iittle Is evidence that the
builders intend to make the most of
time and opportunity. The building
Of the bridge is ander the immediate
direction of Superintendent McDou-
gall of the Burrell company, and
Thomas A. White, who represents the
consulting engineers. j. j. McDougall,
superintendent of the construction, is
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

issued bonds TO build steel bridge
that should be straight The older
residents of the city recall distinctly
the straight or crooked bridge cam
paign. The recent little discussion as
to the granting of an electric railway
franchise was nothing compared with
the fight that was waged over the old
bridge. 1t became a personal matter
with many and there were breaches
formed then that were never healed.
The Steel Bridge.
But the city built the bridge and
built it straight-as to direction. II
was regarded as amply adequate to
meet all of the needs of the city for
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17
THE BRIDGE IN DETAIL

The total length will be a trifle
less than 1,025 feet. This is equal
to more than three and one-third
of Misosula's blocks.
There is to be a 30 foot roadway
for everything but pedestrians, and
in the middle of this will be the
track for the new street car sys-
tenn.
The specifications for the road
way call for a wooden block pave
ment on reinforced concrete
foundation, this being the only
wood entering into the construction
of the bridge excepting, of course,
the piles for the piers.
a nine-inch curb with a gas-pipe
fence three and one-half feet in
height will be built on each side of
the roadway to protect pedestrians
from all vehicles and conveyances.
On each side of the passage for
vehicles there will be a walk eight
feet in width. which will be sepa-
rated from the roadway as de-
scribed in the preceding paragraph.
On the outer side Of either walk
lattice iron fence will be con-
structed
The whole bridge will rest on 10
double concrete piers, the term
double being applied because of
the fact that there will be in real
ity 20 piers arranged In pairs.
The south end of the bridge,
which will pass directly over the
tracks of the Chicago, Milwaukee &
Puget Sound railway, will be sup
ported on four pairs of concrete
pedestals. allowing room for the
passage of the trains.
At each end of the bridge viii
be concrete abutment.
Each pair of main piers is to be
faced on the upstream side with
iron plates one-quarter of an inch
in thickness, running from the high
to low water mark. These plates
VIII protect the piers from any ice.
logs, driftWood or other debris
which would otherwise wear away
the concrete in time.
nected by a concrete brace two
feet thick, running from high to
low water mark.
In the bridge there will be used
for Orders, cross beams, braces and
so on 1000 tons, or 1000, 900 pounds,
Of steel.
Besides the steel for the above
mentioned items there will be used
"A tons, or $4,000 pounds of rails
and fastenings for the street car
line.
The reinforcing bars in the piers
and abutments will foot up approx
lmately 1880 pounds, which in it.
self is no small item.
In addition there will be 40 tons,
or $4,000 pounds, of pavement brace.
There will be 1900 square feet of
sidewalk wire reinforcing.
Under the concrete piers will be
40 piles, which will be driven to
give them stability and perma-
nency.
into the composition of the piers
and abutments will enter 2.77O cubic
yards of concrete. A wagon which
Is used to haul this material is con-
structed to hold one cubic yard. and
that means that there viii be 2,77O
wagon loads of concrete used in the
new bridge.
For the roadway there will be
1910 square yards of wood block
pavement, which will be covered
with the reinforced concrete.
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

every day. Here are given few Sa-
lent facts concerning the new bridge,
and to those who fear the curse OF
flood they are bound to be reassuring
The total weight of the steel used in
the new bridge is to be 2,610,5 500
pounds. This figure does not include
all the steel and none of the 2,77O cubic
yards of concrete to be nodded into
the huge passageway enter into it's
total. To express in numbers the to-
tai weight of the new bridge when
completed might be possible, but to in
diligently comprehend what the fig
ures mean would be beyond the mind
of man, a creature that cannot really
understand just how much a million
is, after all.
To Cost $134,716.25.
The new bridge will cost s134, 1926.
OF this sum the county will pay $685.
900. the balance having been made up
by the substantial interests of the
city. The Burrell Bridge & Construc-
ton company of Oakland, Cal, has
the contract for the building of the
bridge-better than that has the
actual work of construction we'll in
hand. Once before was the bridge
contract let, or almost let, to the Oil
yer Bridge company of Spokane, but
the action was followed by the re-
monstrances from many quarters
with no discredit to the company
and the whole matter was thrown
open again. The result was that new
plans were prepared. Waddell & Har-
rington, a Kansas City engineering
firm being called as advisors, and new
bids were called for and the contract
finally awarded-this time for good
and ALTO the California company.
The Burrell company has put up secur-
ity aggregating $269.432.50. or just twice
the cost Of the bridge. The contract
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

Yes, the water is pretty high just
now, but we don't care. You see, our
new bridge is a mighty stable institu-
ton, and the flood that'll put it out of
business hasn't come down He'll Gate
caryon-not yet. Take a good look at
1t, stranger. and see how high the
water is on those middle piers. Then
take look at the piers themselves
10 Of them, and each one double DO
/ thing len ever go out? Not much,
I don't"
In Tangible Form.
1t is an easy matter 10 ina gine a
citizen of Missoula expatating on the
new Higgins avenue bridge during
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17
Worst Did Not Happen.

Now Missoula can see a large forco
OF Workmen making ready for the new
bridge and Missoula forgetting the
past IN a measure, is thankful be
cause of the prospect for conven-
lent, substantial, modern passageway
across the river. Missoula has almost
forgotten the flood in the prosperity
and happiness of a successful sum-
mer and fall and, yet, Missoula has no
right to forget the inundation of last
June. M1ssoula should remember that
the worst did not happen, that the
city was spared the climax of calam-
ity--the breaking of the Clark dam
at Bonner. Although considerably
more than half a year has passed
since the flood, still it makes one
shudder to think what might have
been. The following from The Mis-
soulian, published soon after the flood
had subsidized, tells of conditions at the
time Of stress and storm:
Behind this obstruction in the
river (the Clark damn was solid wall
of water 40 feet high, waiting for the
slightest weakening to sweep the dam
away and rush down on Missoula.
The flood here was bad enough-just
consider what it would have been il
the Clark dam had been little weak
er in construction If it's builders had
been less conscientious. 1t takes a
person of superior Imagination to even
attempt to conceive of what the
waters behind the dam. aided by the
millions Of feet OF timber aIao he1d
back there, would have done If liber-
ated. 1t might have been a great
deal worse, surely. AS it is, we have
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

tive force is able. Superintendent
McDougall, who is in charge of the
work here has built bridges in all
parts of this country, in Mexico, Cen
trail America and in several countries
of South America. Among the good
talngs which the year has in store for
Missoula. there is certainly nothing
which will add to the appearance and
the facilities of the city more than this
new bridge which is now in the pro-
cess of rapid construction.
On the Side.
one of the good results of the de-
struction of the old bridge, aside from
the construction of the new and bet
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

roads in western Montana suffered of
the flood and how the damage done
| was estimated at that time:
For 10 days Missoula has been
| cut off from the outside world with
| out telegraph. telephone or railway
| service, and during that time great
damage. both public and private, has
| been done in and around the Garden
| City of Montana and along the Occur
d'Alenc branch of the Northern Pacific
railway. Missoula countys damage to
roads and bridges is estimated to be
| over 1000; the public damage to the
city of Missoula will easily pass the
$4,000 mark. including the wrecked
Higgins avenue bridge which cost
$3S 900 to build. and the individual loss
from houses washed away. inundated
farms and fruit ranches and ruined
crops, will reach another $50, 900.
From Garrison, rs miles east of Mis-
soula, to point an equal distance
down the Occur d'Alene branch all of
the new railroad work, including the
double tracking of the Northern Pa
cific and the grade for the Pacific
coast extension of the Chicago, Mil
waukee & ST Paul railway. as well as
the present main line of the Northern
Pacific, has been terribly damaged
Bridges are gone, miles of track have
been swept away and Millions of yards
of grading have been washed as the
sands of the seashore, and it is doubt
full If $1,000 900 will cover the dam
age"
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

that could support but a few pedes-
TRANS at a time-there came a success
sion of passageways across the river.
The first to follow was Il makeshift
contriVanCe, a combination of board
causeWays over marshy places in the
river bed west Of the city and short
wooden trcstles over the dozen streams
into which the flood gorged river
finally relapsed. The first half of the
crossing was made over the south
part of the railroad bridge, this hav-
ing escaped the waters.
The Bounding Bridge"
Soon the county bridge west of the
railroad structure was opened for
traffic-a few minor repairs having
been made under order of the county
commissioners-and Missoula walked
or rode three miles every time it
wished to get across the river Then
came the bounding bridge" an insti-
tuition that will never be forgotten It
made use of the remnants of the Hig-
gins avenue bridge and was hale tres
tie and half cable. For months Mis-
soula walked back and forth on this
structure, enjoying the pee uliar motion
after custom did away with appre-
hension. The bounding bridge" after
an honorable and cvcntless career
was taken down to make way for the
passing of the first locomotive of the
Milwaukee road, and on the very day
that the temporary wagon and foot
bridge. now in use. was completed
This lnst-namel bridge is the main
connecting link today between North
and South MiSsoula. True, the county
bridge is still intact but it is seldom
used, except to gain access to territory
west of the city. its primary purpose.
The new bridge, wooden affair, To-
Gated short distance east of the site
of the old Higgins avenue bridge. was
built by popular subscription at a cost
of little more than $4,000.
Within few weeks there will be a
span across the Missoula river at Van
Buren. street. This structure, built
partly with the disable portions of the
former Higgins avenue bridge. is
strong and may play an important
part in intra- mural communication
this summer, providing the annual rise
sweeps away the low-lying bridge of
wood that is now doing the work that
was done by the old Higgins avenue
and is to be entrusted to
the new structure that is now eyolv-
ing itself.
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17
Damage to Railroad

the town left, even If we are a few
bridges to the bad"
Damage to Railroads.
Following the above quotation in
The Missoulian of June 10, 1908, is
another that is, perhaps, of interest
now, in that it shows what the rail.
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17
In Old Times.


In Old Times.
The new bridge will be in marked
contrast to all the previous means of
crossing the Missoula river at this
point 1t will be perfect structure,
handsome and efficient, capable of
carrying the traffic of busy city and
adding by its appearance to the pleas
ing prospect which greets the visitor
as he looks over Missoula. In the
earliest days of the settlement of the |
Missoula valley the river was forded, |
the north end of the ford being
near the present site of William Brum-
mayors house back of the power plant |
The south landing was near the end of
the Third street extension of the
bridge This was never a very salts
factory ford and there are many tales
of mishaps in making the crossing
There We're other fords down the river, |
which We're frequently used
The first bridge across the river
was what was called the old "Stev- |
ems bridge 1t was located east of |
ne present site of the Northern Pa
cific bridge on the Bitter Root branch. !
almost due south from tho buildings of |
the Sisters hospital. This bridge |
was used until the early seventies.
when it went out and was succeeded
by the oldest of the Higgins avenue
crossings, the famous CROOKED
bridge" which went out in the flood
of 1892
This old CROOKED bridge" had its
north abutment at the end of Hig-
gins avenue, at almost the exact spot
where the present bridge starts It
did not go directly across the river.
however, but veered to the west. max
ing its south landing at the point
where South Third street west,
strikes the bank of the river This
bridge was in use for 20 years or
more. 1t was the property of the
county, as the new one will be. and
was low and narrow and unsatisfac-
tory as soon as Missoula began to
grow.
Earnois EIer$ion
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-17

When this old bridge went out in
spring flood, there was not much re-
greet, but when the question came III
as to the sort of bridge that should
succeed 1t, there ensued one of the
hottest local battles on record-and
that is saying a good deal
The issue was, first, as to whether
the city or the county should build
the bridge and, second, as to whether
it should be built along the direction
of the old bridge or straight across
the stream The matter was settled
after heated campaign and the city
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-04
Things Not to Forget

What am I doing?" said a young
woman about to take a journey. II am
checking up the things l do not want
to forget. Yes. I'll explain, You see.
when l travel I have often been
chagrined. on reaching my destina-
ton, to And that had neglected to put
in my trunk something ! needed very
much. Finally, one day 1t occurred to
me to jot down these things which
had been careless enough to forget. AZ
time passes my list 10 added to, and
now / have one that's really quite
sizeable. Now, when l am all but ready
to close my trunk, l take out my note
book and run over the list.
What are some of the things? 1
know you will laugh, but Just to sho w
you how uncomfortable one might be
without them. l will let you glance at
the memoranda"
The friend did, and this 10 what
she read: Vaseline, scissors, visiting
cards, writing outfit. mirror, hot water
bag. pocket tape measure. alcohol lamp,
smelling salts, extra shoestrings and
address book.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-04
Putting Up Screens

If screens were carefully put away
last fall there should be little difficulty
in getting them in place on the first
hot, ly-breedfng day.
The wise housekeeper writes on the
top of her screen, where 1t is hidden
by the upper sash, the room and win
dow where it belongs. She also covers
the wires with a coating of vaseline,
and stores them in a dry place with a
cover thrown over them.
When spring comes it is only neces-
sary to give a thorough busting and
rubbing up of the woodwork and put
In place.
Should the wire have become shabby
and rusty looking it can be fresnened
with a coat of paint. If the wires have
gene into holes or are badly bulged,
replace with copper wire netting. 1t
costs twice as much as the ordinary
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-04
Turkish War News Glossary

Clark McAdams in st. Louis Post-Dis-
patch
Old Turks-The men with government
Jobs.
Young Turks-The men without govern
ment jobs
Army-Any body of armed rugmakers
trying to make out which is the band
wagon.
Grand Vizier-Disguise maker to the
Sultan.
Yildiz Kiosk--A fortified adjunct to the
palace into which the Sultan dashes
every time he hears a noise in the hall.
Navy-An arm of the government ac-
lively engaged in doing at sea about what
the army is doing ashore.
Chamber Of Deputies-The Turkish
duma.
Constitutional royal plaything
War-An engagement between the Sui
tan's bulletin board and that of the COM
mittee of union and progress.
Envere Bey-A Young Turk
Abdul Hamid-An old one
Tewfk Pasha-A middle-aged Turk.
The Bosphorus-Where the Young Turks
intend drowning the Sultan.