The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-03-12
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ENGi-
NEER WADDELL~AND PRES
lDENT BURRELL MEET.
CONCRETE IS DISCUSSED
Various Phases. Of Building Of New
Higgins Avenue Passageway Are
Taken Up by Representatives of
County and Construction Company
Amicable Agreement Is Reached.

The county commissioners held a
conference yesterday afternoon at the
court house, at which there were
present, besides Messrs. Curran, Wor-
den and Nelson, Consulting Engineer
Waddell and his assistant, Mr.. White,
President Burrell of the contracting
firm which is constructing the bridge
at Higgins avenue; County Surveyor
Bonner and Inspector Brechbill. Mr..
Waddell and Mr.. Burrell had been re-
quested to come to Missoula on ac-
count of some criticisms that have
been made regarding the concrete
work on the bridge. They had exam
ined the bridge together and Mr..
Waddell had made close personal in
spection Of the work that has been
done. Yesterdays conference was for
the purpose of discussing the criti-
cisms and of receiving the report of
Mr.. Waddell.
At the outset of the meeting Mr..
Waddell said: Before we enter into
a discussion of this matter I wish to
say that 1 notice you have named a
local inspector to watch this work; l
am satisfied with this; it is best that
you should be thoroughly convinced
that the work is being we'll done; but
1 wish to say that as the inspection
of the work is part of the contract
which we have with you, we shall as
sumo the expense of this local inspec-
tor and whatever you have paid him
we will reimburse you. Professional
pride and professional etiquette both
demand this, and we shall expect to
bear this expense as part of our
contract" Later, Mr. Waddell added
that it is plan of his firm to have
every part of the work inspected and
the instructions to his assistant had
been that, if additional inspection was
necessary, local man should be en-
ployed.
Chairman Curran then stated the
purpose for which Mr.. Waddell had
been asked to come to Missoula at
this time, and asked the distinguished
engineer if he had looked over the
work at the bridge. Mr.. Waddell re-
piled that he had examined it and that
he had found it all satisfactory except
the abutment at the north end. This
is defective in several particulars and
ton of the contractor to the defects
Mr.. Burrell, he said, had agreed with
him that the abutment was not satic-
factory, and had been anxious to rem
edy the defects. A plan had been de-
cided upon by which the abutment
would be made all right, and Mr.. Bur-
rell had said that this work would be
done Immediately.
Mr. Burrell added to this statement
his own views of the situation, He
said that this was the first time he
had seen the work, and that he would
have condemned the abutment had he
seen 1t without the suggestion of the
engineer, as it was the desire of him
self and of his company to have the
bridge built exactly as the plans called
for it to be built. He had at once
agreed with Mr.. Waddell that the abut-
ment work was not right, and there
would be no time lost in making it
right.
The plan by which the abutment is
to be reconstructed was explained in
detail and it was agreed that this
would be satisfactory.
Chairman Curran and Commissioner
Worden then explained to Mr.. Waddell
the nature of the criticisms which have
been made against the work on the
footings for the . piers; Inspector
Brechbill added his views and asked
few questions, and there was a de-
tailed discussion of this part of the
work.
Mr.. Waddell said that he had exam
ined the pedestals and he was salts
fled that they were all right. He was
positive that the concrete was good
and that the proportion of cement and
gravel had been maintained according
to the specifications. AS to the depth
of the footings, he said that it had
been found that the piles could not be
driven as deep as had been estimated,
and that on that account iron piles
had been added to the wooden ones,
and the concrete had been carried four
feet lower than had been planned at
first. He was satisfied that the pedes-
tails were absolutely safe and accord
ing to specifications.
Mr.. Waddell stated further that his
concrete expert Mr.. Howard, would be
here today and would go over the work
with him; that a careful examination
of the pedestals would be made this
and that every bit of work
would be carefully passed upon for
the satisfaction of the board and for
it's protection.
AS to the joining of the piers to the
footings without reinforcing bolts, Mr..
Waddell said that it would be perfectly
safe and that the plan which would
be followed would give a monolithic |
structure. He explained that the upper
surface of the footing would be rough
ened with pick, deep holes being |
made in it, and that it would be free |
from dirt and all foreign substances; |
it would be covered with a rich ce-
ment mortar that would be followed |
by the concrete of the pier. This plan |
is used in all large work; the govern !
ment plans are made this way and Mr. |
Waddell said that he had used it in |