The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-05-09
BUSINESS MEN OF CI1'Y AND PU.
GET SOUND ASSIST ENGl.
NEER IN REPAIR WORK
WORK TRAIN is LOANED
Protect Van Buren, Street Structure
Mr.. Mayo Predicts That Temporary
Crossing Will Stand Raise of Many
Feet.

All of the many bridge scares
which have been in circulation for the
past few days came to a sudden end
last night, when the south approach
to the Van Buren street bridge, which
has been reported as being about tc
collapse for the past week, was re-
paired and the danger averted.
For the last three days the Van
Buren street bridge has been closed to
traffic owing to the fact that the
owners of the big ditch which opens
up just beneath it, had built q wing
dam to deflect the current into their
ditch and had turned the water against
the island on which the piling had
been driven and washed about six feet
of earth away from the bases of the
piles. There was no great danger
even then, but City Engineer Mayo,
fearing that higher water in the sum-
mer might take out the approach or
dered the bridge closed until the re-
pairs could be made. The piling is
still very firm, despite the fact that
where there was once an island is now
six feet of water and the great danger,
of which so much has been said, is
all in the future. Mr.. Mayo did not,
however have enough men or enough
material to do anything towards MAX
ing the pling as safe as it should be
and as Mayor Logan is in Helena in
attendance on jury so that no aid
could be gotten from the city, the
business men were appealed to.
The Missoula Light & Water COM
pany was the first to respond, sending
their engineer Mr.. Bickenbach, out
to the bridge to help Mr.. Mayo. In
looking over the bridge the two en-
gineers decided that if enough good
rip-rap material could be found and
placed about the loosened piles the
structure would be absolutely safe.
When the local officials of the Puget
Sound were informed of this state of
affairs they at once placed a work
train with a full crew at Mr.. Mayo's
disposal for the next three days for
the purpose of getting the needed rock.
The light company then came to the
rescue again and gave the city per-
mission to take all the rock which it
needed off the Moore ranch in the
canyon, which is their property and on
which there is good supply of rip
rap. c. U. Mcleod, on behalf of the
Missoula Mercantile company. also
donated the money for the little de-
tails in the work and furnished the
crew with everything which they
needed in their work. All of this was
accomplished by noon and the train
was made up at once and sent up the
canyon where work was begun. BY
night two trainloads had been brought
down and the repairs started in such
a way that everything is now out of
danger
Speaking Of the work, Mr.. Mayo
said last night: Another day will
see everything finished and as the
river has washed out all that it is.
possible from under the piles there
will be no danger whatever as soon
as we have filled the bed up with the
rip rap
In regard to the temporary bridge
which has also been causing a great
deal Of trouble of late. Mr.. Mayo said:
There is but little, if any, danger to
be expected there, and, unless the
driftWood collects on the piles to such
an extent that we cannot handle it,
do not feel that there is any danger,
for the time being at least I believe
that I am safe in saying that the
bridge will stand raise of at least
three or four feet more without any
trouble"