Arizona republican., 1910-05-21
WORK 0N BRIDGE IS NOW WELL UNDER WAY FIFTY UABORERS ENGAGED IN ENCHANTING AND DRIVING
 PILES.
Small Tented City Has Sprung Up at
 the Northern Approach.

i Taking into consideration the few ! days since work was begun upon the ' construction of the Central avenue ! bridge. remarkable progress has al ready been made. Excavations have i been made for the north abutment 1 piles have been driven h tn. proper depth and the work of preparing fOI the first pier has been commenced Today the first dressing oi concrete i will be turned into the shore eNcava ton and the preliminaries will be well under way.
 Two engines have been installed up on scaffolds overlapping the present work and high power centrifugal pumps are engaged in keeping the Wa ter out Of the temporary coffer dams which were constructed in order that the workmen might eNcavate to a depth necessary to insure the piles reaching that depth necessary 10 in- sure perfect foundation. A smaller centrifugal pump has been installed about midstream for the purpose of furnishing pure water for the boilers. engine and connects with the boilers near the shore line.
 The temporary castings for the foundation consist merely of thick blanks which were driven down side by side and as closely together as pos sible. These were then caulked to make them as nearly water tight as possible. The workmen were thus enabled to go about the first part of the excavation upon practically dry land Now that a depth has been reached considerably below the pres ent level of the river, the water pours in rapidly and gives the big pumps about all the work they are capable of up an eight inch stream while the other takes out six inches and throws the water some distance beyond the pres | scene of operations
 The big pile driver stands out In the river bed upon a high platform and drops a 3200 pound weight upon the head Of pile at about the rate of 20 strokes each minute. The piles are of the best oregon pine and none are less than 90 feet in length. To prevent splitting from the impact of the great weight. a heavy iron collar is driven over the upper end of the pile.
 After pile has been driven several feet through the sand and smaller gravel. to a person standing upon the shore it would appear that the great timber had struck rock bottom and was not being sent further down. But by watching carefully it will soon be noted that the pile is slowly going down. inch by inch until its crown re- mains but about three feet above what will be the bed of the concrete founGa- ton.
 These piles protruding above the surface to the distance of three feet form a secure base around which the concrete may become set and is con sdered as about the surest means Of securing a solid foundation. The grea, concrete mixer which will begin work ing today stands inshore from the pile driver with it's dscharging point di rectly over the foundation excavation. This will do away with the usual wheeling of concrete in barrows and greatly expedite the work.
 Already there are upwards of fifty laborers at work. the majority Of these being Mexicans. while a dozen or so are lnQldUS tne TeStTNd- ton across the river. A little tented city has sprung up upon the ground where formerly Chinese truck gar. den blossomed. Here are accommo- dations for the working force and this will be enlarged as needs require.
 The Indians will not accept the white mans hospitality but have erected camp by themselves upon the south side of the river and here they do their own cooking and spend the nights. Those in charge of the work say they are more than pleased with the way in which the Indians take hold of the work. claiming that they require little or no watching and will invariably do as they are told once they get the right idea. An in terpreter is upon the ground and the work proceeds with almost cloclSwork precision.
 Away from the camp proper has been erected a temporary tent to serve as a storehouse for the bridge sup plies. This is piled high with bags of cement to be employed in mani-
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